Posts Tagged ‘football world cup’

World Cup 2010 Wagering Leading Scorers

One of the most interesting soccer betting side bets to make on the World Cup wagering event is trying to pick which competitor will be the leading scorer for the competition. There are needless to say various things you can bet on in the World Cup probabilities aside from the games themselves including who will win the award for the leading competitor of the competition, which competitor will score 1st in the World Cup event, which squad will score the most goals, etc.

Nonetheless the Golden Boot Award, granted to the leading scorer for the World Cup betting contest in any given year is 1 of the most interesting contests in the World Cup probabilities contest at the online sportsbooks. There has not truly been any competitor that can separate himself from the field, so this year the fight for that award has been somewhat anti-climactic, but the 2010 World Cup wagering event at the online sportsbooks is still young and there’s lots of opportunities that lie ahead.

Coming into the World Cup betting contest, the soccer betting probabilities, all liked substantial superstars like Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo, as the players most probable to score the most goals in this year’s World Cup probabilities contest.

But only Ronaldo has found the net through 2 games, of that illustrious list above. Messi has played out a outstanding competition to date and been somewhat improbable as he’s had some amazing shots just miss but he has not won once. Rooney has been a non-factor and if his squad doesn’t score a win vs Slovenia his World Cup betting adventure will be over.

The scoring leader right now is Messi’s Argentine teammate Gonzalo Higuain. Higuain netted a hat-trick against South Korea and leads all scorers in the World Cup probabilities right now. Portugal’s Tiago had 2 goals in the squad’s 7-0 defeat of North Korea and is even with Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan and Brazilian team members Elano and Luis Fabiano with 2 goals apiece for 2nd most in the competition.

When the dust at last settles and the World Cup wagering finishes, it is hard to say who will win the Golden Boot Award. But most likely it’ll be from a squad that goes deep into the contest (like Argentina or Brazil) and that competes on an attacking side (like Argentina or Holland).

The 1930 World Cup was when the Golden Boot Award was 1st introduced. There is also a silver and bronze version of the award given to the 2nd and third highest goalscorers of the Cup since the 1994 World Cup, however.

There are also a variety of other awards offered during the World Cup. There is the Golden Ball for example. This award is presented to the best competitor at the World Cup Finals, as determined by a committee and voters in the media. The Yashin Award is given to the best goalie and has been offered since 1994. The FIFA Fair Play Trophy, awarded since 1970, is given to the squad with the best history of fair play. And the Most Entertaining Team Award is given to the squad that has entertained the public the most. It was first awarded in 1994.


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Wagering Probabilities Lines Spain against Paraguay

In Saturday’s quarterfinals match in sports gambling wagers, Paraguay was overcome 1-0 by Spain. Spain will now be heading to the semifinals where it will likely be dealing with Germany, who overcame the preferred Argentina squad 4-0. It’s the 1st time that Spain has actually been to the World Cup semifinals. Spain may finally have a chance at shaking its image as a perpetual World Cup bust in sports wagers.

This looks it could finally be the year Spain gets it 1st World Cup gambling championship, and it’s been a very long time in the making. This year the much beleaguered Spanish side could just shed its championship of ‘underachiever’ after years of failing to live up to major anticipations in the World Cup odds contest, if it can only win two more soccer gambling matchups in South Africa.

There’ve been lots of great opportunities in past times for Spain to win a World Cup wagering championship and it has surely had the expertise. But negative luck and negative play on the pitch have conspired to saddle this squad with the infamy of being the best squad in soccer wagering to have never won a World Cup wagering championship.

It looks as if the soccer gods could finally be smiling on Espana, and there’s reason to be hopeful this year. In years prior the Spanish teams appeared to crumble under the slightest bit of strain. But this side is different. This is the same group of participants that only two years ago won Spain its 1st ever global soccer gambling championship by grabbing the Euro Cup.

And it has already proved to World Cup gambling devotees around the planet that it can handle the World Cup gambling strain as well. It had to win out in the Group Stage of the soccer gambling after dropping its 1st game in the World Cup odds contest, which it did with relative ease.

