WC 2010 - 28.06.

Holland - Slovakia, Slovakia to score first @ 3.75 (bet365)  LOST

The Dutch played a perfect qualifications and started WC with all 3 wins and just a single goal conceded (after a doubtful penalty).However,they have a long list of failures on big competitions after underestimations of the opponents and this time they're already seen in a quarter clash against Brazil.Robben is fit,but same as Rooney and Torres and I don't expect (still) great performances from him.

Slovakia made a first class surprise,now they're full of self confidence and can play without any pressure.In a positional game however,they don't have too much chances and it would be only a matter of final result.I expect not so defensive Slovakia and who knows,maybe Weiss got some silly idea to attack Holland.

Class difference is obvious,just I don't see Holland at 1.40 worth of backing and easily can imagine this game going in the wrong way.A gamble for me.

.

Bets for tonight will follow.Stay tuned.

.

Brazil - Chile, Brazil -1ah @ 2.08 (bet365)  3-0 WON 
red card in the game - yes @ 3.00 (bet365)  NO LOST 

Brazil is top favorite to win WC.In group games,only against Ivory Coast they showed a piece of the full potential.Dunga rested Kaka,Robinho and Elano,all 3 will be in the squad tonight.Both teams know each other very well and I'd exclude any tactical surprise.Brazil likes to play against Chile,6 win in a row,5 of those were with 2 or bigger winning margin.In last 5,Brazil scored 21 goals(!),conceded just 3.

Chile looked good in the group games.Despite two 1-0 wins,they play very attacking.Bielsa forces some little weird formation,with 3 players in a defense line.Del Bosque made a stupid decision,left his wingers on the bench and actually adjusted Spain's game to Chile's,which was scandalous in my opinion.Dunga won't be making such favors.Also,Bielsa will be without his 2 key defenders.

Chile is good enough to keep Brazilians fully focused.Can't see any sign of a surprise.Also,Chile's disciplinary record suggests a big possibility it won't ended peacefully.

.

World Cup 2010 bonuses
888sports - NO LOSE BET
Open your account, here. Place your first bet (maximum 20 pounds). If you lose, in the next 72 hours you’ll get your money back! Offer applies to new customers only, between June 1, 2010 & July 12, 2010.

WC 2010 - 25.06.

Post will be updated through the day.

.

Portugal - Brazil, Correct score Brazil to win 1-0 @ 7.00 (888sports)  0-0 LOST 

With all due respect to Portugal,it will be a matter of Brazil only.They don't need a win,probably some fringe players will get a chance.And Dunga is not Maradona,he doesn't care about 9 points,sending a message to public and such things.If Brazil doesn't win WC he'll be crusified (as Maradona if fails).So,a draw would be fine for him.On the other hand,although Brazil looks tactically perfect,playing for a draw carries some risk.And that risk is second top favorite for winning WC!

Portugal will try to compete,CR will perform some of his tricks,but they're safe as Ivory Coast won't do too much (surely won't win by 9).They'll be playing on the same way as they did against them.

I expect a tough game and Brazil to nick one in the 2nd half.

.

UPDATE I:

Chile - Spain, Spain -1ah @ 1.93 (Pinnacle)  1-2 DRAW

Chile won both games 1-0 against two defensive sides.Today they need not to lose by more than 1 (my assumption is Switzerland won't win by 2 or more).Problem is they can't adjust their attacking style of play to opponent.It works when they're favorites,but against Brazil in their qualifications it brought 7 conceded goals in 2 games.3 players in defense line make them vulnerable on the flanks (tonight,vulnerable to Silva,Mata,Navas,Villa...).And I'm not sure playing pressing against Spain will bring them anything good.

After two games,I have impression that Spain has much more potential than they've been showing so far.First game was a bad luck imo,in second only their arrogance and selfishness each to other stopped them not to score few more.Now they feel a fire under the feet and it's the final time to become serious.

Personally don't like Del Bosque and big expectations brought some pressure,but I think they're simply too strong to end WC in a group.

.

World Cup 2010 bonuses
888sports - NO LOSE BET
Open your account, here. Place your first bet (maximum 20 pounds). If you lose, in the next 72 hours you’ll get your money back! Offer applies to new customers only, between June 1, 2010 & July 12, 2010.

Saturday's World Cup round-up

Reports in the American media suggest the referee who disallowed a last-gasp goal for the United States in their 2-2 draw against Slovenia may have taken charge of his last match at this World Cup.
Fifa sources have apparently suggested that Malawian official Koman Coulibaly's performance in the Group C encounter is to be assessed by the governing body's refereeing committee, and he may not be assigned any more games in the competition.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will have an operation after the World Cup on the back problem which could rule him out of the rest of the tournament. It means he could miss up to four months of the Italian domestic season.
Buffon, who was substituted in his team's opening group match against Paraguay, has a herniated disc and will not feature against New Zealand. The 32-year-old has delayed surgery in the hope of playing some further part in South Africa. 

Didier Drogba is being tipped to start for the Ivory Coast in their match against Brazil on Sunday after making a steady recovery from a fractured elbow.
"Do not be surprised if Drogba starts," said coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who brought the Chelsea striker on as a second-half substitute in the 0-0 draw with Portugal.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has defended coach Dunga's abrasive style - and likened him to Jose Mourinho, who led Italian side Inter Milan to the treble last season.
Julio Cesar, who played under Mourinho at the San Siro, said: "Dunga is only putting in place a work philosophy. Mourinho did exactly the same as what Dunga is doing now. We won everything with this work philosophy." 

