Tony's World Cup Predicter

[Tony2005]

ECUADOR V FRANCE

The French are back for their final group game and i would expect quite a few changes as they have breezed through the group.

The have a decent squad so i still think they will be way to strong for Ecuador tonight.


Tonights bets.

FRANCE & OVER 2.5 MATCH GOALS @ 6/5...........15 points

FRANCE TO WIN BOTH HALVES @ 7/2.................10 points

REMY (France) 2 OR MORE GOALS @ 8/1..............cancelled not playing

FRANCE FIRST GOAL........MITUIDI @ 16/1..........2 points

TO SCORE AT ANYTIME.....MITUIDI @ 11/2..........4 points


Total points wagered........31

[Tony2005]

FRANCE 0 ECUADOR 0

20 French shots on goal and failed to score tells the story of this one.

Six changes for the French who played the game at half speed even after Ecuador had a player sent off.

But after this then maybe the French will get luckier in front of goal when they most need it.

So its off to ate last 16 and a date with Nigeria for The French and its back home for Ecuador.


Tonights Bets

All lost again (we need to get a run going)


New balance........138


Tomorrow we look at the 5pm game....

USA V GERMANY

[Tony2005]

GERMANY V USA....5pm

This should be a decent game.

Germany are quite a few peoples fancy to win this and the USA so far have been a team that looks like it wants to do better then most think it will.

The USA also have Klinsman as coach that will also add to the excitement against the country he played so well for.

I think this might just be a tight encounter with the odd goal winning it for the Germans.


Todays Bets

FIRST GOAL..MULLER (GER) @ 4/1...........5 points

FIRST GOAL...DEMPSEY (USA) @ 10/1......3 points

DRAW 2-2 @ 12/1...................................3 points

GERMANY 2-0 @ 8/1................................4 points

SCORE DRAW @ 7/2................................5 points


Total wagered.......20 points

[bennythedip2]

I like the look of this game Tony (and your picks) .. I'd love to see the yanks nick it though

[Tony2005]

GERMANY 1 USA 0

The Germans won with a Thomas Muller goal in the second half of a game which didnt really live up to expectations.

The USA might not be anywhere near a top international team but they are through to the knockout stages on their never say die attitude.

The Germans were poor and the USA didnt really create a decent chance till injury time when they really should have equalised on a couple of occasions.

The Germans march on to play possibly Algeria or Russia and the USA looked booked to face Belgium.


TONIGHTS BETS LANDED

FIRST GOAL..MULLER (GER) @ 4/1...........5 points


New Balance........143 points


So our next bets will be the two last 16 games on Saturday.


BRAZIL V CHILE at 5pm


COLUMBIA V URGUARY at 9pm

[Tony2005]

So the group stages are over and what have we learnt from those?

Firstly Spain the holders just didnt turn up and i think this Real Madrid / Barcelona thing is something to do with it. They played in the first two matches like a group of 11 players who didnt get on and showed no real heart especially in the game against Chile who in my opinion are no world beaters.


Secondly England...I thought we played ok in the game against Italy but as i have said a few times now the lack of a "plan B" was always going to be our downfall. We never had a man in the box when needed and rarely had runners attacking the space in the 18 yard area, the only time we did was when Rooney scored against Uraguay.

Why bring Chamberlin when he obviously wasnt fit ? He should have taken the chance then to bring another striker.

Yes the defence didnt look solid at times but surely not bringing Cole was another big mistake as Baines cant defend and was wasted going forwards as he had to keep passing inside instead of getting to the byline due to us not having that focal centre forward most teams have.

But lets see what happens when the dust settles.....I think we will see the end of Hodgson in the next month by "mutual consent"...Who takes his place will be another matter but maybe Raffa Benitez a proven "cup" manager could be the answer.


The Italians and Portugal were also on the plane home and to me it looks like they are in a worse state then we are.


One team going home that i really enjoyed watching was Australia...Very limited player wise but gave it 100% in every match and with just a bit more luck could have made it to the knockout stages.


