World Cup Preview and First Round Game picks thread.....

Agreed!  There is just too much bullshit in the World Cup that taints it.  Has to be some way to restructure all the group play crap so that teams just play to win every game...

the entire game changed once the Australia score was announced....you could see the players on the sidelines adding up points, the players on the field walking around at half speed

Pretty shitty
at least this is the end of group play

Germany/ England will be a great game! 

rough day, but great tourney so far.

Jesus! Shut up! Pogue mahone

Fantastic run, Van. Too bad the Serbs couldn't come through for a massive day...

I guess a 3-1 day and up 4 units is now a "rough day"...

Guess you've set a very high bar there, Van.

plays for tomorrow? your followers are waiting

Thanks all for the compliments - all in all a great day with that sick USA game.

I was at a British Pub all day - with about 300 fans - and that USA goal was just sick.  I had already resigned myself to a week of misery ahead with all of the missed chances - but then the goal....

Crazy...

Germany looked terrible IMO - they were lucky to escape with the win.  I am really surprised the way they played, especially on defense.  It seems that the team of sharp passes and awesome execution from the Australia game is gone - and has been replaced by bumbling passers who give up tons of space on defense.....  The Germany / England game will be very interesting.

Given the above comment regarding Germany's unbalanced play do you still plan to FADE England powerfully now that the knock-out round has commenced (as per your stated long term strategy - SEE P. 1 of this thread lol) ??... sounds like that will be a tougher decision than you thought Van.

Hey Van

What do you think of USA's chances now that they've won the group and have an easier draw to the semis (on paper at least) ? Ghana 2nd Rd, then Uruguay/Sth Korea in the Qtrs and possibly Brazil in the semis

USA are +300 to reach the semi final with bwin.com, what do you think of those odds ?

Any wagers for tomorrow van?

Current Record 20-9 (futures not included until after all group games are finished)
Up 43.34 units, Down 15.21 units
TOTAL - Up +28.13 units

Previous games...

1.  SA / Mex over 2 -122 (1.5 units) -  PUSH
2.  Uruguay +.5 -109 (2 units) - WIN
3.  SK / Greec under 2 -103 (2 units) and 0-0 at +600 (.5 unit) - PUSH (lose .5 unit)
4.  Argentina -200 (2 units to win 1 unit) - WIN
5.  USA / Eng over 2.5 +105 (2.5 units) - LOSS
6.  SLV / ALG - no bet
7.  Serbia +116 (2 units) - LOSS
8.  Australia +1 +106 (1 unit) - LOSS
9.  Netherlands -180 (1 unit) - WIN
10.  Cameroon +112 (.5 unit) - LOSS
11.  Paraguay +.5 (2.5 units) - WIN
12.  Slovakia -.5 -200 (risked 1 unit) - LOSS
13.  Ivory Coast / PTGL - no bet
14.  Bzl / NK - no bet
15.  Chile (2 units) - WIN
16.  Switz +1.5 (.5 unit) - WIN
17.  Uruguay PK -140 (5 units) - WIN
18.  Arg / SK over +108 (1 unit) - WIN
19.  Greece +.5 (2 units) - WIN
20.  France +138 (3 units) - LOSS
21.  Serbia +.5 +140 (1 unit) - WIN
22.  Slovenia +.5 -116 (1unit) - WIN
23.  Eng / Alg over 2.5 +108 (1 unit) - LOSS
24.  Netherlands -200 (2 units) - WIN
25.  Australia +.5 -112 (3 units) - WIN
26.  Denmark PK -122 (3 units) - WIN
27.  Paraguay -.5 +112 (3 units) - WIN
28.  Italy/NZ - No Bet
29.  CIV +.5 +130 (.5 unit) - LOSS
30.  Portugal / NK - No bet
31.  Switz / Chile - No bet
32.  Spain / Honduras - No bet
33.  S Africa PK +135 (2 units) - WIN
34.  Urg / Mex No Draw +130 (2 units) - WIN
35.  Argtna / Grc - No bet
36.  S Korea PK -123 (2 units) - PUSH
37.  USA +100 (3 units) - WIN
38.  Eng / Slv Under 2.5 - 120 (1 unit) - WIN
39.  Serbia -107 (3 units) - LOSS
40.  Germany -185 (3 units) - WIN

Futures...  (Not included in total record until next round)

1.  Uruguay to advance +110 (2 units) - WIN 
2.  Uruguay to win group A +400 (.5 unit) - WIN
3.  Argentina to win group B -220 (2 units) - WIN 
4.  Nigeria NOT to advance -118 (2 units) - WIN  
5.  England to win group C -320 (2 units) - LOSS
6.  USA NOT to advance +112 (3 units) - LOSS
7.  Serbia to win group D +330 (.5 unit) - LOSS
8.  Germany NOT to advance +387 (.5 unit) - LOSS
9.  Netherlands to win group E -145 (4 units)
10.  Denmark to advance +105 (1 unit)
11.  Japan zero points +360 (1 unit) - LOSS
12.  Paraguay win group F +340 (1.5 units)
13.  NZ no poings +100 (1 unit) -  LOSS
14.  Portugal to advane -110 (1.5 units)
15.  NK zero points -140 (2 units)
16.  Switz to advance +160 (1 unit)
17.  Argentina to win tournament +725 (6 units risked)
18.  Argentina / Neth final +3300 (.5 unit)
19.  No african team to advance +1200 (1 unit)
20.  No african team qtr finals +165 (2 units)

Thursday June 24

I have totally run out of steam today, am exhausted - so no real writeups for tomorrows games - just picks.....

41.  Paraguay / New Zealand - Paraguay -1 -125 (1 unit)

42.  Italy / Slovakia - Italy -1 -113 (1 unit)

43.  Japan / Denmark - Japan +.5 -130 (1 unit)

44.  Holland / Cameroon - No bet

Gl all

Looks good, Van.

Love Paraguay and Italy.

Not sure about Denmark/Japan. May just tail you becuase you're on such a rush

I forgot to mention the most important thing of the day - and nobody else mentioned it either in here.....

ONYEWU WAS BENCHED.

Bob Bradley must read covers.  This has been a 6 year mission for me - and today was mission accomplished.

Demerit was a monster today.

great job van - must spread rep

to Onyewu's benching! 

Coach Bradley reads this thread!

Van - congrats on another great day to add to your great run.  If you have a little time, do u think you could give your final score predictions.  

Nice work Van

You've got DEN to advance Van for your futures. i doubt you are really serious about your Japan pick. Hedging and just maximizing the profit?

I immediately thought of this forum as soon as I saw that Onyewu wasn't in the starting lineup!    It can't be a coincidence that the U.S. gave up no goals today. 

I'll be shocked if Bob Bradley doesn't stick with Bornstein again on Saturday.  We'll also probably see Feilhaber coming in at the start of the second half for as long as we're in this tournament. 

Bob Bradley---making all of the right moves so far!! 

Bro...get some rest on a job well done.  

Nice observation, What team was he playing for in Italy?  I think he was on the bench there too.