France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan has admitted that his side have failed to operate as a team in South Africa, despite having a number of talented individuals.
The French, beaten by Mexico in their last match, are struggling to make the second round and Toulalan said: "The difference between us and Mexico is that they are playing as a team, and we have 11 individuals. We have high-quality players. What we missed was being a collective on the pitch."

Germany coach Joachim Loew remains convinced his team will still progress to the second round despite the shock defeat against Serbia that means a loss against Ghana could eliminate them from the competition.
"It is obvious that we are going to be under more pressure now, but we will make the round of 16," insisted Loew, who admitted to being "devastated" by the Serbia result. 

Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz believes Paraguay are capable of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in the country's history.
"We want to go at least to the quarter-finals. In Paraguayan history it's never been done," declared the striker, who came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against Italy.

www.bbc.co.uk

WC predictions - last part

My vote for WC winners goes for Brazil.

Argentina has Maradona as a coach. Best player in the history and my real idol from the childhood, but coach. No, no way. Considering names (including those that El Pibe wrote off) the best squad in the tournament. But, personally can’t imagine Veron and El Loco with the trophy. Enough.

Spain. Second strongest squad in my opinion. I don’t rate Del Bosque too high, but definitely better solution than Luis Aragones. As the best group they look best, tactically perfect. Bad things, Torres was injured couple of times through the season and he’s not in the best shape. Also, they’re well known as WC “underachievers”, this time a trophy is expected. Something simply doesn’t fit. More instinct than facts, but I’m pretty sure they won’t win WC.

Netherlands, great team with huge attacking potential. If I have to find bad sides, I’d say not so good defense (I mean, not good as other top sides) and Robben who probably won’t be fully fit. I would consider them as favorites, but tragically they’ll face Brazil in quarter-final and will finish the competition.

Italy, too old. France, they maybe won’t even pass the group (personally,would be glad to see it). Anyway, can’t see them further then second round. Other teams have no chance.

Brazil. Dunga looks much better than at the beginning. He wrote off some lazy bags (Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano…) and got a good dressing room atmosphere and the team that looks united on the pitch. The spine of the team: Julio Cesar, Lucio, Kaka and Luis Fabiano. Looks great for me. Also, expect from Robinho to shine (6.50 for him to be Brazil top scorer, hm…). And maybe it’s not so important, but Africa (climate conditions) should suit more to South American teams, than European.

Any comment would be appreciated.

.

Normally, bets will follow. Stay tuned.

.

Available free bets, bonus offers and promotions:
Expekt - First deposit bonus up to €35 / £25 for all new customers
Make your first deposit at expekt.com and we will immediately double your money up to max €35 / £25. Take these 3 easy steps to start profiting from sports betting: 1.Register an account with expekt.com here. 2.Deposit a minimum of €10 into your expekt.com account. 3.Send an email to 35eurbonus@expekt.com with your customer number and deposit amount included. The bonus amount up to €35/£25 will be added to your account within 48 h

Ecuador - Brazil

This game will be played in capital Quito on the big height which is a big problem for the most away teams. And that is perhaps the biggest home side strength. Ecuador shows big improvement in the last ten years, two times they qualified for World Championship. In this campaign, situation isn't so bright. They lie on 7th place, four points less than 5th Chile (5th position guarantee play-off games with best Oceania's team) and four less than 4th Urugay(and a game less from them). In Quito, Ecuador already lost four points at home (Colombia 0-0 and Venecuela 0-1) and they expect two very tough games, against Brazil and Paraguay. Tonight they'll have to go for a win. That may be a problem considering their opponent. But, in their three last games in Quito, Ecuador has already won twice by 1-0 and one game ended 0-0.  Felix Borja, Carlos Tenorio and Pedro Quinonez are sidelined 'cause the injuries, but two key defenders have recovered: Antonio Valencia and Edison Mendez. Excellent Man City striker Felipe Caicedo will start in offence line, with Christian Benitez. There is no doubt Ecuador will attack! That guarantee good game.

Brazil continue with torturing under the charge of Carlos Dunga. 17 points from 10 games are not something that five times world champions can be proud with. They have three straight 0-0 home draws (which says they have problems with defensive teams) and two convincing away wins, Chile 3-0 and Venezuela 4-0 (which says they like to be attacked, as Ecuador intend to do). Dunga continues to annoy the audience. This time he failed under the pressure and called Ronaldinho who usually warms the bench in Milan. Kaka has some foot problems, Adriano is in doubt too. But their attack even without these two looks masterful and scary. Robinho will start, there are Luis Fabiano and Pato. Brazil will pass the group stage, of course, but tonight is all about the pride and revenge for previous defeats.

I've been thinking a lot about the bet. We'll watch open game from the first whistle. Think Caicedo and Benitez in clash with central def. Maicon and Marcelo can score. Who knows, maybe we'll see the end of Dunga's era, tonight. So, over before the away win. Betfair offers unreal 2.14. the rest about 2.00, including Expekt.I burnt my fingers yesterday, my stake will be small. Seat back and enjoy in footie, lads!