Every week JOE and Paddy Power go head-to head in our betting challenge and this week has a distinct Euro 2012 feel to it.
Last week JOE had a rough time with none of our bets coming through and that has seen us come out this week looking to make up some ground by landing a few big haymakers. Paddy hit us on the chin twice with two well judged bets.
Paddy in contrast is playing it safer than JOE. The bell has rung for round five, both fighters are coming out swinging, but who will be left standing when all is said and done?
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Paddy’s picks for the week:
Ireland to beat Croatia at 5/2
I have been accused in the past (quite regularly to be honest) of being a complete green-tinted glasses merchant, but while we’re not Brazil, Croatia aren’t up to a huge amount either. When it comes to Ireland, there isn’t a more settled team in the competition. We know what we’re going to get. We’ll be solid, hard to beat and won’t concede many goals. I’m having a cut at Ireland at 5/2 to win the match – get your inflatable hammers out, this is going to get interesting!
The other match in our group is surely easy enough to call. While Spain could only manage a late winner against China in warm up, Italy are a shambles at the moment. I don’t think Spain will win the tournament but they will surely have enough in the tank to beat this Italian shower – who knows, Torres might even get himself on the scoresheet.
In England’s last Euros (2004), they lead France 1-0 in their opener until the 91st minute when Zidane scored a free kick & followed up with a winning penalty a minute later – it would be awful if that happened again. The good thing for England this time around is that the expectation is at an all time low….the bad thing is that it’s realistic. France are flying, Ribery is on fire and Benzema is banging in the goals for fun. 6/4??? What an insult to France…get on!
JOE’s picks for the week:
Germany v Portugal to end in a draw at 12/5
Germany are looking like one of the strongest sides in the tournament, but in the opening match against Portugal they could be caught cold and 12/5 for a draw looks like nice odds to us. Germany have a lot of exciting players, but their full-backs Philipp Lahm and Jerome Boateng have an adventurous streak in them that Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani can exploit. The Portuguese weakness comes from their leaky defence. Lots of goals in this game and a high score draw is possible.
Robbie Keane to be first goalscorer against Croatia at 13/2
Robbie Keane caught a lot of flak for his performance against Hungary, but that was for stuff he was trying to do that just didn’t come off on the muddy surface in Budapest. He looked very alert and sharp in that match and in training this week he has supposedly been in flying form. All he needs is one chance and we think he’ll get it.
Andy Lee to beat Julio Cesar Chavez Junior for the World Middleweight title by TKO/KO at 7/1
It’s been a long time since we first saw Andy Lee at the 2004 Athens Olympics. This Sunday morning he faces destiny as he faces WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Junior in Texas. He will be facing a hostile crowd and a top trainer in Freddie Roach, but many feel Chavez Junior is over-rated and has been protected for a long time by his handlers from serious challenges. Many of the US boxing media fancy Lee to pull off a shock win here and after Carl Froch beat another highly-hyped North American fighter Lucian Bute a few weeks ago, we think Lee has the skill and power to put Chavez to the sword by TKO or KO at 7/1.
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