CRUNCH TIME LOOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA

We are fast approaching the end of the Group games in South Africa and to be honest the World Cup 2010 is still as wide open as ever.

The European sides have been woeful with the likes of Italy, Spain, England and waste of place France all struggling in their respective groups.

On the other hand the South Americans have been flying with the likes of Brazil and Argentina looking the part while Mexico, Chile, Paraquay and the PG dark horses Uruguay are all catching the eye in the opening games.

Spain must win on Friday night against in-form Chile to book their last 16 place.

Punters got their fingers burnt on Tuesday with one punter in particular in London placing £30,000 on Uruguay and Mexico to draw at 8/11.

Uruguay didn’t read the script winning 1-0 to leave a sour taste in the punters mouth.

Thursday Quad

On to today’s games and the  struggling Italy (1/2) along with table-topping Paraquay (1/2) should both in their final games against Slovakia and New Zealand this afternoon.

Holland (6/5) should end with a win against Cameroon and Denmark (6/5) could sneak second with a win over Japan.

Friday Quad

On to Fridays quad and BRAZIL (6/5) look set to make it three wins in the group with victory over Portugal.

Ivory Coast (1/3) looked doomed but cane end with a win over whipping boys North Korea.

SPAIN (1/2) should book their spot with a win over Chile and Switzerland could slip up against Honduras with the draw priced at 14/5.

LAST 16

The last 16 knock-out games begin on Saturday and as go to press it’s looks like Uruguay will be taking on South Korea in the 3pm game while Mexico will face Argentina on Saturday night.

We expect Argentina and Uruguay to make it into next weekend’s quarter-finals.

England will face the might of the Germans on Sunday while the USA who wrecked my Group Betting will face Ghana. TWO tight games but Ghana could scrape through while the English could nick it against the Germans - they have to play at some stage of these championships...