Betting Picks, Tips and previews for the 2010 World Cup

Uruguay vs Germany – World Cup 2010 

By many considered a “consolation match,” nicknamed by others as “extra bonus for good performance during the World Cup,” is that arises in the game to award the final podium position. I’d rather go another route, because although they left for the game with a possible “mental decompression” I think there are collective goals in common and also some personal, if not see:

Both teams have achieved good performance in general for what they want to toast their fans farewell with a victory and if possible with excellent game; One of the teams is Germany. Just as in the semi – finals saw a similar game to the Euro 2008 final, here we see a similar outcome of the assignment of the 3rd and 4th at the 2006 World Cup. Let’s think of two ways: Read More

Germany vs Spain – World Cup 2010 

The two finalists of the last Euro meet again.

European Champions and the runner-ups, face each other in the world cup semi finals. It’s a hard game to predict, there’s nothing certain, hence the odds for the teams are similar in the bookies.

My primary goal is that you don’t have already defined ideas before the game, try to look at it as Team A vs Team B, not looking at their results untill now (without forgetting them) and speculate on how they will fit each Read More

Uruguay vs Netherlands – World Cup 2010 

Uruguay is among the four finalists the biggest surprise because nobody or almost nobody will ever think in this team to have place in this stage of the competition.
They’re goal is to make a presence in the final. The task will not be easy due to the quality of the opposite side and the absence of several important players caused by the dramatic and thrilling quarter-final game in front of Ghana where the Uruguayans were victorious in the penalties.

The team did an excellent campaign to reach this semi-final based essentially in two factors: a very good defensive organization (that so far earned him to be one of the defenses fewer beaten in the competition, with only Read More

Uruguay vs Ghana – World Cup 2010 

This is a match of the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Uruguay will face Ghana. These are two outsiders teams, but they have showed good quality. One of them will be able to be on the semi-finals and I think that Uruguay has more chances to achieve it.

Uruguay have qualified on group A and then has beaten South Korea on the 1/8 finals by 2-1. It was a balanced match, but Suarez has resolved the game for Uruguay with two great goals. The Uruguayan team has showed good tactical organization and a great sense of team spirit. Their biggest star, Forlan, didn’t make a great match, mas his teammate on the attack took the team to the victory. The midfield Read More

Netherlands vs Brazil – World Cup 2010 

From what we’ve seen in the last game of Brazil against Chile, there was a behavior completely different from the game against Portugal, which fits more with the mentality of the first two games. Brazil is a team that seeks to win, with players who have a great attitude, battles in every play, a Brazil with a “tidy” tactic where everyone knows what role they must play and giving the maximum of their performance. A Brazil different from previous generations, with lees of magic, but with far more pragmatism and consistency in its game. Nothing is done at random and the genius inherent in Brazilian technical players must appear only with an objective purpose and not to entertain the fans in the stands.

The game against Chile we could see the efficiency of Dunga’s Brazil, that he has proposed create and so far has won all major competitions in which Brazil participates (2007 Copa America, Confederations Cup 2009). Essentially, it’s being shown us a team where players really feel their jersey from start to finish with efficient and attractive football in my opinion. For those who saw this country in the World Cup in 2006, you’d never Read More

Spain vs Portugal – World Cup 2010 

A Few months ago and even between the draw for this world cup one of the likely scenarios would be Spain – Portugal early in the 8th of finals, I was absolutely convinced that it would be impossible to match or better the progress that Portugal had in Germany in 2006, although this days I don’t think like that, not even close.

This Spain in our days is far from the one that practiced wonderful football in 2008, very far. They did a very good qualification, which asserted as one of the top favorites to win the World Cup, such was the quality of their played football and, over the most their effectiveness. At this point the story is no longer the same.

