Van,
Phenominal read. Thanks for the preview, very entertaining and informative. Can't wait to follow the World Cup and see how this thing plays out.
I wish I had read this before I threw down a bunch of Baseball Futures but I did take a flyer on Portuagal and Denmark to win the whole thing for a few bucks.
BOL
Hmm I appreciate the write-ups Vanzack but I disagree with most of it. Where we disagree very strongly is that I feel the African teams will in the main perform well. I expect that one of them will even make the semi's.
Group A. Uruguay ALWAYS underachieve when it comes to World Cup. I hate that bet for them to win the group or even qualify. South Africa are the host nation and I expect them to perform way above expectations. I see this being a tight group. I think the hosts qualify with either France or Mexico. I REALLY don't fancy Uruguay here.
Group B. We really disagree strongly on Greece. I think they are vastly over rated. I think Korea are not bad but I expect Nigeria to come through (maybe Korea) along with Argentina
Group C. NO WAY ENGLAND strolls here. You will be sweating on the -320. BIGTIME! I think Slovenia are the dark horses here and I actually think they will be ahead of England going into the final match. England should win the group but you will sweat on that -320 that I guarentee. By along way the most over rated team at this or any world cup.
Group D. I think this a great group. I think any of the 4 could qualify. I would not even take a stab at it. I think Serbia will be a disappoinment (just a hunch).
Group E. I Love Cameroon to Qualify! I think its between the Dutch on the Danes to join them..I will go Holland but it will be close.
Group F. I like Italy and Slovakia here. Paraguay like Uruguay they never perform on this stage. Slovakia strong solid team.
Group G. Even without Drogba, I like Ivory Coast and Brazil here. Portugal I think very over rated and in trouble.
Group H. I like Spain and Chile.
As you see we disagree strongly, will be interesting to see who is more right 
..
I think the simliest way to make money is backing Brazil and Argentina pre world cup and enjoy the rest.
I have followed and wagered on football since I was in short pants. The World Cup of course comes but once every four years. It is very hard to get a good squad together for more than (2) consecutive cups, after that it all changes.
One thing that stands TRUE within each and every World Cup and that is this: Poor money chases a team that has never won the cup. They have been having this event for 80 years and only (7) teams have ever lifted the cup.
ITALY / BRAZIL / URUGUAY / FRANCE / WEST GERMANY / ENGLAND / ARGENTINA
The winner will come from the above seven - good luck.
Mack05-- I think the biggest mystery of this entire tournament is how well the African nations will perform. Two months ago I was definitely in your camp---I was fully expecting 3 or 4 of the African teams to advance beyond the group stage with one of them likely making it to the semifinals and perhaps even further. However the last few weeks have not been encouraging with all of the major injuries being suffered by African teams and their sometimes awful performances in recent tune-up matches.
It's still way too early to write off the African teams, but I likely won't be wagering on or against any of them until at least a week or a week and a half from now when some readable patterns of this tournament begin to emerge.
I agree with your pre-tournament bullishness of Brazil and Argentina although we disagree on Paraguay---they've advanced to the second round of 2 of the last 3 World Cups and they're not an easy team to beat. Good luck with whatever you choose to bet on!
I have followed and wagered on football since I was in short pants. The World Cup of course comes but once every four years. It is very hard to get a good squad together for more than (2) consecutive cups, after that it all changes.
One thing that stands TRUE within each and every World Cup and that is this: Poor money chases a team that has never won the cup. They have been having this event for 80 years and only (7) teams have ever lifted the cup.
ITALY / BRAZIL / URUGUAY / FRANCE / WEST GERMANY / ENGLAND / ARGENTINA
The winner will come from the above seven - good luck.
You can real Uraguay, England and France out for sure. Uruguay won on the 30's. When England and France won they were host nations and right now they suck. Eventually another team will win but at high altitude it won't be this year. That leaves us with Italy, Germany, Brazil and Argentina. Italy and Germany always perform well at world cups but neither has the quality to win. 4 years ago I bet them both and won with Italy. Now with the conditions suiting African and South American teams the way to go is forget about form and managers and just stick 100 dollars on Brazil @+450 and Argentina @+650. Sick back and enjoy the tournament. Come final time I would be STUNNED if the winner is not from Brazil or Argentina.
I truly believe its the easiest couple of hundred dollars I will ever make (well I have 1k on both, so couple of thousand in my case).
