Time to right some wrongs

Well England managed to qualify but only in second place thanks to a 92nd minute goal from Landon Donovan for the US of A. The late goal has given England the toughest route to the final any team will have ever faced.


If and that is IF, England beat Germany they are likely to face Argentina in the quarter finals followed by a potential semi final clash with Spain followed by a final against Brazil. If we do manage to win it and beat all four teams on the way then it will be the toughest win ever in a World Cup. But as they say lest take it one game at a time and focus on our nemesis the Germans.

We all know about the history in the World Cups of 1966, 1970 and 1990 but we also remember Euro 96 to where we went out on penalties and it is the two shootouts in the 90’s that are still raw for us English. Italia 90 was my first proper World Cup at the tender age of 10 and the pain of losing on penalties is still with me today. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to penalties this time.

The Germans started brilliantly against a poor Australia but struggled, albeit with 10 men, against Serbia losing 1-0 and only just beat Ghana 1-0. England may have struggled but now it is do or die and if our players can’t step up in the knockout stages against Germany then they are not worthy of the shirt. It is going to be a fascinating, if not nervy game but we should not fear Germany if anything they should be more concerned about us. True Ozil has shined for Germany and our talisman, Rooney, has struggled but now is his time to “explode” as Germnay captain Lahm has warned he is due to.

Hopefully we will see a strong England performance and I think if we perform to our maximum we will beat Germany quite comfortably but if we play with fear as we did against Algeria and USA we will not only struggle but will get beat. Let’s just hope the real England turn up and it we are not rueing a John Terry missed penalty in a shoot out.

I’ve had a look at the odds and have picked out my top bets for the game all at 9/1 including England or Germany winning on penalties

England 2-0 Germany odds of 9/1

England 2-1 Germany odds of 9/1

England to win from behind odds of 9/1

England to win on penalties odds of 9/1

Germany to win on penalties odds of 9/1

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The Case for Heskey

I know this may not be the most popular opinion in England but after watching the likes of Spain and Brazil struggle to break down well organised teams there is a case to play a traditional “big man” up front.


Beckenbaur criticised England’s style of play against the USA as back to the old ways of “kick and rush” football and I happened to agree with the Kaiser as I thought we are far too quick to hit the ball up to Heskey and hope he gets a good touch or knock down somewhere near Rooney and to play from there. However having watch teams struggle to break down well organised and tight defensive units there is strong case suggesting that the long ball could prove a useful weapon in breaking down teams as it adds an uncertainty to the play.

I know the football purists would say it is a backward step but I am not saying we should employ it as our only tactic but having that dimension to our play will give us and edge when looking to break down well organised teams. Clearly pinging a ball to Heskey with no support will be no good but if we can get players up and around him quickly then we have a good base to attack from in the final third. Clearly as well this tactic will depend on Heskey being able to make the ball stick or direct knock downs into the path of the likes of Rooney and Gerrard.

Mexico showed last night, albeit against a terrible French team, that committing men to attack will reap the rewards. What England need to do is find that balance of trying to play through and round teams out wide and looking long for the out ball to Heskey but having Heskey upfront instead of Defoe at least gives us that option, with Defoe we don’t have that. So on that basis I would be playing Heseky upfront against Algeria and Slovenia as at the end of the day everybody would love to play passing football but I think England would rather win the World Cup playing the odd long ball than get knocked out attempting to pass teams to death. Look what happened to Spain.

As for the England game tonight here are my predictions and top bets

Correct Score - I'm going for a patriotic 3-0 win

England 3-0 Algeria - odds of 7/1

England 2-0 Algeria - odds of 5/1


England 1-0 Algeria odds of 11/2


First Scorer - The usual suspect but I fancy Ashley Cole at odds of 54/1

Rooney - odds of 16/5

Lampard - odds of 7/1

Heskey - odds of 10/1

Terry - odds of 23/1

Ashley Cole - odds of 54/1

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Cameroon let me down yesterday and I’m holding Paul le Guen personally responsible for playing Eto wide right but I’m still up so below is todays 3 game treble tip. A £10 bet wins you £55


New Zealand v Slovakia - Slovakia

Ivory Coast v Portugal - Ivory Coast

Brazil v North Korea - Brazil

Click here for Free £25 bet

World Cup games to bet: on today

Slovakia should be too strong for New Zealand but expect a dull 1-0 win for Slovakia at odds of 5/1.