This squad has been as impressive as any since its 1st and sole loss in this tournament and is debatably the most gifted squad from front to back in this World Cup wagering tournament. Up front the likes of Fernando Torres and David Villa have been scorching opposing defenses and Villa in fact leads the tournament with 4 goals in 4 matches. In the midfield this squad is stout with Xabi Alonso, and defenders like Carlos Puyols and Co. keep foes away from the net on defense. But conceivably the biggest player on this side is captain and goaltender Iker Casillas, debatably the best keeper on earth.

But expertise aside, the Spanish side had a favorable draw in the quarterfinals against Paraguay and that may only have been the piece of luck this squad needed to get through.

It was a challenging game, full of painful moments and controversy, but Spain came out on top. Simply put, the squads were pretty evenly matched, but Spain just had a better night than Paraguay.

When they encounter the considerably more challenging German squad, it is still to be watched if Spain’s luck continues.


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Argentina versus Germany Wagering at FIFA World Cup

Argentina was defeated by Germany in a shocking 4-0 competition on Saturday in spite of being the favorites to win this competition in sportsbooks gambling.

Germany will now advance to the semifinals where they will undertake Spain, who defeated Paraguay 1-0 in World Cup betting.

At stake in the World Cup gambling matchup between Argentina and Germany wasn’t just a berth in the World Cup semifinals but heaps of national pride as well. Including two times in the World Cup finals, these 2 squads have a long and rich history of meeting in the World Cup gambling event. And the World Cup odds event favors the Argentine side in this newest soccer gambling matchup on Saturday. But it will be the Germans that advance 1 match closer to this year’s World Cup gambling finals, not the Albiceleste.

The Argentine side entered this competition an 11/8 fave in the World Cup odds. With 12/5 odds, Germany wasn’t far behind. But when you take a look at the total soccer gambling odds for an outright win in the World Cup gambling event, Argentina had a decided edge 4.8/1 versus Germany’s 15/2 odds.

But the World Cup isn’t determined on paper and that was made apparent when the Germans pulled off the slight upset in the World Cup gambling competition on Saturday.

Argentina have been an offensive juggernaut to date in this World Cup and its ten goals in 4 matches are about impressive as you’ll find at the World Cup gambling level. But that deluge offense comes as a result of a pretty forward playing squad which exposes the team’s defense.

Mexico took edge of this and nearly made a match of it in the Round of 16 World Cup gambling event. Many shots wide open shots from a distance rattled off the crossbar, and if the ball would have been a few inches lower, Mexico could have only pulled off the win. Germany is a better finishing team and competes with more patience than the Mexican side, though it has the speed of Mexico to be just as dangerous on the counterattack.

Argentina hasn’t had to play from behind for even a minute of World Cup gambling event. This played right into the hands of the patient German side when forced to press and opened much more counterattack scoring chances.

And Argentina just forgot to strengthen their defense. The Argentine’s notoriously vocal and crazy coach, Diego Maradona, stated before the match that he wished he might get in uniform and play again for Argentina. But when it came down to it, it was not more offense that the squad required. Maradona has been applauded previously for giving his squad free reign to do their thing and assault the other squad. It has served them nicely to this point.

Maradona was obviously frustrated and disappointed after the defeat. As did a lot of of the World Cup gambling fanatics, he must have anticipated much more from his squad. After all, this is a sport that has been owned by South America for plenty of years. Yet now both Brazil and Argentina, some of the strongest squads in the game, have been removed.


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Germany Picked versus Argentina in World Cup Gambling Odds

Germany defeated the favored Argentina in a minor upset in their quarterfinals game on Saturday in soccer betting. The final score of 4-0 was largely due to a really aggressive Argentina offense vs a quite patient German defense.

Argentina now follows the other hugely favored South American team at the online sportsbook, Brazil, from the competition. Meanwhile, Germany will carry on to the semifinals to take on Spain, who moved on after defeating Paraguay 1-0.

For many World Cup betting fans, Germany has been a nice surprise. This is a young team that had a pretty unimpressive qualifying round in the run up to the World Cup odds competition in South Africa. It does not boast any big names as World Cup betting competitions in the last like Ballack or Kahn. In fact, it’s a pretty low key team that appears to fly under radar, at least until it steps onto the soccer pitch.

The German team ripped through the World Cup wagering group stage, dropping a competition to a surprisingly excellent Serbian side, but snagging 6 points and eventually earning the group. And no soccer wagering lover will forget the clinic this team put on vs the hugely favored English team in the World Cup wagering round of 16.