In this world cup, hasn’t played well. In mater a fact, they lost with Switzerland – one of weaker European teams present that, incidentally, got their only victory against Spain – and this means a lot. Although in that game Read More

North Korea vs Ivory Coast – World Cup 2010 

This is a match of the last journey of group G, North Korea will face Ivory Coast that can still dream with the qualification, but only a miracle can make it possible. I expect an open game, with two teams that have nothing to lose, so we will able to watch a good football match.

North Korea has suffered their second on the World Cup against Portugal by 7-0! It was a goal festival like the old ones, everything went well with the Portuguese team e nothing went wrong to the North Korean. They have started the match well but as minutes passed by they went down and that as allowed Portugal to control the game. After the second Portuguese goal it was the total collapse and they have suffered Read More

Switzerland vs Honduras – World Cup 2010 

Switzerland has made an excellent game against Spain, surprising the world by beating the super favorites 1-0. They did a defensive game and took a counter-attack combined with a defensive slip from the spanish side to score the goal and so add the three points. In the next game, they caught Chile, and lost 1-0. In this game they weren’t so defensive, but Chile has shown a better game and won it with a goal from Gonzalez.

However, Switzerland played with 10 mens since the 31st minute, and that has influenced the team. However, even one player short, they hanged pretty well without conceding a goal and still managed to create some Read More

Chile vs Spain – World Cup 2010 

This is a match of the last and decisive journey of group H. Chile has six points and is on the first place of the group, Spain has three points and is on the second place.

For some people Chile is the big surprise of this group stage. They have achieved two victories, one against Honduras and another against Switzerland, both by one nill.

On the first two matches the Chilean team has presented a strong tactical discipline. For this game they might use a defensive tactic because they have the qualification almost certain, a draw against a superior team Read More

Portugal vs Brazil – World Cup 2010 

Portugal started a little scared, but played very good in last game, showing what they can do. Against Ivory Coast game was very poor, with little danger for both sides, teams were more concerned about not losing the game than to do something to win, and the game turned out in a 0 – 0. Against North Korea, won 7-0, and is the biggest win of the World Cup. However, I’m realistic and i do not think we have done nothing big special.

We won by a large advantage, but if we were really superior as the result indicated, would not have reached the interval only winning 1-0, and Koreans also created some dangerous moves. I even see this victory, as too Read More

Denmark vs Japan – World Cup 2010 

Game three of Group E where Denmark, placed in third in the group with 3 points and -1 goal average, faces Japan, 2nd place, 3 points and a 0 goal average.

Denmark has made some good performances in this World Cup, specially in the second game. In the first one against Netherlands they just defended and attacked on break with few players in a way not to take too many risks. When they took the first goal, that was in fact an own-goal in a central defender mock up, then they took some more risks on attack and have put Netherlands on alert. This allowed Netherlands to play on break, until they got the second goal near the end of the game. In the second game against the Cameroon they’ve played really well, had to come from behind again (another defense failure) but attacking right from Read More

Slovakia vs Italy – World Cup 2010 

This is a match of the last journey of group F, where everything is yet to be decided, all the four teams can qualify. Slovakia will face Italy, these are two teams that are very different, but they reach the decision time with an uncertain future.

Slovakia makes his debut on World Cup as an independent nation, on the qualifying phase they have left behind their rivals of Czech Republic. A bit more was expect from this team, they only have one point achieved against the fragile New Zealand, they have been beaten by Paraguay by 2-0, this results have made a victory the only insteresting result for the next match in order to go trough to next round, they also have to Read More

Cameroon vs Netherlands – World Cup 2010 

Cameroon with two defeats in their two games, start this last game with only the objective of bringing happiness to their country. In the last game against Denmark have even be allowed to win but Denmark turn the marker and Cameroon end up losing 2-1, a result which threw them to the last place in the group. There was a significant improvement in the Cameroon football from the first to the second game and with nothing to lose in this last game I think they could also make a good game.

