South Africa pick (+0) +106 to bet 1 unit
I expect this to be a draw to be honest, but to go on the safe side I'm gonna go with the pick. This time last year I wouldn't have expected S. Africa to get a single point but I have changed my tune a little. First of all the obvious factor is that they have the whole country behind them. Second, they have played some tough teams over the last year and have played well against them. This includes taking Spain to the brink in last years Confederation Cup. They also nearly got a draw with Brazil until Dani Alves scored a goal in 88th minute. They struggled in the few months after but they got it back together the last few weeks and this is exactly how I expect them to play. Including a victory against a pretty decent Denmark team. The team will be able to put up some goals because of Parreira's attacking type game plan and I could see Pienaar having a great tournament.
Mexico is the better team without question on paper but I think that S. Africa's advantage of being on there home ground, in the opening game will surely even the odds a little bit more for S. Africa. They haven't exactly impressed in the last few World Cups. They couldn't beat an Angola team that was in its first world cup and as I recall were dominated by the Portuguese. It's been mentioned that S. Africa has a ton of pressure on it because expectations for a host country is to always qualify. I actually don't agree with that statement. I've mentioned before I have a friend who is in South Africa as we speak and was there last year for the Confederation Cup. He said expectations are not really that high and the team is almost considered a joke. I think any result at all would be a great victory. While Mexico has a ton of pressure on them. I was just in Mexico 3 weeks ago and World Cup fever was on. Talking to a few people there at the hotel I was at that were Mexican they actually expect to win this thing, at worst make the semi-finals. When you talk about pressure, I think there is a ton of Mexican pressure to perform in this because they haven't gotten past the Round of 16 since 1986 (when Mexico was t he host).
Also I know its been mentioned that a host country has never failed to get into the knockout stage but something I found interested is that a host country has never lost there first game as well. I believe there has been 3 draws and the rest were victories. I pretty much expect a draw in this game, but to be on the safe side going with the "pick" just in case S. Africa manages a win.
I expect this to be a draw to be honest, but to go on the safe side I'm gonna go with the pick. This time last year I wouldn't have expected S. Africa to get a single point but I have changed my tune a little. First of all the obvious factor is that they have the whole country behind them. Second, they have played some tough teams over the last year and have played well against them. This includes taking Spain to the brink in last years Confederation Cup. They also nearly got a draw with Brazil until Dani Alves scored a goal in 88th minute. They struggled in the few months after but they got it back together the last few weeks and this is exactly how I expect them to play. Including a victory against a pretty decent Denmark team. The team will be able to put up some goals because of Parreira's attacking type game plan and I could see Pienaar having a great tournament.
Mexico is the better team without question on paper but I think that S. Africa's advantage of being on there home ground, in the opening game will surely even the odds a little bit more for S. Africa. They haven't exactly impressed in the last few World Cups. They couldn't beat an Angola team that was in its first world cup and as I recall were dominated by the Portuguese. It's been mentioned that S. Africa has a ton of pressure on it because expectations for a host country is to always qualify. I actually don't agree with that statement. I've mentioned before I have a friend who is in South Africa as we speak and was there last year for the Confederation Cup. He said expectations are not really that high and the team is almost considered a joke. I think any result at all would be a great victory. While Mexico has a ton of pressure on them. I was just in Mexico 3 weeks ago and World Cup fever was on. Talking to a few people there at the hotel I was at that were Mexican they actually expect to win this thing, at worst make the semi-finals. When you talk about pressure, I think there is a ton of Mexican pressure to perform in this because they haven't gotten past the Round of 16 since 1986 (when Mexico was t he host).
Also I know its been mentioned that a host country has never failed to get into the knockout stage but something I found interested is that a host country has never lost there first game as well. I believe there has been 3 draws and the rest were victories. I pretty much expect a draw in this game, but to be on the safe side going with the "pick" just in case S. Africa manages a win.
South Africa is terrible they won't even match-up close to Mexico. You can throw that bet out the window.