The issue that has stood out most is this squad’s offensive expertise through 4 games in this year’s World Cup betting. It has landed 9 goals, including 2 4 goal outburst and granted just 2 goals for an impressive differential of +7.

But in order to win against a team of Argentina’s caliber, it’s the defense that must shine, or at the very least the mid-field must have the ability to hold a little. And that does not seem all that tricky for Germany. Against a quite strong attacking English mid-field of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the Germans just about shut them out although Lampard did unleash a few nice shots from a distance.

The Argentine attack was much more troublesome to defend and much different in the World Cup betting quarterfinal matchup. It’s loaded with swiftness (Messi, Tevez, and Higuian) and there isn’t a defense that keeps up with this threesome man for man. But Germany was able to sternly refuse the attempts of those 3 attackers to keep them at bay and stop any goals. In the counterattack, Germany then had a lot of chances to get shots on the Argentine goal.

Germany has been an terrific finishing team thus far in the World Cup betting action. It concluded well again for its prospect to move forward to the semifinals in the World Cup.

For his part, notorious Argentina coach Diego Maradona was rather irritated and frustrated with the squad’s loss. Maradona expressed his aggravation at a few of Germany’s loyal fans by getting angry and shouting at them until his daughter escorted him away. He once played for the same team that he coaches now. He has taken this defeat very hard, even considering leaving the team as coach. It’s sad to see such a dedicated team coach so heartbroken, as much as he was interesting in his antics during the World Cup.


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World Cup Gambling Probabilities Lines Spain versus Paraguay

Spain was the seriously preferred team to win this game on Saturday in the betting lines, but only hardly gained their victory with a final score of 1-0. Spain will now be proceeding on to the semifinals, where it will stand before Germany. In a final score of 4-0, Germany won their quarterfinals game versus Argentina.

David Villa obtained the winning goal in the 83rd minute, also landing his 5th goal of the World Cup. Now they will be facing Germany again in a repeat of the Euro 2008 final where Spain defeated Germany 1-0. Villa, for his part, is certain that Germany isn’t going to be delighted to see them in the World Cup online betting semifinals.

With Brazil, Argentina and now Paraguay being removed from the competition, the World Cup’s only remaining South American team is now Uruguay. Uruguay removed the last of the African squads when they beat Ghana in a heartbreaking penalty shootout.

The idea regarding the World Cup wagering when it reaches the knockout stage is that there are usually no easy squads left in the competition. But this year it’s been a insane competition and there is certainly a structure of the squads remaining in the World Cup probabilities competition. At 1 end of the competition you have World Cup wagering afterthoughts like Paraguay (55/1) and on the other end you have the seriously preferred squads like Spain (3/1).

And funnily enough these two squads squared off on Saturday in the World Cup wagering quarterfinals. Certainly Spain was the huge fave, as it ought to have been, in the World Cup probabilities going into this game.

Paraguay hardly qualified for the quarterfinal game with a penalty shoot out win versus mid-level team Japan. And it only got into the Round of 16 action after securing a bad Group F which was 1 of the poorest in the World Cup wagering event.

Spain alternatively has been really impressive in spite of a shocking opening game loss to tiny Switzerland in its 1st game of the 2010 World Cup wagering event. It proceeded to win 2 must win games –one of them against a quite great Chilean team. It confronted the hardest adversary of the draw, Portugal, and dispatched its Iberian neighbor and World #3 with little trouble in the Round of 16.

Now it seems as if it’s got its ticket punched into the World Cup wagering semifinal event also. The World Cup oddsmakers had made Spain a 13/25 fave to defeat its South American adversary. The second closest soccer wagering line in the World Cup wagering quarterfinal event is a far away 49/50.

Spain hasn’t even played up to its potential yet, and that’s the insane thing about this. Followers have been waiting for the perfect game from this Spanish side, or at least a leading notch performance, and this team hasn’t come close to producing it. Perhaps fans will finally get to see what this team is capable of against the German side in the forthcoming World Cup semifinals wagering.