Netherlands has managed to qualify for the last eight in first place in the group. Despite having won the first two games, Netherlands has not convinced me totally, expected a more balanced game type for Read More

Paraguay vs New Zealand – World Cup 2010 

Game from the 3rd and final round of Group F, with Paraguay facing New Zealand. It will be an important game for both, on different ways. Paraguay want to confirme the clearance for the 1/8 final and New Zealand need to win to get it. I think that Paraguay is here more than able to get a victory.

Paraguay has confirmed the good indications given at the first meeting of the World Cup and won the second 2-0 against Slovakia. It was an excellent game for the Paraguayan team, who controlled and dominated the entire game. It was a convincing display, which allowed the Guarani ascend to 1st place in the group. The qualifiers for the 1/8 round knockout does not guaranteed and as such, I hope that Paraguay play to Read More

Australia vs Serbia – World Cup 2010 

Both teams can still secure their spot in the round of 16.

Australia is last in the group with only 1 point thanks to the draw against Ghana in the last round.

For Australia to have any chances of going through hey’ll have to win this game and expect that Ghana loses in the clash against Germany in order to un-tie them on goal Read More

USA vs Algeria – World Cup 2010 

C Group’s last round and everything is yet to be decided. The great responsible for things not be decided were the United States which after a fantastic draw against England, they could turn around the game against Slovenia which left the world speechless.

The USA were losing 2-0 at halftime and managed to draw 2-2, and they almost won if it wasn’t for the referee to void a clean goal, which would put the score at 2-3.

The United States have displayed fitness and will, something that was lacking in this world cup. The players are naturally motivated since they only depend on themselves to get to the round of 16, something that i believe Read More

Ghana vs Germany – World Cup 2010 

This is a game of the third round, Gruup D, where Germany, with 3 points, faces Gana, group leader with 4 points.

Germany has so far made 2 good games, although with two different endings. In the first game, against Australia, they won 4-0, with a very good performance, showing their qualities, and they made two of their goals playing against 10, after one australian being sent off. In the second game, they were playing badly, strugling to penetrate Serbia’s defense lines, until Klose sees an unfair red card midway with 10 minutes to go to halftime, and Serbia scored two minutes later.

In the second half, Serbia played defensively, and the germans with only 10 men attacked the whole time, making a very good second half. They even had a penalty given, but Podolski failed to score, and lost many Read More

Slovenia vs England – World Cup 2010 

This is a game of the last journey of group C, Slovenia will face England. This is a very importante match for both teams, mathematically speaking, any of the four teams of the group can qualify. I Think that the English team is clearly favourite to win this game.

Slovenia has started this World Cup very well by beating Algeria by 1-0. This team has been one of the great surprises of the tournament, and leads the group with four points. They had almost guaranteed a historic qualification to the 1/8 finals, but they have conceded the draw in the last minutes. Slovenia was winning by 2-0, but they could have been defeated if the referee did not wrongly invalidate a goal of Read More

Greece vs Argentina – World Cup 2010 

In the final round of group B, Greece will play Argentina. These are two teams in a far different situation as Greece needs to win while Argentina’s got the second round ticket in their pocket. So i hope for a well played match.

Greece got the first win in this World Cup against Nigeria (2-1) and is now on the 3rd place in their group. In that match they were able to come from behind, as they were losing 1-0. But a nigerian player sent off changed the flow of the game, and the greeks scored by Salpingidis and Torosidis. I think that result doesn’t quite show what happened in the game. Once again, Greece had lots of trouble and only the sending off of the nigerian player made it possible for th greek team to take over the game. Until then, Nigeria was the better side on the field and could even had scored more goals when they had the setback. This match Read More

Nigeria vs South Korea – World Cup 2010 

This is a game of the third round, Group B, where Nigeria, that has lost its two games so far, agains Argentina 1-0 and Greece 2-1, faces South Korea, who has 3 points, after defeating Greece in the opening round 2-0 and losing to Argentina 4-1 in the second round.

