World Cup Odds: Brazil Tackles Portugal
Friday's World Cup match between Brazil and Portugal as the final hors d'oeuvre before the knockout Round of 17 begins. In addition to being the first real battle of soccer powers in this tournament, there is still a lot riding on the outcome. Both teams should advance, barring an Ivory Coast explosion of goals, but seeding for the next round will be decided on the Durban Stadium pitch.
Now we’re talkin’.
We’ve seen some excellent soccer at the World Cup so far, but let’s face it – the Group Stage is an appetizer, an amuse-bouche if you will. We have yet to see two soccer powerhouses face one another, but that all changes Friday when Portugal and Brazil meet in the final match for Group G – the Group of Death (cue eerie music).

Both teams are likely to advance to the Knockout Stage, but nothing’s etched in stone. Ivory Coast can still finagle its way into second place with a massive blowout win over North Korea and a Portugal loss to Brazil. Portugal (four points) can still overtake Brazil (six points) for first place in Group G with a victory – if they want to. The winner of Group G will play the runners-up from Group H in the Round of 16; right now, that’s Spain as opposed to first-place Chile.
Brazil midfielder Kaka says his team will be going for the win on Friday, even though they only need a draw to sew up first place in Group G. They just won’t be using their best players to do it. Kaka himself is suspended for this soccer match after picking up two yellow cards in Brazil’s 3-1 win over Ivory Coast. Fellow midfielder Elano has missed most of the last two days of practice with a calf strain; he may play Friday, or coach Carlos Dunga may decide to rest him and take the opportunity to showcase some of his younger players.
The reserves have been practicing for this moment. They played a local under-19 team in Johannesburg (nicknamed “The Birds”) on Monday and won 7-1. Players involved included 25-year-old striker Nilmar, who has eight goals in 18 caps for Brazil and could take Kaka’s place on Friday. Or Dunga could plug in another midfielder like Julio Baptista, who is also dangerous on the attack – witness his 13 goals in 42 games over the past two years for AS Roma.
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz has a conundrum of his own: what to do with Deco. The star midfielder has been a non-factor at the World Cup, playing subpar soccer in the 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast and staying on the bench for Portugal’s 7-0 whitewash of North Korea.
Deco reportedly had an MRI scan done Tuesday on his right hip; the results had yet to be announced at press time, but the 32-year-old Deco appears to have already lost his spot to Tiago in the starting 11, especially after criticizing Queiroz’ tactics last week. Tiago scored twice against North Korea and set up a third goal while Deco watched.
Playing in the English Premiership just doesn’t seem to suit Deco. He appeared in only 18 games for Chelsea this year and looked like a shadow of the man who won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006. In fact, the long grind of the physical Premiership campaign seems to have taken its toll on a number of injured and ineffective players – like Deco’s Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack.
With Brazil potentially fielding a B-team of sorts on Friday, the soccer betting odds are leaning toward a result other than a win for the Seleção. Brazil is +120 to win, followed by Portugal at +250 and the draw at +200. The 'under' is a rather chalky -160 on the total of 2.5 goals, which reflects the newer disciplined style Brazil are playing under Dunga, as well as his possible lineup changes.
Portugal has a tactical reason to play for a goalless draw; if they happen to lose 1-0, the Ivorians still need to outscore North Korea by eight to vault over Portugal and into the Round of 16. You can get the 0-0 correct score prop at odds of 7-1; the 1-0 Brazil victory and the 1-1 draw are each pegged at 5-1.
Friday's World Cup match between Brazil and Portugal as the final hors d'oeuvre before the knockout Round of 17 begins. In addition to being the first real battle of soccer powers in this tournament, there is still a lot riding on the outcome. Both teams should advance, barring an Ivory Coast explosion of goals, but seeding for the next round will be decided on the Durban Stadium pitch.
Now we’re talkin’.
We’ve seen some excellent soccer at the World Cup so far, but let’s face it – the Group Stage is an appetizer, an amuse-bouche if you will. We have yet to see two soccer powerhouses face one another, but that all changes Friday when Portugal and Brazil meet in the final match for Group G – the Group of Death (cue eerie music).

Both teams are likely to advance to the Knockout Stage, but nothing’s etched in stone. Ivory Coast can still finagle its way into second place with a massive blowout win over North Korea and a Portugal loss to Brazil. Portugal (four points) can still overtake Brazil (six points) for first place in Group G with a victory – if they want to. The winner of Group G will play the runners-up from Group H in the Round of 16; right now, that’s Spain as opposed to first-place Chile.
Brazil midfielder Kaka says his team will be going for the win on Friday, even though they only need a draw to sew up first place in Group G. They just won’t be using their best players to do it. Kaka himself is suspended for this soccer match after picking up two yellow cards in Brazil’s 3-1 win over Ivory Coast. Fellow midfielder Elano has missed most of the last two days of practice with a calf strain; he may play Friday, or coach Carlos Dunga may decide to rest him and take the opportunity to showcase some of his younger players.
The reserves have been practicing for this moment. They played a local under-19 team in Johannesburg (nicknamed “The Birds”) on Monday and won 7-1. Players involved included 25-year-old striker Nilmar, who has eight goals in 18 caps for Brazil and could take Kaka’s place on Friday. Or Dunga could plug in another midfielder like Julio Baptista, who is also dangerous on the attack – witness his 13 goals in 42 games over the past two years for AS Roma.
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz has a conundrum of his own: what to do with Deco. The star midfielder has been a non-factor at the World Cup, playing subpar soccer in the 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast and staying on the bench for Portugal’s 7-0 whitewash of North Korea.
Deco reportedly had an MRI scan done Tuesday on his right hip; the results had yet to be announced at press time, but the 32-year-old Deco appears to have already lost his spot to Tiago in the starting 11, especially after criticizing Queiroz’ tactics last week. Tiago scored twice against North Korea and set up a third goal while Deco watched.
Playing in the English Premiership just doesn’t seem to suit Deco. He appeared in only 18 games for Chelsea this year and looked like a shadow of the man who won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006. In fact, the long grind of the physical Premiership campaign seems to have taken its toll on a number of injured and ineffective players – like Deco’s Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack.
With Brazil potentially fielding a B-team of sorts on Friday, the soccer betting odds are leaning toward a result other than a win for the Seleção. Brazil is +120 to win, followed by Portugal at +250 and the draw at +200. The 'under' is a rather chalky -160 on the total of 2.5 goals, which reflects the newer disciplined style Brazil are playing under Dunga, as well as his possible lineup changes.
Portugal has a tactical reason to play for a goalless draw; if they happen to lose 1-0, the Ivorians still need to outscore North Korea by eight to vault over Portugal and into the Round of 16. You can get the 0-0 correct score prop at odds of 7-1; the 1-0 Brazil victory and the 1-1 draw are each pegged at 5-1.