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Paraguay vs Spain World Cup Quarterfinals Wagering Odds

Spain, who is laying a goal to Paraguay on Saturday, is the largest fave at your sports betting source in the 4 World Cup quarterfinal games. Spain was the fave to get the World Cup before play started plus they are on track to achieve the final. Paraguay defeated Japan in a penalty shootout while Spain managed to get past Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16.

Spain is a 1-goal fave at the online sports books with the total at 2.5 under.

For this quarterfinal match on Saturday that can be watched on ABC, Spain is also a major fave on the three-way line. They are -240, Paraguay is +600 and the Draw is +275 at SBG. It will be the first time in history that Paraguay has advanced to the quarterfinals in the World Cup Wagering Odds. They didn’t do much against Japan in the round of 16 however they scored goals all five times in the penalty shootout to progress.

Paraguay really struggle to score goals though they’ve got a quite excellent defense. Portugal has a much better defense than Paraguay but eventually it crumbled against Spain. It would seem likely that, against the Spanish stress, Paraguay’s defense will eventually allow a goal. Paraguay will hope for a error and try to wear down Spain. They’re going to be looking for spaces that permit the Paraguay team to leverage their assault.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino seems fairly confident in his team. He has stated that his team has what it takes to beat Spain and take their place in the semifinals of the World Cup. And Paraguay would be the underdog, although with its gritty resolve clear in previous games, it will feel a shot to sneak an upset.

Spain acquired a goal from David Villa to defeat Portugal in their last match to achieve the quarterfinals. Versus Portugal they did look improved as they dominated that match and easily might have had 3 or 4 goals, although Spain has not been that outstanding on offense. Raul Albiol, who probably is out for the remainder of the World Cup, is probably Spain’s only injury worry. Fernando Torres, who has not played well in the World Cup, does give Spain a problem. The issue will be whether Torres actually will get the start or if Spain goes with Fernando Llorente who played greater than Torres when he came in as a sub against Portugal.

Spain’s coach Vincente del Bosque said a few days ago that it’s challenging to stop his team when they’re in leading form. Spain joined the World Cup with just 1 loss in its last 48 games. They’ve never won the World Cup, however they joined the contest this year as favorites to do so. In reality, they were even ahead of classic World Cup juggernaut Brazil.

With Paraguay and Spain permitting a combined total of 3 goals in this year’s World Cup gambling probabilities, this match on Saturday ought to be low scoring. Spain has some talented strikers including Villa, however they do not figure to get lots of chances against a Paraguay defense that has allowed only 1 goal in their 4 games.


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World Cup Gambling Semifinals: The Netherlands against Uruguay

With lots of soccer betting yet to be played in the World Cup betting competition it’s difficult to say which team will win it all. We’ll definitely have a clearer picture of what the World Cup probabilities competition will look like with the quarterfinals nearly over and the semi-finals in the week ahead. Now’s the time to bet now and win. And once this weekend’s matches are finished with there might lots of surprises in store for World Cup betting supporters as at least 1 of the semi-final bouts will be comprised of underdogs.

Both The Netherlands and the Uruguay will be there when the dust from the quarterfinals betting event finally settles despite the fact that both are squads that no 1 anticipated to make it to the semifinals.

Both squads will advance to within 1 competition of the World Cup betting championship by winning their quarterfinal bouts to the surprise of plenty of World Cup betting supporters.

Uruguay has been reliable all tournament long and although not the flashiest side or the most gifted side this group of participants basically plays error free soccer and wears its opponents down. And in terms of this South American team, no other team in the soccer betting tournament has concluded better around the goal either.

But it has not seen a team anywhere close to the caliber of The Netherlands yet in this tournament because it’s also benefitted from 1 of the easiest draws in the World Cup betting event. When it faces off vs the Clockwork Orange in this semi-final matchup it will likely be the squad’s last World Cup betting game for 2010.

Holland is basically too gifted for the Uruguayans to beat in a soccer betting matchup. Even if the Uruguayans played 100% error free the talent disparity is basically too great. The Dutch midfield and attack is similar to a Murderer’s Row of scoring talent. With Robben and Van Persey up front there, and Snjieder in the middle with the likes of Vander Vaart and others, there’s no way a defense can hold all of this fire strength.