The two surprises for me are Holland and France both not fancied by the layers pre tournament but now both amongst the favs to lift the cup.

For me i think the Dutch may not be quite as good against a well organised side but they have what looks like an easy ride to the semis playing Mexico next then the winners of Costa Rica and Greece.


The French are my pick to win it now even though they have a fairly tough game against Nigeria and then possibly Germany to make the semis where the hosts Brazil may well await.


Brazil and Argentina havnt really looked as good as we all expected but i can see them improving as this goes on and must both make the semis.


The small nations like Costa Rica, Algeria and Columbia have all be a joy to watch along with the spirit and fitness of the USA.


I think Columbia might just surprise Uruguay who after loosing Suarez will lack some bite up front.


So we look forwards to the knockout stages where i see the games being a lot tighter then the group ones and i can see a couple of these games going all the way to pens...


I cant see many shocks so my Semi Final line up will be.



BRAZIL V FRANCE

ARGENTINA V HOLLAND


Both games being repeats of finals where France and Argentina came out on top (1998 & 1978)


Lets hope it continues to entertain us and also that we show a profit on our bets.....

[Tony2005]

BRAZIL V CHILE 5pm BBC 1

The hosts are the first to play in the last 16 against Chile who have surprised a few with their entertaining style.

I feel Brazil will be too quick and to powerful for Chile although i dont see that much in the final result.

When you have the scoring power of Neymar you have a decent advantage even before the game kicks off.

So its Brazil for me to be the first team through.


Todays Bets

BRAZIL to WIN BOTH HALVES @ 11/4.........8 points

BRAZIL TO SCORE A PEN @ 6/1..........4 points

OSCAR FIRST GOAL @ 10/1................3 points

OSCAR TO SCORE AT ANYTIME @ 3/1........6 points

SANCHEZ FIRST GOAL @ 10/1.................3 points


Total wagered.....24 points

[Tony2005]

BRAZIL 1 V CHILE 1 (AET)

BRAZIL WIN 3-2 ON PENS


I said earlier these games would be tight and this one was.

A really good first half with both goals coming in a 15 min spell.

The second half and extra time didnt really live up to the first 45 mins and even though the BBC commentator was trying to make it sound like the greatest game we had seen ...it wasnt.

Brazil are there for the taking and non of the europeans should fear playing them.

Their front man FRED is a lucky guy.....Because if Brazil didnt also have JO then FRED would be the worst striker they have ever had....

Oscar was so anonymous that Scolari only remembered he was on the pitch at half time of extra time when bringing him off.

This Brazil team are very over rated and any team that attacks them down the flanks will get rewarded.

Tonight they were lucky against a Chile team who i thought might just have edged it and could have won it with the last kick of the game if the bar hadnt saved them.

So Brazil go on to the last eight but even though they should best either Columbia or Uraguay i can see then not making the final as in the semis either the Germans or the French will wipe the floor with them.

Also how they allowed Luis to keep the first goal when it clearly didnt touch him before going in amazes me and of course our first scorer on Sanchez is a looser...


Tonights Bets.....All lost.....

New balance.....119

[Tony2005]

URUGUAY V COLUMBIA...9pm ITV

So onto game two and another South American encounter.

Obviously Uruguay are missing Suarez but they should still be ok going forward as Cavanni is a class finisher..

But i fancy the free scoring Columbians to cause a bit of a shock here and go on to face Brazil.

I can see this being a dirty game so a pen or two looks likely as does a sending off.


Tonights Bets

PENALTY IN MATCH @ 3/1..........9 points

COLUMBIA TO SCORE A PEN @ 12/1......3 points

URUGAUY TO SCORE A PEN @ 8/1.......3 points

RED CARD IN MATCH @ 3/1..........5 points

COLUMBIA TO WIN 3/1 @ 18/1......3 points

DRAW 90 MINS 2-2 @ 18/1.........3 points


Total points wagered........26

[bennythedip2]

Good luck Tony ..

Have to say that Brazil game was brilliant to watch