Mack05-- I think the biggest mystery of this entire tournament is how well the African nations will perform. Two months ago I was definitely in your camp---I was fully expecting 3 or 4 of the African teams to advance beyond the group stage with one of them likely making it to the semifinals and perhaps even further. However the last few weeks have not been encouraging with all of the major injuries being suffered by African teams and their sometimes awful performances in recent tune-up matches.
It's still way too early to write off the African teams, but I likely won't be wagering on or against any of them until at least a week or a week and a half from now when some readable patterns of this tournament begin to emerge.
I agree with your pre-tournament bullishness of Brazil and Argentina although we disagree on Paraguay---they've advanced to the second round of 2 of the last 3 World Cups and they're not an easy team to beat. Good luck with whatever you choose to bet on!
can't argue to strong there. With these conditions Paraguay could do ok..I just have a hunch for Slovakia..Good luck to you. In my above post I meant rule out not real! 
Great chatter guys.....
Here are the wrietups and picks for the first 2 days....
June 11 - Day 1
1. S.A. / Mexico over 2 -122 (1.5 units) - The atmosphere should be electric for this game, and I do think S.A. will come out in an attacking mode. The problem is - they dont have the talent to play an open game without giving up counterattacks - and they dont have the midfield to maintain possession to effectively execute. Mexico should see most of the ball - and be able to get a lot of chances on net. An early goal would be great here - because that will open it up even further - if there is a goal in the first half this one should go over easily. Final score prediction Mexico 2-1.
2. France / Uruguay - Uruguay +.5 -109 (if you only have a 3 way optoin, bet the draw + the win) (2 units) - This line has crept up in the past several days to around -125 or so - but I would still lay that. Uruguay would be happy with a draw here, and something tells me that France would be too. Everyone knows that France hasnt been playing well as a team, has yet to emerge with an onfield leader - so a team like Uruguay will be lucky to get them early in case they do turn it around. I see this one played close to the vest, with lots of midfield possession on both sides. Predicted score Uruguay 1 France 1.
Day 2 June 12
3. Greece / South Korea - under 2 -103 (2 units), 0-0 exact score +600 (.5 unit) - This is a perfect storm for an under: Two teams who lack offensive punch, play defense first, and both will be happy with a draw in this first round game - neither will feel a win is absolutely necessary. Greece always plays defensively - and South Korea should do the same. The longer this one stays scoreless, the more you will see these teams play for a draw. I do think Greece has a talent advantage here - and might just steal a goal - and if they do score - watch the greeks go in to lockdown mode - so my predicted final score Greece 1 South Korea 0
4. Argentina / Nigeria - Argentina to win -200 (2 units to win 1 unit) - The only thing holding me back on this game is that Argentina might not be firing on all cylenders this early in the tourney - I wish this game was later in the group - but Nigeria will be exposed here talentwise and tactically. Just way too much talent on the Argentine side - and the undisciplined (although Swedish manager Lagerback could help) Nigerian side will have enough lapses in concentration to get beat. Final score prediction Argentina 2 Nigeria 0.
5. England / USA - Over 2.5 +105 (2.5 units) - Another perfect storm - this time for the over. England has lots of firepower, but lots of problems on defense - and the USA is almost a carbon copy - like a twin that is far less talented. We should see lots of quality opporutnities on net - and both sides have the talent at forward to finish them. The USA will most likely come out with 2 forwards (Altidore and probably Buddle) - and go out to attack. England will also attack - but probably only Rooney up front - but that will be enough with an offensive minded midfield to tear up a defense that is disorganized. Onyewu is the anchor here? A guy who hasnt played for 6 months, and was questionable to begin with? After this tournament - Milan will know why he is playing the last season of his contract for no money - its actually a bargain for Onyewu. England should win fairly comfortably, but Im not quite comfortable laying the -200 in this first round game with a team that can let up goals. Final score prediction - England 3 USA 1.
GL all
I don't like the over in South Africa v Mexico. Most opening games are cagey affairs. I think this ends 0-0, 1-0 or 1-1. Either way no real strong feelings for me opening game(s). For me small play on 1-1 @ +500 and small play 1-0 South Africa @+600. Main play Under 2.5 goals @ -180...
France v Uruguay is a non betting game for me. Again a small play 0 - 0 @ + 650 and a chancey Uruguay 1-0 @ +800. Again like the under here...
Day 2: South Korea to beat Greece @ +200. Argentina should beat Nigeria but something really fishy about that line -200??Going to take a stab at the draw +300.
I will play England v USA over as well...Looks like goals here...