South Korea started the World Cup playing very well against Greece, dominating the whole game and winning 2-0, playing in a high rythm. Then, facing Argentina, their strategy of playing face-to-face against the south americans didn’t go well, and they realized how far they are from the top teams, losing 4-1. In this game, they face again a team of their own level, and they have the advantage of only needing a draw to Read More

Mexico vs Uruguay – World Cup 2010 

In this final match from the first round on group A, Mexico plays Uruguay. Group leaders come face to face and a single point will be enough for both of them to advance. Even with a defeat they can go through, but they’d have to get a calculator in the end of the match. So, i won’t be admired if this match ends in a draw.

Mexico is currently on the 2nd place after winning 2-0 against France. They played superbly, confirming the good signs from previous games. It was a football lesson that Mexico teached France, showing a very strong collective play. That was the main thing from the game, the mexicans showed they can play as a team. At half-time, the match was still 0-0 but during the second half the mexican coach took some risks, on Read More

France vs South Africa – World Cup 2010 

These are those kind of odds that you see once in a life time! Of course, they are only like these because France has completely lost its North. However, the recent developments and their oponnents, make me want to risk in les bleus.

The players already got what they wanted, make a statement and get all the atention from all over the country. They have been heard, inclusively by their Minister for Sport that went herself to South Africa for a reunion. In that reunion, there was a serious appeal to patriotism and the promess to change things, and identify the responsible ones.

The french players, in my opinion, have made a mistake, but i don’t believe that after this appeal they don’t unite themselves and do everything they can to leave a good impression and also, if possible, qualify for Read More

Spain vs Honduras – World Cup 2010 

Closing game for the 2nd round of Group H, where the Spaniards, which lost their first game to Switzerland by 1-0, get confronted with Honduras which also lost their opening game for Chile by 1-0.

Spain was one of the decepcions after the 1st round after losing to Switzerland. Switzerland defend strongly and the Spaniards couldn’t breach it. They controlled the bacll, but couldn’t find any room, and ended suffering a lone goal in an attack break in the beginning of the 2nd half. Spain has undoubtly great quality in Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Fabregas (which didn’t play in the first game), Iniesta, David Villa, David Silva and Fernando Torres (he also only played on the 2nd half the last game and maybe will start this game). Well, from the midfield and forward Spain has got lots of quality and Read More

Portugal vs North Korea – World Cup 2010 

The Match: It’s the second round game for Portugal and it’s all or nothing for the team of the five shields (Portugal has five shields on his coat of arms). One victory keeps them alive for qualification, whatever happens in the match Brazil – Ivory Coast, a draw almost puts them out, knowing that the last game against Brazil will be perhaps the most difficult one. Of course a defeat against North Corea would be tragic, but that’s unthinkable for the Portugueses national team. On the other side we have North Corea, a team that made Brazil struggle for the win and I believe it will create some problems against Portugal.

Portugal: Not much to say of our team, we all know that the team suffers a lack of confidence crisis and naturally results don’t show up, goals aren’t scored and the main star of our team, Cristiano Ronaldo, doesn’t shows his potential, at least the same potential shown on Real Madrid. The team had already shown before the World Cup some awful friendly games in preparation, and there is also some criticism to the Read More

England vs Algeria – World Cup 2010 

In the 2nd round of the group C, England will play Algeria. It’s an important game for both teams since neither has won on the first match and a defeat will mean they’ll be eliminated. I think England it’s the clear favourite in this game and they can confirm it with a win.

England hasn’t convinced in the first game against the US. They played badly, ending with a poor goal conceded by Robert Green that gave the americans the draw. Englishmen got in the game well, scoring on the 4th minute by Gerrard. Since then they allowed the americans to settle in the match and score their goal. Till the end England failed to get back on their game and create scoring chances, with the exception of one or two on the final moments of the match. I think the main problem was on the midfield, where Gerrard and Lampard never understood each other during the whole match. Lampard was a shadow of himself, never Read More