Campeones, Campeones, Ole Ole Ole! Spain are World Cup Champions!

At last Spain became World Champions. And they truly deserve it, cause they were the best team in past 2 years with all the rest just trying to match them. The same as Barcelona on the club level. Spain have on of the most talented squad of all time in football history, with such great players as Xavi and Iniesta. I have some comments about this match, just as I saw it.

Spain – Netherlands 1:0 (AET)

The tension was so great that it was felt even a 1000 km in front of the TV. Although I didn’t expect any other scenario of the game.  The tactics of Oranje became clear from the first minute – play tight, crush technically Spain players catch Spaniards on the counterattacks. Dutch played really roughly, on the verge of red card, if status wasn’t not final, then we would have seen the red card in the first half  (De Jong karate strike in the chest of Alonso). The second half was held in the same nervous struggle, but there was plenty of opportunities to score goals, but both teams lacked finishing touch. In extra time began sparkly, but then I think both teams frightened themselves by their own attacks, the game had already been in the state of who will score first goal, will be a winner. On controversial points in extra time – there was penalty on Xavi, despite the fact that this extra time of the Final of the World Cup, second yellow card for Heitinga was right decision, Robben should have been shown a second yellow also, for a goal after the whistle blown, but … all disputes and controversy was forgotten after “illusionist” Iniesta, a specialist in holywood ending goals  in extra time (just remember his goal in the return match with Chelsea on 92nd minute). Overall, the match was pure joy to watch, as it was a clash of 2 equally strong teams, who both deserved to be there and to win it. In the end, Spain was more lucky one and they managed to score a crucial goal just before penalty shoot-out. By the way, penalty shoot-out was the only thing I wished not to happen in the Final and thanks God we’ve had a winner that was determined by great football move… Bravo Espana!  I’ll miss big football festival greatly!

Video highlights (will be update through the week):

Raw Video: Spain Cheers WC Win CORRECTS

Video Highlights of the match (FIFA.com)

Spain erupts in nationwide fiesta as ‘dream comes true’

Celebrations in pictures:

World Cup. Day 18. Brazil and Netherlands hot favorites to progress

Sorry for keeping quite for a weekend, had a football tournament to play, so I didn’t have a time to post my thoughts. Unfortunately whenever you don’t post your thoughts, all the picks come through. Uruguay win in regular time, Ghana (0) in regular time, Germany (0) in regular time + to progress and finally Argentina (-1) – almost all of those bets came through, only Ghana was pushed result as it finished 1:1 in regular time.

Today we have both Brazil and Netherlands as hot favorites in their pairs and both of them should come through into quarterfinals. Their opponents are both with some problems. Chile will have to deal without 3 first choice players (Gary Medel, nicknamed “Pitbull”, Waldo Ponce and Marco Estrada) who are suspended and Slovakia spend a lot of emotions in their final game against Italy. Both of the favorites had little trouble coming out of the group and last games played relaxed, saving some energy for the 1/8 finals. Dutch team has another massive boost in the face of Roben, who will be starting the game. While Brazil welcomes back Kaka, who comes after suspension. All the facts lead us to taking both team wins for a multiple or 2 single bets on asian handicap (-1).

World Cup. Day 14. When we will see real Dutch team?

Despite 2 wins out of 2, I can’t quite say that Holland have shown even 50% of their capabilities. They have great potential and I think that today we have a chance to see them in real action. I would tip Holland to go deep in the tournament, but they have 1 potential problem, in the quarterfinals they will most probably face Brazil team and that’s always a hard match for them. Italy will try to make sure they qualify, most probably from 2nd place. Paraguay will make sure today they will finish in 1st place, to book a meeting with Denmark or Japan in 1/8 final. Denmark – Japan always a risky match, there is so much at stake there.

I will post today only my picks for todays matches, those I’ve picked @ blogabet also.  Won’t have any time to make odd comparison, but believe me, I still can say that one of bookmakers will have them the best of all. Don’t even have to name it!

Cameroon – Holland

Pick:  Over 2.5
Stake:  8/10   Odds:  2.09
Bookmaker:  Pinnacle

World Cup. Day 13. Will England meet France in the airport?

Crucial day today for 2 pre-tournament favorites, Germany and England. Both are in the must win situation and both will play group leaders. I am not worrying about Germany, cause they played nicely in both of the matches, despite 2nd match loss to Serbia. But England showed absolutely nothing here in South Africa and if Slovenia will be able to build up on the performance against USA, then England can pack their bags and meet France in the airport on the way back to London. I doubt that this will happen and England will squeeze through, but still that was unthinkable situation before the World Cup began. 2 more interesting games, USA – Algeria and Serbia – Australia, with all the teams withing a chance to qualify.