With an extraordinary 2-1 win over the greatly favored Brazil, the Netherlands moved on to the semifinals. Brazil, which also was eliminated in this round four years ago vs France, lost its composure after falling behind. In the mean time the Netherlands were finally demonstrating their talent. They were not actually anticipated to be the winners of this matchup, but Brazil only didn’t play too as they ought to have. In addition, Brazil defender Felipe Melo was thrown from the game after stomping on the leg of the Netherlands’ Arjen Robben. He also was accidentally accountable for 1 of the goals awarded to the Netherlands when the ball bounced off his head and into the goal.

In the mean time Uruguay defeated Ghana, removing the last of the African squads. The competition wound up in a dramatic penalty shootout after being stuffed of missed opportunities. The Uruguay team had been fortuitous to go through despite not playing very well, acknowledged coach Oscar Tabarez.

Ultimately the Dutch will advance to the Final, however the Uruguayans will be proud of what they have accomplished in the World Cup betting with so little.


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Betting Probabilities Choices in World Cup Quarterfinals Argentina versus Germany

The Argentine team had plenty of questions hanging over its head when it joined the 2010 World Cup gambling action. The team had grabbed a spot only in its last qualifying competition of the contest, scarcely even qualifying for the World Cup odds contest. And as if the questionable play of the team was not enough to get soccer online betting devotees worried, the antics of the teams coach Diego Maradona throw considerable doubt over this team’s chances in the World Cup gambling action.

Maradona, the same competitor who won the World Cup odds contest for Argentina as a competitor in 1986 and is adored as a deity in soccer-mad Argentina, had employed over 100 competitors in the handful of matches he coached in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup wagering contest and all his competitor combos had failed amazingly.

But Argentina has dominated in the 2010 World Cup gambling action and looks unstoppable as it heads into its quarterfinal competition with Germany this Saturday, so all of that is ancient history now. It has yet to lose a match in South Africa and ran up a perfect 3-0 track record and 9 point total in the group stages. It is pulled in 10 goals via 4 matches and granted only 2 for a competition best goal differential of +8.

But Germany will be the top team that Argentina has seen in the World Cup gambling action to date and it will need to be at its greatest. The offense, led by FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, has been running at full throttle since the first whistle of the competition. They have kept the other team’s defense under fire for of the World Cup gambling action by playing 90 minutes of attack.

But Germany has plenty of speed up the middle and may manage to slow the quick forwards of Argentina. Argentina will want to try and work the outside somewhat better than it has in recent matches but it will likely be difficult to improve on this unit’s performance as it’s been so excellent.

The Argentine defense, nevertheless, is a quite different story. Performing with so many competitors forward the Argentine side is usually in regular danger of being defeated by the counter attack. With a little of patience and speed it’s not hard to get shots on Argentina’s goal, as we saw against Mexico (and even against Nigeria in its World Cup gambling starter).

The 2 teams have a lengthy history of rivalry at the World Cup. They traded World Cup titles in back-to-back finals 20 years ago, and that’s when it started. Then the 2 teams actually traded a few punches and kicks in a scuffle after Germany eliminated Argentina in penalty kicks four years ago, also in the quarterfinals.

And now the 2 teams have been swapping trash talk and bravado, going forward and backward the last couple of days. The Germans are clearly trying to rattle Argentina, knowing Maradona has a temper. They may only be trying to work him up so he makes an irrational choice with his own team in the approaching competition.


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Making a 2010 World Cup Gamble on Ghana vs Uruguay

Of the eight teams remaining in the World Cup, Ghana and Uruguay are receiving the least amount of recognition from American gamblers making a 2010 World Cup wager.

1 of these two teams though is going to make the semifinals in World Cup gambling. In a competition that can be seen on ESPN, they meet on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Uruguay is a reliable fave to beat Ghana on Friday. They are -220 with the total at 2 under. The three-way line lists Uruguay at Even, Ghana at +285 and the Draw at +210.

Uruguay hasn’t lost in their last six World Cup competitions and has kept a clean sheet in 4 of those games. For the first time since 1970, Uruguay is in the quarterfinals. They have two quite excellent goal scorers in Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez who have three goals each in the World Cup. When Suarez lands a goal then Uruguay is likely to win. They have won the last 22 games when Suarez scores. He has won 55 goals this year in his 61 appearances for his squad and for Uruguay.

