World Cup Betting 11-12 Feb

[MickeyPaul]

Arrrrrrrgh!! And again: Just browsing now but apparently Mexico have been struggling of late and I just saw someone mention they'll be missing a few players which I'm just looking into now. Cold conditions in Columbus too apparently which will probably suit the Americans better. Anyone got anything on any these games?

A bit on USA v Mexico from FIFA.com and I'm getting pretty into the Americans now:

In the 13 games played in the current decade, the United States have been nothing short of dominant over their neighbours to the south, winning nine times, losing twice (both times at Mexico's Estadio Azteca, where El Tri have only ever lost once), with two draws. The US, who are current champions of CONCACAF, also won three Gold Cups to Mexico's one in the new millennium.

Mexico have not won on US soil in their last ten outings (the last coming in 1999) and have not won, or even scored, at Wednesday night's venue of Columbus Crew Stadium. Humble by comparison to the mythical Azteca, the 23,000-seat, nine-year-old Ohio ground has proven a happy home for the USA, who have historical problems finding a venue that can guarantee a pro-American crowd.

Sven Goran Eriksson's Mexico only barely snuck into the final round of qualifying for South Africa 2010 after picking up one point in their last three games. With injuries, suspensions to key players, and what are bound to be sub-zero temperatures in Ohio on Wednesday night, the Mexicans will be considered outsiders in this, the latest instalment of the CONCACAF clasico.

Europe
11 Feb 18:30 Malta v Albania 4.50 3.40 1.72
11 Feb 19:30 San Marino v Northern Ireland 26.00 7.50 1.12
11 Feb 19:45 Rep of Ireland v Georgia 1.36 4.50 9.00

Asian
11 Feb 06:00 North Korea v Saudi Arabia 2.50 3.20 2.50
11 Feb 10:15 Japan v Australia 2.30 3.10 3.25
11 Feb 11:00 Uzbekistan v Bahrain 2.00 3.30 3.25
11 Feb 11:30 Iran v South Korea 2.20 3.25 2.90

Cent America
12 Feb 00:00 USA v Mexico 2.00 3.25 3.40
12 Feb 01:00 El Salvador v Trinidad & Tobago 2.00 3.25 3.40
12 Feb 02:30 Costa Rica v Honduras 2.20 3.25 3.00

bet365

[MickeyPaul]

I think I'll take a chance on USA there. Sounds worth a try on paper. 2.10 @ ladbrokes

[poltmcm]

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

Just browsing now but apparently Mexico have been struggling of late and I just saw someone mention they'll be missing a few players which I'm just looking into now. Cold conditions in Columbus too apparently which will probably suit the Americans better. Anyone got anything on any these games?

A bit on USA v Mexico from FIFA.com and I'm getting pretty into the Americans now:


Europe
11 Feb 18:30 Malta v Albania 4.50 3.40 1.72
11 Feb 19:30 San Marino v Northern Ireland 26.00 7.50 1.12
11 Feb 19:45 Rep of Ireland v Georgia 1.36 4.50 9.00

Asian
11 Feb 06:00 North Korea v Saudi Arabia 2.50 3.20 2.50
11 Feb 10:15 Japan v Australia 2.30 3.10 3.25
11 Feb 11:00 Uzbekistan v Bahrain 2.00 3.30 3.25
11 Feb 11:30 Iran v South Korea 2.20 3.25 2.90

Cent America
12 Feb 00:00 USA v Mexico 2.00 3.25 3.40
12 Feb 01:00 El Salvador v Trinidad & Tobago 2.00 3.25 3.40
12 Feb 02:30 Costa Rica v Honduras 2.20 3.25 3.00

bet365

USA -1 handicap 10/3 what a cracker of a price. USA beat Mexico in the 2007 final of this competition and so far out of the present competition well the results are below

19.11.2008	q3g1	Guatemala	home	W2-0
15.10.2008	q3g1	Trinidad and Tobago	away	L1-2
11.10.2008	q3g1	Cuba	home	W6-1
10.09.2008	q3g1	Trinidad and Tobago	home	W3-0
06.09.2008	q3g1	Cuba	away	W1-0
20.08.2008	q3g1	Guatemala	away	W1-0
22.06.2008	q2-2	Barbados	away	W1-0
15.06.2008	q2-1	Barbados	home	W8-0

only loss to T&T and that was away from home.

Mexico

19.11.2008	q3g2	Honduras	away	L0-1
15.10.2008	q3g2	Canada	away	D2-2
11.10.2008	q3g2	Jamaica	away	L0-1
10.09.2008	q3g2	Canada	home	W2-1
06.09.2008	q3g2	Jamaica	home	W3-0
20.08.2008	q3g2	Honduras	home	W2-1
21.06.2008	q2-2	Belize	home	W7-0
15.06.2008	q2-1	Belize	neutral	W2-0

[MickeyPaul]

Well, lost 2 out of 3. 2-2 draw in Canada. Plenty of postives for USA though by the looks of it (almost too many which is making me nervous) and I don't suppose the 2.10 for the win will be there come Wednesday. That 2-1 defeat in T&T was after they had already qualified incidentally.

[poltmcm]

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

Well, lost 2 out of 3. 2-2 draw in Canada. Plenty of postives for USA though by the looks of it (almost too many which is making me nervous) and I don't suppose the 2.10 for the win will be there come Wednesday.

lol just noticed went to make a cuppa then re-read post so edited it

[Ceirtlis]

The preview here shows the squads, its a bit biased toward the U.S. I think though. Got 5/4 on a US victory on Betfred last night.

U.S. men: Final round of World Cup qualifying opens with weakened Mexico.