The game of the day is Ivory Coast v Portugal, this will be a close game but I am tipping Ivory Coast to win 2-1 at odds of 11/1

As for Brazil v North Korea if you fancy a long shot then North Korea are 28/1 for the win or 8/1 for the draw but I just can’t see it happening.

Click here for Free Bets

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Todays World Cup picks

After a successful first accumulator/multiple, call it what you will, I’m feeling confident about this World Cup. I came close yesterday predicting a win for Germany and Ghana but the dodgy Algerian keeper let me down as I'd predicted a draw for Algeria v Slovenia.

Not to be deterred I am carrying on today below are my predictions for today’s games and a picture of the lovely Dutch fans.

Holland v Denmark - Holland win

Japan v Cameroon - Cameroon win

Italy v Paraguay - Draw

A £10 bet nets you £97

Click here for Free £25 bet
Previous multiples

Sunday mutliple bet
Slovenia v Algeria - Draw (Slovenia win 1-0)
Ghana v Serbia - Ghana (Ghana win 1-0)
Germany v Australia - Germany (Germany win 4-0)

Bet - lost

Friday/Saturday predictions

South Africa v Mexico - Draw (game drawn 1-1)
France v Uruguay - Draw (game drawn 0-0)
South Korea v Greece - South Korea (South Korea win 2-0)
Argentina v Nigeria - Argentina (Argentina win 1-0)

Bet - won £330 from an £8 bet

 

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A draw is not bad news for England

OK so the result wasn’t what our over expecting fans and press wanted but a draw is not bad in your opening game and it if Green had kept an eye on the ball it would all be different.


I was predicting a 1-1 draw but I got swept up in the patriotic fever and went for a 2-1, luckily though my accumulator of South Africa, draw, France, Draw, South Korea and Argentina to win came in. A much better start to my World Cup than poor Rob Green.

England started well yesterday but were knocked out their stride by Dempsey’s goal. It was a lot more of a positive performance than in 2006. Two things concern me about England. Firstly their tactic and reliance on the long diagonal ball to Heskey and his ability to knock it down somewhere near Rooney or Gerrard. But my biggest concern for England will be Ledley King coming off. A certain back pairing of Terry and Carragher might be grit and determination personified but they are both lacking in pace and as shown yesterday Carragher is always likely to get booked at a World Cup and runs a real risk of getting sent off. Capello has a lot to think about in key positions, in goal and centre half.

So Fabio if you are reading this, I’ve got me boots out!

I was excited about this World Cup and Englands chances and I still am. South Africa is proving one of the best atmospheres ever in a World Cup and love them or hate them, the vevezulas are giving a truly African feel to the tournament and a lively atmosphere even in the undersold South Korea v Greece. The football has been lively and quick and there have been goals. Bring on todays games!!!!!!

Seen as my first accumulator came in and I like to share the wealth, here, just for you is what I’m betting on today

Slovenia v Algeria – Draw

Serbia v Ghana – Ghana

Germany v Australia – Germany

£10 bet on this treble nets you £184

Click Here to get a free £10 bet with Paddy Power

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World Cup is finally here!

Kick off in the first game is just minutes away and I for one can’t wait. The biggest spectacle in the World (forget the Olympics it is just not as exciting) is being held in Africa for the first ever time, which really does give the competition a World feel.


The time for talk is almost over but there is still time for me to make my bold predictions



Group Qualifiers

Group A – Mexico and South Africa

I expect the French to go struggle to hit form and the home crowd will help South Africa to qualify from this group.

