Beers in the fridge - check! Wallchart placed on the wall behind the widescreen TV - check! Ante-post bets placed - check! Wife and daughter banished when all matches are on – check!
Yes folks, we can only be talking about the start of the 2010 World Cup which gets under way in South Africa tomorrow (Friday) as 32 teams battle it out in the most wide-open tournament ever.
The PG has got the crystal ball out and filled in one of many wallcharts and hopefully we can come up a few winners; and so let’s start with the various groups and who we think will reach the knock-out stages. There’s money to be won...
Group A is a hard group to call with hosts South Africa the outsiders of the group at 11/2 and we agree with Sean Grahams on that one.
We think France will struggle in this against Mexico and Uruguay but a last 16 place beckons for Raymond Domenech’s erratic team at the expense of Mexico.
We are banking on URUGUAY (10/3) to win the group and expect strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez to fire them to a shock victory in this group.
They squeezed through in qualifying but are a strong, solid team who could be a surprise package in this year’s finals.
PG Selections: 1. Uruguay 2. France
On to GROUP B and we think this will a easier group with many pundits’ favourites ARGENTINA (4/9) strolling through to the last 16 in this group.
The big question is, who gets second and we think that Greece and South Korea will be heading home early with Lars Lagerback’s Nigeria grabbing that second spot.
PG Selections: 1. Argentina 2. Nigeria
On to GROUP C and ENGLAND are the 1/3 favourites to win what looks an easy group for them, but the USA will push them all the way in this group and expect a tough opening game between the sides on Saturday night.
Slovenia and Algeria make up the group but we expect both teams to go home early.
PG Selections: 1. England 2. USA
On to GROUP D and another tough group to call. We have GERMANY (5/6) coming out on top in this one but only just. Expect this group to be closely fought with Ghana grabbing the second spot ahead of Serbia and Australia – but only just.
1. Germany 2. Ghana
HOLLAND (4/7) lead the betting in GROUP E.
They will take some stopping and should ease through to the knock-out stages, but who gets the second place?
Expect a close battle between Japan, Cameroon and Denmark, but we expect ex-Rangers manager Paul Le Guen’s Cameroon to edge it.
PG Selections: 1. Holland 2. Cameroon
On to GROUP F and I will not be rushing in to back defending champions Italy at 1/2 to win this Group.
PARAGUAY (13/5) claimed the scalps of Brazil and Argentina in the South American qualifiers and can shock the world champs in this group with New Zealand and Slovakia catching early planes home.
PG Selections: 1. Paraguay 2. Italy
On to Group G, dubbed the Group of Death, and BRAZIL (8/13) are naturally favourites, and we think they will ease through.
The race for second isn’t so clear cut and we are taking the Ivory Coast to grab second place ahead of Portugal.
1. Brazil 2. Ivory Coast
We end with GROUP H and SPAIN (2/7) look a penalty-kick in this one. Chile looka very solid bet for the runners-up spot here, so that means that Honduras and Switzerland will be heading home early.
PG Selections: 1. Spain 2. Chile
LAST 16
On to the knock-out stages and first up we have URUGUAY taking on Nigeria and we expect the South Americans to make it through the last eight.
ARGENTINA take on the French and we expect Maradona and co to make it through while ENGLAND will oust Ghana to make it to the quarters.
GERMANY will be too strong for the USA while Holland will beat holders Italy to set up a quarter-final game against Uruguay.
BRAZIL should get the better of Chile while PARAGUAY can make it two South American teams in the quarters by beating Cameroon.
Making up the quarter-final line-up are SPAIN who will book their place in the last eight with a win over the Ivory Coast.
Quarter Finals
We now reach the quarter-finals and we make HOLLAND the first team through to the semi-finals beating Uruguay on Friday, 2nd July.
That night we expect BRAZIL to join them by sending England packing with some ease.
On Saturday 3rd July we are banking on ARGENTINA getting the better of Germany and setting up a semi-final clash with SPAIN who should get the better of Paraguay.
Semi Finals
We are now down to the last four and we start with the Brazil v Holland match. We are taking the Samba Boys to win this one and progress to the final.
SPAIN face a tough ask against ARGENTINA and we think the European champions are up to it and can book their place in the final.
THE FINAL
So to the final and before a ball is kicked you could be quids in with 11/1 for a Spain v Brazil final. We think that SPAIN will have too much for class and will win World Cup 2010.
FREE BETS: We have 5 x £20 scorecasts to giveaway for the opening games so if you fancy a flutter over the weekend just drop us a email at puntersguide@irelandclick.com to enter.
That's how easy it is, no crappy questions here..
