3rd place game - Brazil / Netherlands - OVER 3 -108 (4 units) -
Anyone who has been around here long enough knows what happens in third place games. I was really surprised to see 3 - although this game in particular has some great undertones - I fully expect a training field exercise and many goals to be scored (again).
Bet it early and often....
I bet 1 unit on a game that was a 50/50 (accurately predicted) but they were giving me +128. I will do that all day long.
I left the corporate world many years ago - and I don't see a return. Just not my thing.
I bet 1 unit on a game that was a 50/50 (accurately predicted) but they were giving me +128. I will do that all day long.
I left the corporate world many years ago - and I don't see a return. Just not my thing.
WC Final - Germany / Argentina - Germany to win in 90 minutes +130 (2 units), Germany to win WC -150 (2 units) - I heard Ian Darke say "this is a great World Cup without a great team" - and I really agree. If you have a short memory - you might think Germany has been dominant, but they haven't been. They very easily could have lost to Algeria, and were taken to the limit in their draw against Ghana.
But since the Algeria match they have made 2 changes that seem to have made all the difference - along with the emergence of a key player. They took out Mertesacker and put Lahm back to his normal role in the defense to replace him. Lahm was nothing short of terrible in the first four matches in midfield - but his change back to defense resulted in two successive (basically) shutouts against Brazil and France. Also key was the introduction of Klose - not so much because he has been spectacular because he has been pretty average - but it gives Germany's opposition a harder shape to defend - which plays in to the strength of Germany - the almost unstoppable midfield. So even if Klose is just a decoy - it draws defenders away from the real threats. Also - Khedira - who was really bad at the beginning of the tournament - has really come around and is playing much better. Don't know if that was fitness or just improvement- but it has had a huge impact.
I expect Germany to play exactly as they have played the last two games, with a very high defensive line - and Neuer playing "sweeper keeper". This can be beat by speed and so I do expect Argentina to employ their fastest options at wing (like Aguerro) and maybe even sit Messi a little bit deeper to try and feed through balls up and over or through the high defensive German back line. It is a shame for Argentina that DiMaria is out – I really think he is the type of player that can have a big impact against Germany.
Argentina has looked very pedestrian in their buildup to this game. I almost say that apologetically – because I know that they have not reached their full potential – but there are some weaknesses – mainly on defense that can be exploited. But in a one game series – which this is – there is no way of arguing that Argentina at their best cant easily win this game. There is no need to talk any more about “messi dependence” because it got them this far and they are going to try it again I am sure – but I do think his role will be different – much more as a playmaker than a scoring threat. The key to this game for Argentina – more than any other they have played – is to be able to get players in and behind the German defense. Messi will find them. He is a master at the perfectly weighted through ball.
I just think with all things considered – for one game – Germany just have more options to win than Argentina. If the midfield trio of Germany get going – and they are able to keep possession and frustrate Argentina – they should get plenty of chances. My fear is that Argentina come out and play like they did against the Netherlands – slow it down – and play physical – just to limit Germany possessions and chances – but I still see Germany able to overcome that and force the tempo. It will be a grind down sort of effort from the Germans – with lots of possession leading to lots of Argentine frustration leading to probably a late goal or two. I do think the bettors have made this line too low for Germany – because of short term memory issues with gamblers – but I cant get away from the simple fact that I think Germany has too many ways to win this game. Predicted final score Germany 2 Argentina 1 in 90 mins.
Established in 1995,
GL. Hope to see some fireworks
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