It’s another World Cup Sunday, with traditional giants Brazil and Italy in action. Paddy Power can see nothing but wins for those two among his three bets.
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I feel a little bit better after not getting things as spectacularly wrong yesterday. If Cameroon had managed to nick an equaliser against Denmark to make it 2-2 I’d be looking in to have a few ribs removed. The Indomitable Lions haven’t been quite so indomitable and they’re out. Ghana are in a better position but they really should have made better use of the man advantage.
What is it about Harry Kewell by the way? Mention the word ‘final’ and he can’t get off the pitch quickly enough. Anyway, Ghana looked like they were playing by astro park rules. If one team is short a player, then the other side can’t score from inside the box. They couldn’t score from outside it either and the Aussies battled to a well deserved draw. Holland struggled to break through an industrious Japan but another goalkeeping misjudgement puts them through to the knockout stages, where we wait for the players to start fighting amongst themselves.
Slovakia and Paraguay is a tricky one to start off with today. Mainly because I can’t see either one making it any further than the 2nd round but whoever wins this one will most likely be going through. Which is why I’m going for the 2-2 draw again at 17/1.
Italy seemed to come alive when they went behind against Paraguay and I was sure they were going to come back and win that one. If they play with the same urgency against New Zealand then it’s tough to see the All Whites getting anything from this one. 2-0 to Italy at 9/2.
Finally, the best of the African sides takes on my pick for tournament winners. Brazil won their opener without having to get out of second gear. The Elephants looked as ponderous as their namesakes in their lacklustre game against Portugal. We’re sure to see both teams up their performances but Brazil are the team to beat for me and I don’t think the Ivory Coast are the team to beat the team to beat, if you get me.
They will have Didier Drogba in their starting line-up, which will give Juan and Lucio something to think about. Let’s hope he doesn’t have one of those days which will leave them thinking what a big girl’s blouse he is. Brazil have never lost to an African side at a World Cup and I don’t think the Ivory Coast are going to change that. 3-1 to Brazil at 13/1 may not be so unlucky for some.
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