16 comments:
Yanks +1 GOAL folks 5-4
Yee-Haa
back all the PG selections to make the quarters pays 183/1 just put a fiver on them online
Stan
Golden BOOT
So many markets to choose from at South Africa 2010 and the Golden Boot and winner is always a popular bet.
Going way back to 2002, punters cleaned up when backing the Ronaldo/Brazil double. Not surprisingly, very few punters latched on to the Klose/Italy double in the last World Cup but punters prospered at Euro 2008 with the Villa/Spain double.
Looking at this year’s tournament and we have short-listed three players – remember, the Golden Boot winner has scored 7 in the last 4 championships.
Fit-again Robin Van Persie looks a fresh striker and could score a hatful for Holland in the group stages and the 14/1 looks good value – the each-way bet is so tempting.
Gonzalo Higuain had a great year with Real Madrid and is another player to make the PG shortlist; he’s at 16s and we are banking on Argentina getting to the semi-finals.
Fernando Torres is overpriced at 12/1. He goes into the World Cup a fresh player and could score a bucketful in the group stages.
Special Doubles: Torres/Spain 25/1, Higuain/Argentina 50/1, Van Persie/Holland 25/1, Van Persie /Spain 85/1, and lastly Higuain/Spain 100/1 – all are well worth a pound or two. As ever, you pays your money and you takes your choice...
Opening weekend Games
Right, let’s try and get off to a winning start at South Africa 2010. We begin with the opening games on Friday.
Hosts SOUTH AFRICA take on MEXICO and this looks a hard one to call, so we suggest the draw at 21/10 – the opener’s always so cagey. First goalscorer selection: Steven Pienaar at 11/1.
FRANCE take on URUGUAY on Friday night and again we suggest the draw in this one at 21/10 – double-up on both games and that could give us a dream start. First goalscorer selection: Luis Suarez at 7/1.
PG FIVEHIT
Some great games over the weekend and our banker bet is ARGENTINA (1/2) to beat Nigeria on Saturday afternoon, and that starts our five-hit.
GERMANY (8/15) look too strong for Australia on Sunday night while HOLLAND (8/13) should get off to a winning start against Denmark on Monday.
SPAIN (1/3) are expected to get off to a winning start and they should see off Switzerland on Wednesday.
Making the five-hit up are CHILE (8/13) who should make a winning start against Honduras.
PG QUAD
On to our first quad of the World Cup and SLOVENIA (6/5) are first down to beat Algeria on Sunday, followed by CAMEROON (11/10) to beat Japan on Monday.
SOUTH KOREA (15/8) can get their ball rolling by beating Greece on Saturday night.
Hopefully three up ahead of our last selection on Monday night where we have gone for PARAGUAY (10/3) to upset the holders Italy.
Some tasty bets there PG just did R Hughes in the first at Newbury and Brazil at 5s in a £50 double
Ian
PG can I have my free £50 bet on Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina to
keep up the brill work
Eamon MccCullogh
give the 'Dutch' a chance this time round, took V.Persie from the outset 25/1, Holland 14/1 and had to do the double and got a nasty 100/1, with PaddyPower...bring it home son!
just blew £25 hope to get it back with FAZBEE here 25 on at 3s
Ian
Ian mate quit you are losing a bomb
jake
Ian mate quit you are losing a bomb
jake
FRRREEEEE LIONS ON MY SHIIIIIRT!!
ITS CAAMING 'OME
ITS CAAMING 'OME
FOOTBAWS CAAMIN 'OME
Think i'll have some of that Van Persie/Spain double and Torres/Argentina double for an interest.
Mexico 7/2 to win their group and USA+1 is another double i'll be investing in. C'mon the yanks
johnnyboy
just few hours to kick-off
was it just me or was the usual busy roads empty this morning coming to work
some winners and selections folks
Bo Mo: Germany to win 2-1 (£20 win)
Shieldsy: Rooney and 3-1
St Johns Punters:
England to win 2-1 over USA
Clarkey
Argentina to win 3-0 over Nigeria and Tevez to score first goal.
Harpo:
Suarez first goal and Uruguay to draw 1-1
In Ladbrokes (Shaws Road) there at 2.00pm and I thought it was Grand National day all over again.
Massive queue but only ONE cashier on..
Loads of punters missed out on getting a bet on and punters walked out of the shop.
Start of the World Cup and 7-odd meetings on and they have ONE kid taking bets.
The bookmakers need to put more staff on in this shop - absolute disgrace and I felt sorry for the ypung kid on!
7.25 leicester
perfect blossom
england -1
wee double
a4e
Jesus PG what a start
I have cleaned up with the XX and did the five-hit and quad which is still rolling
Dave
Yanks 1 down already..
getting tougher
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