World Cup odds Preview: Round of 16 Betting
The Group Stage now behind us, World Cup action heads into the elimination Round of 16 with a few surprise teams and a few more surprises on their way home. Lionel Messi and Argentina will put their perfect mark to date on the line Sunday when they take on Mexico. The Americans and English each face tough matches against Ghana and Germany, respectively, for a place in the quarterfinals.
The Second Round of the FIFA World Cup has arrived, and the United States has arrived intact as the winners of Group C.
It wasn’t an easy ride for the Americans, who found themselves on both sides of lady luck in the Group Stage. The United States needed a soft goal to draw England 1-1, were shafted by the officials in a 2-2 draw with Slovenia, and used a goal in stoppage time from Landon Donovan to slip past Algeria 1-0.
The end result was a 1-0-2 record to set up a date with Ghana in the Round of 16 on Saturday at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Black Stars finished with a 1-1-1 mark to finish second in Group D behind Germany, and they’ll carry their entire continent’s flag into the knockout round.
The other five African nations were eliminated in the Group Stage. Something tells me the vuvuzelas will make it through to the next round, however.
The U.S. fell 2-1 to Ghana in its Group Stage finale four years ago, but the soccer betting odds portend a different result on Saturday. Oddsmakers have the United States as +150 favorites, with Ghana priced as +190 underdogs to advance to the quarterfinals.
The winner of the U.S.-Ghana match meets either Group A winner Uruguay (2-1-0) or Group B runner-up South Korea (1-1-1) in the quarters. Uruguay is -120 chalk against South Korea (+350) on Saturday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
England finished second in Group C behind the Americans with a 1-2-0 record, and it’ll have its work cut out for it against Group D winner Germany (2-0-1) on Sunday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The Three Lions had trouble scoring in the Group Stage, as Wayne Rooney continues to struggle in international play. After scoring against the U.S., the English drew Algeria 0-0 before squeaking past Slovenia 1-0.
Oddsmakers opened England as +165 faves in its soccer match with Germany (+180), but the draw could be the sharpest wager on the board at +200.
Even if Fabio Capello’s side can get past the Germans – no certainty – they’ll likely face Argentina in the quarterfinals.
The Argentinians were easily the best country in Group B, winning all three of their games while posting a +6 goal differential. Argentina sports the best player in the World Cup in Lionel Messi and the most high-profile manager in Diego Maradona, but so far the drama’s been kept to a minimum.
Argentina takes on Group A runner-up Mexico (1-1-1) on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, and there’s little doubt which side is expected to advance. Oddsmakers have the Argentinians at -200, while the Mexicans are set as +600 pups.
Uruguay and Mexico moved on from Group A, but France’s collapse was the bigger story. The French went 0-1-2 for only one point, including a 2-1 upset loss to the host South Africans.
France wasn’t the only major disappointment in the Group Stage, however. Four years after cashing the World Cup, Italy finished dead last in a very-winnable Group F.
Paraguay (1-2-0) took Group F and will battle Japan (2-0-1, second in Group E) on Tuesday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Sportsbooks opened Paraguay as +120 chalk, with Japan priced as +300 dogs.
With its 3-2 victory over the Azzurri on Thursday, Slovakia (1-1-1) advanced as the other country from Group F, and will clash with Group E winner the Netherlands (3-0-0) on Monday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Durban Stadium.
The Dutch are -205 favorites against the Slovaks (+800), but they’re currently seeing better odds to win the World Cup outright at +650.
Brazil (+325) remains the chalk to win the World Cup after finishing first in Group G with a 2-1-0 record. Next up for the Brazilians is a match with Chile (2-0-1, second place, Group H) at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Monday (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Portugal (1-2-0) followed Brazil in Group G after the sides fought to an 0-0 draw on Friday, and while they only posted one win in the Group Stage, the Portuguese are a side to watch if only because they’ve yet to allow a goal.