Group B – Argentina and South Korea

Argentina should qualify easily and I expect the expectation on Nigeria to prove too much for them and the Greeks to be too dull to go through, giving South Korea the second qualifying spot

Group C – England and USA

It is unthinkable that England won’t qualify and I think the USA will be too strong for Slovenia and Algeria

Group D – Germany and Ghana

You can never rule out the Germans even if they are playing their team down. I think Ghana will prove too strong for the Aussies and a good Serbian team



Group E – Holland and Denmark

The Dutch should qualify easily form this group and I can’t see Cameroon or Japan qualifying ahead of the Danes

Group F – Italy and Paraguay

Italy should qualify for the group then it is likely to be out of Paraguay and Slovakia as New Zealand just doesn’t have the quality. I’m going for Paraguay to go through with Italy

Group G – Brazil and Ivory Coast

The group of death should see Brazil go through then it is between Portugal and Ivory Coast. All three teams should beat North Korea but I expect the African connection to help Ivory Coast through.

Group H – Spain and Chile

Spain should cruise through this group including Chile, Switzerland and Honduras. It will be tight between the other 3 but I expect Chile to just nick it


Quarter Finals predictions

Mexico v England

Argentina v Germany

Holland v Brazil

Italy v Spain



Semi Final Predictions

England v Holland

Spain v Argentina

Final

England v Argentina

Winner

It pains me as my heart says England but my head says Argentina

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Who will replace Rafa at Anfield?

With the World Cup a week away it seems strange to be writing about Liverpool and their sacking of Rafa Benitez after 6 years in charge.


There is mixed emotions form Liverpool fans, although the general consensus seems to be that a change was needed. The seemingly amicable split with Rafa accepting a £6m pay off instead of the reported £16m he was due suggests that both parties felt it time to move on.

A bad season this time round signalled the end of Rafa’s reign. The fact Liverpool didn’t even qualify for the Champions League was the straw that broke the camels back after lasts season efforts pushing Man Utd so close.

Rafa will always be revered by the red half of Merseyside after the amazing Champions League success in 2005 as well as an FA Cup win in 2006. The big question now is who will replace Rafa?

The contenders

Kenny Dalglish

Currently an ambassador for Liverpools Youth Academy King Kenny has been given the role of helping find the next Anfield boss, but many observers feel his close connection to Liverpool could see him end up with the role on a full time basis.

Kenny would be a big hit with the fans but is only 3rd favourite on Betfair at odds of 9/2

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Roy Hodgson

The current Fulham manager has seen his stock rise this season after guiding Fulham to the Europa League final. A worldly manager with experience at international level and abroad he could be ready to leave Fulham to take charge of a bigger club.

Roy Hodgson is currently the favourite on Betfair at odds of 7/2

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Martin O’Neil

The Irish man may have recently committed himself to Villa but he remains one of the favourites to take over at Anfield. Although he has made great strides with Villa the question is whether he has the capacity to manage a club with the expectations of Liverpool.

Even though he has committed to Villa recently he is still the second favourite on Betfair at odds of 4/1

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Mark Hughes

The former Man City manager and Man Utd player may not be a popular choice with fans due to his previous connections however he did a great job at Blackburn and a reasonable job at City and the fact he is a free agent could appeal to the Liverpool board.

He may not be popular with the fans but his availability makes him a good bet on Betfair at odds of 14/1

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Guus Hiddink

The Dutch man who was so popular at Chelsea may have recently committed himself to the Turkish national team but that hasn’t stopped him being linked with the vacant position. Hard to imagine him breaking his contract with the Turkish FA.

Would be a top choice for the fans and board and worth a bet on Betfair at odds of 17/1

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Jurgen Kilnsmann

The German had allegedly been approached by Hicks previously, however his lack of managerial experience and involvement in the game would make him an unlikely choice and an unpopular one.

He may not be a popular choice but Hicks likes him if you fancy a bet on Betfair at odds of 12/1

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