All small plays. Best way to make money bet Brazil and Argentina Pre tourney..
Nice writeups vanzack...hopefully you get can off to as hot a start as you did for Euro 2008, but that's asking for a lot. I have the same fears as you about Onyewu...I get scared thinking back to that header goal he gave up to the Czechs a few weeks ago where on replay I noticed that Gooch's vertical leap was about six inches. That's a scene that we might see repeated as early as Saturday. If Onyewu is nowhere near 100% fit then Bob Bradley should look for a different option. At least England has potential problems in the back as well and hopefully bigger goalkeeping issues....a 2-2 final score wouldn't shock me.
I'll be watching the games closely this weekend to see if the near-hysterical reaction from goalkeepers to the new "Jabulani" ball is warranted or not---my guess is that it will all be forgotten about a week from now. If they do have problems it will likely be from not be able to cleanly catch the ball on crosses, corner kicks, etc. which could potentially lead to more goals than normal.
Agree.
Look - I will say this....
It is hard to say what the ref situation will be in SA. Is it a fluke that South Korea made it to the semifinals (the semifinals!!!) of the WC 8 years ago? Im not saying there are fixes or collusion - just immense pressure on refs for these home matches.
So I am taking a "wait and see" approach to the whole South Africa team situation. My first instinct tells me Mexico is a steal at the price they are at here - but after further review I will just wait and see.....
I don't like the over in South Africa v Mexico. Most opening games are cagey affairs. I think this ends 0-0, 1-0 or 1-1. Either way no real strong feelings for me opening game(s). For me small play on 1-1 @ +500 and small play 1-0 South Africa @+600. Main play Under 2.5 goals @ -180...
France v Uruguay is a non betting game for me. Again a small play 0 - 0 @ + 650 and a chancey Uruguay 1-0 @ +800. Again like the under here...
Day 2: South Korea to beat Greece @ +200. Argentina should beat Nigeria but something really fishy about that line -200??Going to take a stab at the draw +300.
I will play England v USA over as well...Looks like goals here...
All small plays. Best way to make money bet Brazil and Argentina Pre tourney..
Previous opening match results:
2006 - Germany 4 Costa Rica 2
2002 - France 0 Senegal 1
1998 - Brazil 2 Scotland 1
1994 - USA 1 Switzerland 1
1990 - Cameroon 1 Argentina 0
1986 - Italy 1 Bulgaria 1
Nice writeups vanzack...hopefully you get can off to as hot a start as you did for Euro 2008, but that's asking for a lot. I have the same fears as you about Onyewu...I get scared thinking back to that header goal he gave up to the Czechs a few weeks ago where on replay I noticed that Gooch's vertical leap was about six inches. That's a scene that we might see repeated as early as Saturday. If Onyewu is nowhere near 100% fit then Bob Bradley should look for a different option. At least England has potential problems in the back as well and hopefully bigger goalkeeping issues....a 2-2 final score wouldn't shock me.
I'll be watching the games closely this weekend to see if the near-hysterical reaction from goalkeepers to the new "Jabulani" ball is warranted or not---my guess is that it will all be forgotten about a week from now. If they do have problems it will likely be from not be able to cleanly catch the ball on crosses, corner kicks, etc. which could potentially lead to more goals than normal.
The ball is the en vogue issue of every major tournament these days - remeber the Germany ball swerved too much - they threatened to even boycott the games etc....
Lots of hype - because goals have consistently gone DOWN in recent world cups. 2006 was the lowest scoring world cup since 1990, with a ball that supposedly goalkeepers couldnt see or trace and could make 90 degree turns in mid air.
Look - I will say this....
It is hard to say what the ref situation will be in SA. Is it a fluke that South Korea made it to the semifinals (the semifinals!!!) of the WC 8 years ago? Im not saying there are fixes or collusion - just immense pressure on refs for these home matches.
So I am taking a "wait and see" approach to the whole South Africa team situation. My first instinct tells me Mexico is a steal at the price they are at here - but after further review I will just wait and see.....
I'm 100% sure they'll let them play African style footy which if you've ever seen an African Cup of Nations is very tough and even makes EPL look like Pee-Wee league
I don't think they'll do it for all games but ever game involving an African team will be a rough encounter IMO and I think it'll be confirmed the first game when South Africa wins 1-0
I agree w/ Mack about opening games for all teams are pressure packed and the streak of Mexico opening game wins has to run out sooner then later (think they've won last 3 opening games for the Cup finals)
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