Portugal faces defending European Cup champion Spain (2-0-1, first place, Group H) at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Group Stage now behind us, World Cup action heads into the elimination Round of 16 with a few surprise teams and a few more surprises on their way home. Lionel Messi and Argentina will put their perfect mark to date on the line Sunday when they take on Mexico. The Americans and English each face tough matches against Ghana and Germany, respectively, for a place in the quarterfinals.
The Second Round of the FIFA World Cup has arrived, and the United States has arrived intact as the winners of Group C.
It wasn’t an easy ride for the Americans, who found themselves on both sides of lady luck in the Group Stage. The United States needed a soft goal to draw England 1-1, were shafted by the officials in a 2-2 draw with Slovenia, and used a goal in stoppage time from Landon Donovan to slip past Algeria 1-0.
The end result was a 1-0-2 record to set up a date with Ghana in the Round of 16 on Saturday at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Black Stars finished with a 1-1-1 mark to finish second in Group D behind Germany, and they’ll carry their entire continent’s flag into the knockout round.
The other five African nations were eliminated in the Group Stage. Something tells me the vuvuzelas will make it through to the next round, however.
The U.S. fell 2-1 to Ghana in its Group Stage finale four years ago, but the soccer betting odds portend a different result on Saturday. Oddsmakers have the United States as +150 favorites, with Ghana priced as +190 underdogs to advance to the quarterfinals.
The winner of the U.S.-Ghana match meets either Group A winner Uruguay (2-1-0) or Group B runner-up South Korea (1-1-1) in the quarters. Uruguay is -120 chalk against South Korea (+350) on Saturday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
England finished second in Group C behind the Americans with a 1-2-0 record, and it’ll have its work cut out for it against Group D winner Germany (2-0-1) on Sunday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The Three Lions had trouble scoring in the Group Stage, as Wayne Rooney continues to struggle in international play. After scoring against the U.S., the English drew Algeria 0-0 before squeaking past Slovenia 1-0.
Oddsmakers opened England as +165 faves in its soccer match with Germany (+180), but the draw could be the sharpest wager on the board at +200.
Even if Fabio Capello’s side can get past the Germans – no certainty – they’ll likely face Argentina in the quarterfinals.
The Argentinians were easily the best country in Group B, winning all three of their games while posting a +6 goal differential. Argentina sports the best player in the World Cup in Lionel Messi and the most high-profile manager in Diego Maradona, but so far the drama’s been kept to a minimum.
Argentina takes on Group A runner-up Mexico (1-1-1) on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, and there’s little doubt which side is expected to advance. Oddsmakers have the Argentinians at -200, while the Mexicans are set as +600 pups.
Uruguay and Mexico moved on from Group A, but France’s collapse was the bigger story. The French went 0-1-2 for only one point, including a 2-1 upset loss to the host South Africans.
France wasn’t the only major disappointment in the Group Stage, however. Four years after cashing the World Cup, Italy finished dead last in a very-winnable Group F.
Paraguay (1-2-0) took Group F and will battle Japan (2-0-1, second in Group E) on Tuesday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Sportsbooks opened Paraguay as +120 chalk, with Japan priced as +300 dogs.
With its 3-2 victory over the Azzurri on Thursday, Slovakia (1-1-1) advanced as the other country from Group F, and will clash with Group E winner the Netherlands (3-0-0) on Monday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) at Durban Stadium.
The Dutch are -205 favorites against the Slovaks (+800), but they’re currently seeing better odds to win the World Cup outright at +650.
Brazil (+325) remains the chalk to win the World Cup after finishing first in Group G with a 2-1-0 record. Next up for the Brazilians is a match with Chile (2-0-1, second place, Group H) at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Monday (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Portugal (1-2-0) followed Brazil in Group G after the sides fought to an 0-0 draw on Friday, and while they only posted one win in the Group Stage, the Portuguese are a side to watch if only because they’ve yet to allow a goal.
Portugal faces defending European Cup champion Spain (2-0-1, first place, Group H) at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).