[moses millsap]

Thoughts everybody? I would think under in Italy/Aus game and have no real idea on the other one.

[Terris]

dunno, Aus defense is not the best and Italy doesnt play all defensive anymore when leading 1-0.

[moses millsap]

Italy doesnt play all defensive anymore when leading 1-0.

Okay, I was under the impression that was their style still.

Any thoughts on the game on Tuesday, Spain/France. That line looks out of whack to me, I thought Spain would be a much larger favorite than -140ish to advance.

[scottyy11]

took over on the ukraine gm 2 -115

[Bulldog]

As for today's lines.
I think Italy is worth a chance in the money line -240
Wouldt take it -1
Not too big on totals but gotta take under 2.5 on this
one -170 o so.

As for the afternoon game, I think its gonna be a close one. No heavy favorite on that one.
Im gonna take, Ukraine -to advance, -110 or so. Dont wanna bet bit in the ass by that draw line which by the way looks pretty attractive if you think about it at +210.
Total? its a coin toss I would take Over 2.5 at +140 or so.

Anyway guys,
enjoy the games and good luck.
Bulldog

[Baphomet]

Good luck Bulldog.
Your picks look more rational than others I've seen around about soccer, no offense on no one.

[moses millsap]

Italy is -127 to win in regulation now. I'm not so sure it's going to happen.

[tacomax]

Less likely to happen now with 10 men. Should liven up the match, though.

[moses millsap]

Nice save on the Astros last night Taco, did you stay up to watch it or did you wake up to see the score this morning?

The live odds on this match are pretty much even, Italy is still a slight favorite to advance.

[Bulldog]

The under seems like a lock?
Still think Italy should advance, even with 10 men.
Anyway...

[moses millsap]

How much added time do you think there will be?

[Terris]

took the under owned?

[moses millsap]

I'll be happy with a 0-0 draw please.

[moses millsap]

Why is this ref always smiling when giving out cards? LOL. (Isn't that the same one from yesterday?)

[moses millsap]

took the under owned?

Nope. Took some in-game live betting. That chalk was -170 on under 2.5 this morning.

[Terris]

omg what a joke penalty again, he just fell over the aussies back Refs are destroying this WC...

[tacomax]

Bit of a shitter for the Aussies.

[Bulldog]

I missed the PK!!
Was it really that bad?

[moses millsap]

How does the ref call for a PK there? LOL. I'm done with soccer.

[Terris]

imo that was really bad, what a bogus pen.

[Bulldog]

Referes will get better as the lousy ones are sent home.
Donth give up on the WC guys.
It comes only every 4 years and for most of the world (including me) its the best sporting event in the world!!
Im happy I won my 2 picks.
Hoping Ukraine advances in the afternoon game.
Anyway...

[tacomax]

Referes will get better as the lousy ones are sent home.

That's funny. I thought the point of the World Cup was that the lousy teams got sent home. Didn't realise that it worked for the referees as well.

Seriously though, the quality of refereeing - for what is meant to an exhibition of the best in football - has been crap to say the least.

[Bulldog]

I agree.
Yesterdays ref in the Por/Holl match was pretty bad and this one today was unbelievable.
But it does work like that, the crappy ones get sent home and the better ones stick around for quarter finals.
By the way, I had the astros last night as well and I did stay up to watch it. Their bullpen stinks.
Anyway, sticking to soccer, Im kinda glad Italy advanced. Wouldnt be the same with Australia, Ukraine or Switzerland in semis.

[adriano]

The bet for tonights game is Switzerland to advance. GL guys.

It's obvious soccer should allow tv replays for refs, maybe starting with something limited as two per half-time as the two per set requested by players in tennis.

[Bulldog]

Ill take Ukraine to advance.
Theres been a discussion for a long time regarding instant replay in soccer.
I believe it will take the human factor out of the game 2 much. Cant imagine teams asking for time or throwing a flag.
Thats just not soccer... at least not to me.
There has to be another solution to the poor refereeing.
Maybe 2 referees plus 2 linesmen?
GL guys

[moses millsap]

I don't care about the second game at all. I'm going to be sadistic and hope for something ungodly to happen to one of the refs.

[McBa1n]

Tough 2nd game today to pick. The Swiss are playing about as good as you can with the talent they have. Ukraine has put together maybe 1 quality game so far and a few counter-attack spurts that give them a chance. They were really down in their final group game, though... I can't see them advancing.

I'm about fed up with the officiating in these games. I was supporting Aussie, and was pretty ticked at that red Italy took and a few of the other cards - and rewarding blatent diving (god, that ref is/was terrible).
It's unacceptable to be playing for 1 win with this kind of officiating. That's TWO games now that were an absolute joke... I blame the players in the Portugal/Holland game as much as the ref, they were both gutless and terrible sportsmen.

It's just a shame to get a quality knock-out matchup have the game be muddied by officials and not the players. People wait 4 years to see the best of the best players... Why can't FIFA do better with the officials? It's ridiculous.

[oversoul]

Italy didn't deserve the win... but scoring like that is the difference among the so called BIG teams and the other. Just look at Korea and France... Koreans only did a bad game: the last one... while France barely play as good as deserve to be seen by few times in three games... but they are inn. Great teams win the games they need to win.

[moses millsap]

Can somebody give me the name of that referee in the Aus/Ita game? Thanks in advance.

[RickySteve]

Okay, I was under the impression that was their style still.

Any thoughts on the game on Tuesday, Spain/France. That line looks out of whack to me, I thought Spain would be a much larger favorite than -140ish to advance.

That match is dead even. The value is with France.

[adriano]

Here you go OWNED.

Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)

Spanish refs are known to usually brandish cards more easily than in other european leagues. I thought that red card was way too harsh.

I don't know if that will calm you down but i've seen worse penalties if it is at all possible in the spanish league. One that pops to my mind was earned by Spanish striker Raul in a game between Real Madrid and Valencia in the 90th minute to rob the bats of the victory, 1-1 it finished in Madrid about 2 years ago. The defender's sin was that he jumped alongside him for a header, and he wasn't touching him with any part of his body.

[moses millsap]

Thanks A.

This Swiss/Ukraine game looks like another 0-0, 1-0 snoozer. Dribble around midfield, doing nothing except to run the clock. Yawn. Going to bed.

[Bulldog]

Not even a yellow card?
Can you believe that?
No wonder this game was reffered to as the "less attractive" of the round of 16.
Any thoughts for the second half?

[McBa1n]

These knock-out games have been brutal.
Don't fret... Brazil gets their sacrificial lamb tommorrow and Spain gets to play.. 2 of the 3 most exciting teams left woo!
France has some exciting players, too - that should be a 'diver' paradise kind of game with some sick passing.

Is it me or do the 'name' teams get the benefit of the doubt constantly? I miss dogs like Turkey, Senegal or Paraguay actually BEING in these knock-out round games and winning some ala the last cup.

I can't put my finger on whats going on, there are so few surprises - and the ones that have been, they aren't really THAT big of a shocker (like Ukraine's win today, Portugal's yesterday).

[Baphomet]

Ukraine did it! First time I bet on a game, haha!
Ukraine to pass, did bet with a work mate.
Today I'd be happy to bet Spain to pass.

That was a clear foul (Italy - Aus), I don't know why are yo ucryin' about it. Pretty fair to me.
Italy deserved to pass, Australia went too far indeed.
Good for them, but now it's time for real champions to fight for the Cup.