Hello.
I've been on a good run in the U17 World Cup and got both my plays right last night so thought I'd share my picks for tonight's games. Make of them what you want.
England vs Argentina
A real classic. England quietly won a fairly straightforward group, beating decent looking Uruguay in the process. Argentina struggled badly in a tougher group and eventually qualified as one of the four third placed nations. They were battered by both Japan and France which is nothing to be ashamed of but it puts us in a tough position as Argentina were much fancied before the tournament began. My lean here is that England will qualify but the English keeper has looked dodgy and Argentina should be better than the odds say here.
Verdict: I'm staying away from this one.
Germany vs USA
Germany have been one of the most impressive sides this far in the tournament, claiming maximum points in the group stages. In the process they scored 11 goals and only conceded one. The stats lie a tiny bit as six of the goals came against an on the day awful Ecuadorian side and another win came against a Burkina Faso side with two men sent off. USA were lucky to get out of the group stages at all did not impress me much at all in the two games I watched them. They were comfortably beaten by an admittedly good Uzbekistan side and could not find a way to score against the same New Zeeland team that leaked 6 against Japan last night. USA badly lack creativity but there is a small risk they might keep Germany at bay too. This is great material for a parlay and I'm gonna back the Germans with the handicap too.
Verdict: Germany -1.5 Asian Handicap, odds ~1.9.
France vs Ivory Coast
This game has already been discussed on here a few days ago. To those of you who got on IC at 3.75 I can only say congratulations. I hesitated for a reason I can't remember and now the line has dropped down to about 2.9. I'm going to be honest here, this game is a nightmare to call. France are incredibly skillful individually and are the stronger squad on paper but the flipside is that their team spirit and passing isn't great. Ivory Coast do look good all round but they too are ridiculously reliant on Souleymane Coulibaly who has scored every single one of IC's goals this far in the tournament. You can still get IC +0 at roughly odds 2 which is the play I would make, but this is too close for me. Can see both sides claiming a big victory depending on their mindset of the day.
Verdict: Too hard to call, I think the bookies have the prices roughly right. I'm staying away.
Mexico vs Panama
Last but not least, the hosts against a Panama side that only qualified as a third placer, with 3 points from 3 games. Panama have not been exactly awful either but they should not really be in the playoffs with 1 win from 3 games. They try their best to play good football but these guys don't have what it takes. Mexico are the other side to finish the groups with 3 wins. The Mexicans play the same game that their A team do, it's a quick passing and moving game that is neat on the eye. Overall they've been great but they do tend to relax a bit too much defensively and also they sometimes want to make it TOO pretty too soon. I still can't look beyond a Mecixan win here, backed by their home crowd and all.
Verdict: Mexico -1.5 Asian Handicap, odds ~1.7.
I'm also adding a parlay of Germany and Mexico to win, odds ~1.65
I've been on a good run in the U17 World Cup and got both my plays right last night so thought I'd share my picks for tonight's games. Make of them what you want.
England vs Argentina
A real classic. England quietly won a fairly straightforward group, beating decent looking Uruguay in the process. Argentina struggled badly in a tougher group and eventually qualified as one of the four third placed nations. They were battered by both Japan and France which is nothing to be ashamed of but it puts us in a tough position as Argentina were much fancied before the tournament began. My lean here is that England will qualify but the English keeper has looked dodgy and Argentina should be better than the odds say here.
Verdict: I'm staying away from this one.
Germany vs USA
Germany have been one of the most impressive sides this far in the tournament, claiming maximum points in the group stages. In the process they scored 11 goals and only conceded one. The stats lie a tiny bit as six of the goals came against an on the day awful Ecuadorian side and another win came against a Burkina Faso side with two men sent off. USA were lucky to get out of the group stages at all did not impress me much at all in the two games I watched them. They were comfortably beaten by an admittedly good Uzbekistan side and could not find a way to score against the same New Zeeland team that leaked 6 against Japan last night. USA badly lack creativity but there is a small risk they might keep Germany at bay too. This is great material for a parlay and I'm gonna back the Germans with the handicap too.
Verdict: Germany -1.5 Asian Handicap, odds ~1.9.
France vs Ivory Coast
This game has already been discussed on here a few days ago. To those of you who got on IC at 3.75 I can only say congratulations. I hesitated for a reason I can't remember and now the line has dropped down to about 2.9. I'm going to be honest here, this game is a nightmare to call. France are incredibly skillful individually and are the stronger squad on paper but the flipside is that their team spirit and passing isn't great. Ivory Coast do look good all round but they too are ridiculously reliant on Souleymane Coulibaly who has scored every single one of IC's goals this far in the tournament. You can still get IC +0 at roughly odds 2 which is the play I would make, but this is too close for me. Can see both sides claiming a big victory depending on their mindset of the day.
Verdict: Too hard to call, I think the bookies have the prices roughly right. I'm staying away.
Mexico vs Panama
Last but not least, the hosts against a Panama side that only qualified as a third placer, with 3 points from 3 games. Panama have not been exactly awful either but they should not really be in the playoffs with 1 win from 3 games. They try their best to play good football but these guys don't have what it takes. Mexico are the other side to finish the groups with 3 wins. The Mexicans play the same game that their A team do, it's a quick passing and moving game that is neat on the eye. Overall they've been great but they do tend to relax a bit too much defensively and also they sometimes want to make it TOO pretty too soon. I still can't look beyond a Mecixan win here, backed by their home crowd and all.
Verdict: Mexico -1.5 Asian Handicap, odds ~1.7.
I'm also adding a parlay of Germany and Mexico to win, odds ~1.65
4-0 Germany! This guy Marvin Ducksh is good!