Moreover I will offer a free bet on the 3 matches, including today’s Germany and England wins. 10 Euro Free bet @ Pinnacle for a Germany, England and Spain wins in their last games in the group.

World Cup. Day 11. Will Spain answer their critics in match against Honduras?

This was one of the most shocking World Cups as far as I can remember. Low scoring matches, most of the teams don’t intend to attack, playing it safe, therefore shocking results, with England and Italy playing draw with some minor teams. European Champions Spain faced other problem in first game against Switzerland, they played nicely, but simply couldn’t break 10 men defense. In fact I think that 7 Suisse players didn’t cross the midfield in that match, sitting back in defense. I understand, that if they would go out and play open football, then they would get similar result like South Korea got from Argentina. But still, I like when both team are wishing to play football, not when one team only creates and the other only destroys. That day destroyers proved to be  stronger then creators. Today I doubt that this will repeat.

So today I have chosen many options from which to chose on whom to bet. I will return to my analysis with Best Value bets (BVB), Most risky bet, Most safe bet and I will add Poor value bet. Here are all bets I have chosen from today’s 3 games.

World Cup. Day 10. Brazil to face challenge from Ivory Coast

Taking vacation during World Cup is a must do thing. Unfortunately I couldn’t do that so I missed all the matches yesterday, including entertaining late night game Cameroon – Denmark. It proved to be an attacking affair between this 2 teams, something what we miss so much at this World Cup.  Today we will have a big match between 2 great teams. Brazil are always joy to watch, while we can say the same about Ivory Coast team. This should also be an entertaining match, cause Brazil isn’t pragmatic team and refuse to believe that they will play the way Netherlands played in 1st half. Ivory Coast is also capable of showing good attacking football. Even if this match will finish 0:0, I guess it won’t be boring. The 0:0 draw against Portugal wasn’t anything but boring. In other fixtures Paraguay will try to build on the performance they showed against reigning World Champion.

World Cup. Day 9. Any surprises today?

Yesterday was an official bookmaker’s day, so many surprises all around. Germany match saw ridiculous refereeing, with a lot of yellow cards in first half that resulted one red for Klose, although game wasn’t that rude. Then it went all wrong for Germans, first attack after red card and goal from Serbia. Then it was crossbar in 1st half, the post in 2nd half, plus several Podolski misses, the biggest of them from poor penalty spot. Had 2 thoughts here, overs and Germany win, and both of them were buried by some row of wicked circumstances. Then next game USA have actually won, but referee canceled a clear goal by Edu. About last game I don’t want even to comment, simply bunch of impotents that’s what England was yesterday against Algeria. Poor England fans, I wouldn’t wish to be on their place yesterday evening. Such a big team and equally poor performance.

World Cup. Day 8. Slovenia – USA match preview

I will dedicate a separate post to this game. I liked the way USA played in their first encounter against highly fancied England team. USA has a quality side which they showed in first match and indeed last year at Confederations Cup, while Slovenia showed poor understanding of what to do on the pitch against weak Algeria team. They were really lucky that Algeria players lack discipline and were red carded late into the game. And Slovenia was twice lucky cause of the goal they scored – keeper really should have caught that strike. I remember USA playing at the Confederations Cup last year and they were quite impressive as a team, beating reigning European Champions Spain and reaching the final, where they lost to the superior Brazil team.

World Cup. Day 8. Germany and England will try to avoid each other in 1/8

First big team down and actually I am glad that it was France. Domenech is really poor coach for French side and I still wonder how could he hold on to this position for so long. In 2006 it wasn’t him who brought France into World Cup final, it was the majestic Zidane, and experienced Makelele and Thuram, who completely closed Ronaldinho and Kaka in the semi-final against Brasil. So farewell, France, wish you good luck with new coach Laurent Blanc! But now let’s get back to Day 8.

Germany and England got to do everything to finish 1st in their groups. Otherwise they will be meeting each other already in the 1/8 finals stage.  Germans did what they had to do, won convincingly against Australians 4:0. But England managed to slip the victory through Green hands. Now they have to win and most likely have to win it with more then one goal advantage to secure good goal difference. In other match USA play Slovenia and football instinct tells me that USA should win, but I will probably will skip that match.

World Cup. Day 7. Arrrgh, Argentina will show how to play football

Second round is under way and the first match yesterday went according to what I’ve thought. Such quality sides as Uruguay should win such teams as South Africa, even on the home pitch of the later ones. Had a small bet on the Uruguay (-1,5) yesterday with odds 5.760 (!!!) @ Pinnacle and that was a tasty one. Today in the first match we will see the brilliance of Messi for the second time at this World Cup. All the rest matches doesn’t promise to be as exciting to watch, but still are good for a bet.

I will keep my tradition of comparing odds offers from 3 main bookmakers for me.