Posted:
#1
Time to toot your Vuvuzela! 
It's now the 11th June in the UK which means the World Cup starts today. Give it another 12 hours and we'll be cracking open the beers for the opening ceremony in anticipation of the games which lie ahead over the next month. Let's hope the organisers do their country proud and give South Africa and the World a competition to remember.
Like a few others on here i'm going to use this one thread throughout the duration of the tournament to keep track of my picks and how many units I blow as the French (much like Crystal Palace last season) keep screwing me over.
I have a few prop bets such as Van Persie top goal scorer and a few dual group winner picks but those are really for just a bit of interest.
I'll mostly be using this thread for the head to head match ups which is where the majority of my money will go.
South Africa v Mexico
I'm taking Mexico on a pk for this as I can't see South Africa keeping them out. I was really impressed with Mexico when they played my lot at Wembley not so long ago and they should have left with at least a draw instead of a 3-1 defeat. They've played a hell of a lot of pre-world cup friendlies prior to tomorrow's opener (including a victory over Italy) and they looked a very cohesive unit when i've seen them (mainly in midfield and in attack) Defensively they are vulnerable from set-pieces which is why I can see South Africa scoring if they can get decent deliveries into the box.
Mexico will create chances and the big question is whether they can make the most of any opportunities they get. I think they'll do enough to get 2 goals in a 2-1 victory.
The problem with the opening game is your also trying to guage how the occassion will affect the teams. South African fans and those bloody Vuvuzela's will be making a helluva noise to spur the home team on and their is a chance that the referee could make a few choice decisions in favour of the hosts (see South Korea in 2002) In light of this, i'll take the Mexico pk just in case we get a dodgy penalty call for Bafana Bafana. It'll be interesting to see how South Africa play with a bit of pressure as expectancy is high over there for a good tournament.
Few stats:
10 of South Africa's last 11 matches have had 2 goals or less (I do like the over tomorrow though@1.84)
None of Soth Africa's last 12 matches have had a goal scored before the first 27 mins (1st goal 27mins and under is @2.05, 28 mins and after is @1.70)
Both teams to score is @2.00
France v Uruguay
Treading cautiously with this one as well due to a horrible feeling in my gut that the French are going to put in a good performance just because i've bet against them. Needless to say I fancy Uruguay to get a least a scoring draw from this - mainly due to the exciting combination of Forlan and Suarez leading the line.
France do have a good side with quality all over the pitch but the players don't appear to have much faith in Domenech and they appear to be directionless in their approach to games (scraping through qualification but we'd better leave that one alone) The nation don't appear to like him either (see P's and Bucheron's comments this past year) and neither do the French FA who have Blanc lined up to replece him once the tournament finishes. This situation reminds me of England in 2006 when Sven was due to step down and the result was pretty clueless football where the players didn't seem to know what they were doing. Will the French side be motivated to give Domenech a decent send off? Given their quality you can never write them off, though a quarter final may well be their limit this time around.
I don't think Uruguay are defensively sound (when i've seen them recently, they've played 3 at the back) which is why I like both teams to score in this (@2.00) and the over (2.5@2.20) but they do press well all over the pitch and could disrupt France's passing game. Uruguay pose enough of a threat to get on the scoresheet themselves and i'm not convinced by Gallas and Abidal as a centre back pairing.
2-1 Uruguay win for me - just!
Defender Diego Lugano scored 4 goals in qualifying for Uruguay and he's @11.00 to score anytime tomorrow.
16 of Uruguay's 18 qualifying games had at least 4 yellow cards so I might look at Uruguay to win the card count battle@1.66
Picks:
Mexico pk@1.94 1 unit
Uruguay pk,+.5@2.05 1 unit
Playing it careful to start with as the opening games on the opening day can be a bit of a crapshoot.
Hopefully we've got an exciting month ahead with plenty of drama, goals (for Sultan's overs) beers, hangovers, lingering camera shots of the fine ladies in the crowd so we can decide which nation has the hottest fans (purely for research purposes of course - damn I wish the Swedes had qualified) and of course the sound of bookies sobbing all over the world.
Good luck to everyone on covers. And to those who are new to soccer, I hope you learn to love the sport and understand why it's the greatest game on earth.
Cheers!
