Quote:
|
Originally Posted by big123 The World Cup starts on June 9th. Let's start talking some soccer fellas  |
Hey Tom...
Here's who wins, like it or not:
Group A: Germany -225
WINNER
Home support and weak division make this almost a no brainer.
Group B: England -125
WINNER
Good value here with England bet. They have many many world class players and the rest of the division just lacks the depth. Paraguay are solid team but shouldn't stand up to the English side who play an extremely fast game. Sweden posts biggest threat with likes of Ibrahimovic, Ljunberg, Wilhelmsson and Larsson but most of these players are getting old and England look fit with enough young and fast talent to make it deep into World Cup 2006. Maybe one of my outright favorites to win it all.
Group C: Netherlands +160
LOSS Goal differential
Yeah, Argentina, whatever. As we saw mostly at the Confederations cup this team has tremendous offense talent but on the back end? Not so great. Their best defenders as are Brazils are attacking players. Gabriel Heinze and the likes. Netherlands have a great defense, midfield and attack. Roy Makaay is getting older but has let off not a bit and Rudd Van Nistelrooy always shines on the wrold stage. Netherlands may go undefeated in group play, they're a great side who aren't getting the recognition they should. Ivory Coast boast about 1 player in Didier Drogba and he won't likely be enough. S&M will likely win a game or two but in this tough division even that might be very unlikely. They finish last between the 4.
Group D: Portugal -115
WINNER
Does this team not ever finish in the top 2 or 3 places of every tournament including a final berth in Euro 2004 when the upstart Greece team suprised the world and won the thing. Portugal are once again stacked and very good in attack and in defense. Christiano Ronaldo is truly a treat to watch and is arguably the best player in the world right now. A few more years on him and he just maybe. Ball control team in a very weak division. Mexico oppose the biggest threat but although much success in the Confederations cup, Portugal will surely be too great a task.
Group E: Italy -105
WINNER
Yeah, slight favorite over the Czech Republic. US & Ghana will be a no factor in the division. Italy and the Czechs both have explosive offenses. Fernando Totti a natural. Italy more defense than the Czechs and great Italy following perhaps to Germany? I give them edge in this division but should be close.
Group F: Brazil -333
WINNER
Croatia, Australia & Japan? Heh... Croatia are a solid team and can score but in comparison to the world players held by the Brazilians they will likely pale in comparison. Croatia always shows well on the international scale but really too much with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Junihno & Robinho the list is endless. I fear something in this division the -333 maybe just a little too steep for that. Joe Publics money will be all over Brazil but for +300 for tourney win they hold a lot more value.
Group G: France -220
LOSS
Switzerland, South Korea and Togo will oppose France in Group G. France are surely out with something to prove with Thierry Henry completely reviving himself and his Arsenal team to the UEFA Champions League final. He'll be ready and rearing to go with full confidence and that makes a world of difference for this side. Not to mention his old friend Viera having a good season with Juventus. I believe France come out angry. Alex Frei and the Swiss will try to come up with something but will end up short and taking 2nd mostly likely...
Group H: Spain -160
WINNER
I think another pretty good bet with the only other team opposing anything is the Ukraine. Should be a few travellers from Spain to Germany as well I would imagine, World Cup is the largest soccer event in arguably the world and Europe is just bezerk. Spanish team too classy for the rest of this division, this maybe one of the best value bets for divison. I expect Ukraine to finish 2nd, maybe with 4 points or so and Saudia Arabia and Tunisia to likely finish winless and 3rd and 4th respectively.
World Cup Winner: Brazil +300
How can you argue, look down any club on paper and match player for player you won't be too satisfied. I try to look to another side but nobody in Europe will beat this team, I am pretty well certain. Even with injury or the chance of injury Brazil have the most depth and for that I will gladly put my money on them.
*6-2 overall, hopefully you guys got in on the decent ones
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/group/index.html
France was just horrible so far...
GL!
B