[MickeyPaul]

Man. I hate all these positive vibes. I feel a big 'tits up' a coming. I'm gonna get a big case of Guinness in and watch it anyway. Wherever it's streaming.

No one interested in any other games?

[MickeyPaul]

Yes. Me. Sounds like we're in for a pretty intense match between Japan and Australia. I don't want to miss this one. A lot of pressure on Japan by the sounds of things - shock 0-1 defeat in Bahrain last month after only fielding 2 of their european players.

Japan Football Association president Motoaki Inukai said: "It is fatal if Japan lose at home tomorrow." When Okada was asked about his reaction to Inukai's statement, he said: "It is up to the president what he thinks. We will just try to win tomorrow's game."

And despite seeing off a 2nd string Finland 5-1 the other day in a warmup for this, I'm reading they really are struggling with set pieces. 3rd straight game they'd conceded from a set piece.

And what do you make of this from the Aussie coach:

Meanwhile, Australia coach Pim Verbeek piled pressure on Japan by indulging in more of the mind games that have featured in the lead-up to Wednesday's qualifier. "I just want to repeat: I think the pressure is still on Japan. They have to win. We'd like to win, but we don't have to win. Japan will have serious problems if they don't win," he said ahead of the sell-out clash.

"We have three home games to go. I think we need six points to qualify. There's no pressure on our side. The pressure is still on Japan, especially an away game against Uzbekistan, which is not very easy."

Australia lead Group 1 with nine points, followed by Japan on seven and Qatar on four. Bahrain and Uzbekistan each have one point. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, while the third-placed team has to go through play-offs.

Hmmmm. I see bet365 have Australia @ 3.20 for the win which is pretty generous compared to most - the Australians good for at least a draw you think? Could well be. And how about Cahill to score anytime? Okay, I'm going daft now. I'm going to find a bet for this one though as I reckon it could be a good match and worth watching.

Seems a low scoring affair is expected with the over 2.5 @ 2.50 bet365 - I love to go against expectations.

I hate trying to keep track of these Asian qualifiers. Japan only managing a 1-1 draw at home to Uzbekistan in October. The defeat in Bahrain was the Asian Cup I see. Right. Just reading about the 1-1 with Uzbekistan:

Japan coach Takeshi Okada, by contrast, has come under fire following his team's 1-1 draw at home to Uzbekistan. Despite dominating the game and creating more chances, their poor finishing again cost them dearly.

Okada was aware of Japan's lack of cutting edge before the match. "It is not a problem I can fix. There is no miracle drug," he told the Japan Times.

Intellesting... I wish I'd started this sooner:

Under-fire coach Takeshi Okada bemoaned Japan's "timid" football and called for more aggression after their 1-1 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying draw against Uzbekistan.

Keiji Tamada cancelled out Maksim Shatskikh's 27th-minute opener to earn a point, but it was the first time in 11 years that Japan failed to win a home FIFA World Cup qualifier. "What I regret is that we got somewhat timid when the opponents unexpectedly exerted pressure up front," Okada said in Saitama after Japan's second 1-1 draw in two games. "We often resorted to back passes."

I see why the bookies don't expect goals. That's usually when we get them.

Former Mallorca striker Yoshito Okubo, who had a hand in Japan's goal, admitted his team were not aggressive enough. "The opponents were not strong but our football was too pretty," he said. "We only passed to where teammates stood and we didn't strike any fear at all."

Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura agreed that Japan needs to learn to win ugly. "We still feel we have to play good football without making a mistake. We need to be more direct at times," he said. "We will get results if we go on with confidence and no doubts in our mind."

Still time to find a bet on this.... ehhm... I certainly couldn't back Japan with any confidence. HT draw is @ 2.10.... okay. Cup of coffee, cigarettes and mull it over.

Live streaming of this on bet365 if you're interested. I'm leaning towards Australia X2 still.

[MickeyPaul]

The more I read the more I can't find anything I like so it's kamikazee time and I'm taking the over 2.5 goals @ 2.5 bet365

Australia looking for at least a draw, Japan really looking for the win, big crowd behind them, and vulnerable at set pieces. I suppose that opens up some goals possibilities. I probably should have stuck with Australia not to lose as I keep envisaging a tight 0-1 but.... I'm too worried about Japan finding a performance and battering the Aussie goal for 90 minutes with the mental crowd behind them.

I know it's a shit bet but hopefully it'll add some spice to my sad existence. 1 goal first half is all I ask.

I'm already regretting this thread.

[rcgills]

Go on then Mickey, I'll join you. I'll take the slightly more conservative over 2 goals option though @ 1.95

[MickeyPaul]

Nooooo. Everything says 1-1, 0-1, 1-0 you know. It's going to be agony gillsy but it'll be ten times worse for me now as I'll feel guilty. Okay, I'm going to don my ballerina outfit and shout for the 2-2.

Anyone got the head to heads handy on these two? I think I may have read we usually get goals. I know Cahill scored 2 against them in 2006 in a 3-1 win. Hence my Cahill to score over excitement. And he's good in the air.

[rcgills]

Here's hoping for a Desmond then

[MickeyPaul]

Desmond from (bet) Lost?

Last two games between these sides:

21.07.07	Japan	5-4	Australia	Asian Cup quarter finals	2007
12.06.06	Australia	3-1	Japan	World Cup grp. F	2006

The odds for the overs went up to 2.6 as I posted that.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

Desmond from (bet) Lost?

No, Archbishop Desmond from South Africa.

[MickeyPaul]

I KNOW!!!! Tough audience. Anyone from Wales in? That foot and mouth crisis must have been hard eh? A lot harder to fuck them when they're on fire! Take my wife.