Uruguay, on the other hand, has been reliable from the first whistle of this year’s World Cup gambling tournament. Most sports gambling supporters didn’t even give this squad a chance to move forward past the group stage, choosing instead soccer gambling heavyweights like France and Mexico. But Uruguay made mincemeat of Mexico and played the French to a 0-0 draw in the opener on its way to a 7 point haul in Group A.

Ghana has competed with a ton of heart, squeaking out ties and victories by the slimmest of margins such as the team’s most recent Round of 16 wins over the US side. It’s qualified for the quarterfinals by the slimmest of margins and will probably play in its last competition on Friday versus Uruguay. Even versus the US team this squad was more than fortunate to win and it took an extraordinary goal in overtime to beat the US.

Ghana is headed by Asamoah Gyan who has 4 goals in the World Cup. Ghana is the third African squad to make the quarterfinals of the World Cup as Cameroon managed it in 1990 and Senegal in 2002. They are attempting to become the first African squad to reach the semifinals. Ghana will be devoid of suspended players Jonathan Mensah and Andre Ayew. The health of Gyan who hurt his ankle in training on Monday could be the bigger concern. He might not be at top form, though he’s not supposed to miss Friday’s competition.

Another essential in this competition on Friday could be the health of Uruguay defender Diego Dodin. He’s not supposed to start considering of injury. Coach Oscar Tabarez does not think he’s ready for a full competition, though he could still play. Uruguay has permitted only 1 goal to date in the World Cup.

The home crowd advantage will surely be for Ghana in this competition but Uruguay has more scoring, a better defense and a better goalie. That is why they are liked to win this match versus Ghana and make the semifinals.


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Betting Odds Preview: Holland against Brazil

A potent quarterfinal matchup takes place on Friday as five-time World Cup betting champion Brazil battles the Netherlands. It should be a quality one since the champion of this game may go on to win the World Cup. Brazil is the overall favorite to win the World Cup and they are also the favorite in this game versus the Netherlands.

Brazil is a -260 favorite at the online sportsbook with the total at 2.5 under.

The Netherlands are still substantial underdogs versus Brazil although they’re deemed a very powerful team in this game that can be viewed on ESPN. The three-way line at SBG has Brazil at -120, the Netherlands at +300 and the Tie at +225. Brazil was very extraordinary in their round of 16 game as they beat Chile 3-0. The Netherlands was almost as extraordinary as they defeated Slovakia 2-1 in a game that genuinely should have ended 2-0. Brazil and the Netherlands have met 3 times in World Cup gambling history and Brazil has won two of those times. The first was in 1974 when Dutch coach Johan Cruyff motivated Holland to beat Brazil 2-0 on their way to the final. Brazil took their revenge in 1994 when a late Branco free kick gave Brazil a 3-2 victory. And the two sides were tied 1-1 in a 1998 semi-final. Brazil picked up that competition in penalties.

Playmaker Elano will miss the game as a result of an ankle injury. Brazil will need to find a way to win without him. He obtained a goal in Brazil’s first two games but was hurt late in the match versus Ivory Coast. He’ll not be ready for Friday’s game although he’s been practicing. Brazil is a very deep team but Elano is a essential player as he has played 46 games with Brazil and obtained nine goals.

Brazil wants to make up for the defeat when they were surprised 4 years ago in the quarterfinals by France. They played their biggest game of the World Cup probabilities vs Chile in the round of 16 and they want to carry on that success vs the Netherlands. Luis Fabiano seems to have a great chemistry with Kaka, and he has obtained 3 goals in 4 games in South Africa.

The game often comes down to the goaltender when two potent squads meet. Brazil has Julio Cesar while the Netherlands has Maarten Stekelenburg who made some big saves in the win over Slovakia. There’s still some concern about Cesar’s back injury, though there’s no question that Cesar has the better credentials. He wounded his back in a warmup game vs Zimbabwe on June second. He missed plenty of practice but he has been solid in the World Cup, allowing only two goals. It might be Cesar who’s the difference for Brazil if this game comes down to penalty kicks.

But Brazil will probably win. Tradition breeds champions, and Brazil has won the World Cup five times. The strain on them is greater, and overall fairly positive. The last time Holland reached the finals was way back in the 1970s. These participants haven’t been there before.


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