P.S. Please let us knock the Germans out on penalties
No offence lutz
It's now the 11th June in the UK which means the World Cup starts today. Give it another 12 hours and we'll be cracking open the beers for the opening ceremony in anticipation of the games which lie ahead over the next month. Let's hope the organisers do their country proud and give South Africa and the World a competition to remember.
Like a few others on here i'm going to use this one thread throughout the duration of the tournament to keep track of my picks and how many units I blow as the French (much like Crystal Palace last season) keep screwing me over.
I have a few prop bets such as Van Persie top goal scorer and a few dual group winner picks but those are really for just a bit of interest.
I'll mostly be using this thread for the head to head match ups which is where the majority of my money will go.
South Africa v Mexico
I'm taking Mexico on a pk for this as I can't see South Africa keeping them out. I was really impressed with Mexico when they played my lot at Wembley not so long ago and they should have left with at least a draw instead of a 3-1 defeat. They've played a hell of a lot of pre-world cup friendlies prior to tomorrow's opener (including a victory over Italy) and they looked a very cohesive unit when i've seen them (mainly in midfield and in attack) Defensively they are vulnerable from set-pieces which is why I can see South Africa scoring if they can get decent deliveries into the box.
Mexico will create chances and the big question is whether they can make the most of any opportunities they get. I think they'll do enough to get 2 goals in a 2-1 victory.
The problem with the opening game is your also trying to guage how the occassion will affect the teams. South African fans and those bloody Vuvuzela's will be making a helluva noise to spur the home team on and their is a chance that the referee could make a few choice decisions in favour of the hosts (see South Korea in 2002) In light of this, i'll take the Mexico pk just in case we get a dodgy penalty call for Bafana Bafana. It'll be interesting to see how South Africa play with a bit of pressure as expectancy is high over there for a good tournament.
Few stats:
10 of South Africa's last 11 matches have had 2 goals or less (I do like the over tomorrow though@1.84)
None of Soth Africa's last 12 matches have had a goal scored before the first 27 mins (1st goal 27mins and under is @2.05, 28 mins and after is @1.70)
Both teams to score is @2.00
France v Uruguay
Treading cautiously with this one as well due to a horrible feeling in my gut that the French are going to put in a good performance just because i've bet against them. Needless to say I fancy Uruguay to get a least a scoring draw from this - mainly due to the exciting combination of Forlan and Suarez leading the line.
France do have a good side with quality all over the pitch but the players don't appear to have much faith in Domenech and they appear to be directionless in their approach to games (scraping through qualification but we'd better leave that one alone) The nation don't appear to like him either (see P's and Bucheron's comments this past year) and neither do the French FA who have Blanc lined up to replece him once the tournament finishes. This situation reminds me of England in 2006 when Sven was due to step down and the result was pretty clueless football where the players didn't seem to know what they were doing. Will the French side be motivated to give Domenech a decent send off? Given their quality you can never write them off, though a quarter final may well be their limit this time around.
I don't think Uruguay are defensively sound (when i've seen them recently, they've played 3 at the back) which is why I like both teams to score in this (@2.00) and the over (2.5@2.20) but they do press well all over the pitch and could disrupt France's passing game. Uruguay pose enough of a threat to get on the scoresheet themselves and i'm not convinced by Gallas and Abidal as a centre back pairing.
2-1 Uruguay win for me - just!
Defender Diego Lugano scored 4 goals in qualifying for Uruguay and he's @11.00 to score anytime tomorrow.
16 of Uruguay's 18 qualifying games had at least 4 yellow cards so I might look at Uruguay to win the card count battle@1.66
Picks:
Mexico pk@1.94 1 unit
Uruguay pk,+.5@2.05 1 unit
Playing it careful to start with as the opening games on the opening day can be a bit of a crapshoot.
Hopefully we've got an exciting month ahead with plenty of drama, goals (for Sultan's overs) beers, hangovers, lingering camera shots of the fine ladies in the crowd so we can decide which nation has the hottest fans (purely for research purposes of course - damn I wish the Swedes had qualified) and of course the sound of bookies sobbing all over the world.
Good luck to everyone on covers. And to those who are new to soccer, I hope you learn to love the sport and understand why it's the greatest game on earth.
Cheers!
P.S. Please let us knock the Germans out on penalties
No offence lutz
0
but Uruguay will cause them problems 
Hope you and the McBride family are well mate? Despite you being over 40 now. 
I just saw you've got France.
I really can't make them out so I guess we'll know more tomorrow night. Good luck! 
BOL for the weeks ahead. 
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