There Is Only One Sinnacle

Shocking day in the World Cup as Italy joins France as finalist in the 2006 World Cup now knocked out of the group stage of the 2010 World Cup. This Italy team just never seem to get it in gear and once they did in the final 20 minutes of the Slovakia game it was too little too late. At least Marcello Lippi stopped making excuses after the game blaming himself but really there is only so much a coach can do. Sure Lippi picked the wrong players as the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Mauro Camoranesi, and Gianluca Zambrotta all looked like the shell of their former selfs and the likes of Fiorentina duo Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Gilardino failing to create any kind of offensive spark.

Going on a rant here and if your not from Toronto please bypass this but boy I sure hate politicians. Mayoral candidate George Smitherman was watching the game with Italian fans of course hoping for a great photo op dancing in the streets when St Clair turns crazy after an Italy win. Of course Mr Smitherman turned into a jinx as his planned failed. I did however love this comment.

“When Italy does well, Toronto does well.”

I swear I can’t wait not to vote for this guy now. What idiot is running his campaign? All this does is annoy me. George Smitherman is likely to be on College St tomorrow cheering however is the winner of Portugal-Brazil. To use an event like the World Cup and the passion that is people’s national identities to try and further an political campaign is awful. I wonder how many times George Smitherman has been on St Clair in non World Cup years?

Oh yes Portugal and Brazil is tomorrow. Make me proud tomorrow. I don’t want to sweat out this massive goal differential for one minute. Below is a clip of Portugal beating Brazil two years ago…..good times.

As for tomorrow only like the Spain-Chile over 2.5 +100. Finally some props have cashed in to help save a bad Wednesday.

World Cup Record

14-18-9 -1.97 units

Props Record

4-4 -.18 unit

Overall

18-22-9 -2.15 units

The slow torture that has been this World Cup keeps on going. Funny thing is I was facing an 0-3 day until Nigeria tied it up and Argentina finally broke through Greece. As for the early games I’ll never forgive France for the way they embarrassed their nation. Those French players better go on vacation to Miami and stay as far away from France as they can.

On to tomorrow

USA -0.5 +103 vs Algeria

I’m not saying the USA will win 7-0 in this game but the main reason Portugal was able to hammer North Korea was because the North Korea’s were confident they could play with Portugal as they had done well against Brazil. Well, I’m hoping Algeria is in the same frame of mind here against the United States having holding England to a 0-0 draw.

England -1 and -1.5 +106 vs Slovenia

I’d love to see England lose but just have a feeling this game will go along the lines of Argentina-Greece did where once Argentina finally scored it was only a matter of time before a second one would be scored. Here is hoping England can do here what they couldn’t do against Algeria and score (twice)

Serbia-Australia under 2 and 2.5 +107

Naturally I could be wrong and judging from this World Cup it’s a safe bet that I am but can’t see where the 3rd goal will come from. Can’t see how Australia will fill up the net to make up the goal difference and if Serbia grabs a 1-0 lead they are likely to sit on it.

Germany-Ghana over 2.5 +107

Record

World Cup Record

13-14-8 -.50 units

Props Record

1-4 -3.18 unit

Overall

14-18-8 -3.68 units

Took a couple of days off to just enjoy football. Judging from the results of last weekend I’m glad I did. Know for a fact I would of picked Italy over New Zealand and Cameroon over Denmark so at best would of just broke even. I’m also glad I didn’t take the over in the Spain-Honduras game. David Villa’s miss would of drove me up the wall.

Moving on to tomorrow.

Mexico-Uruguay over 1.5 -114

Judging from the fact the tie on the three way line is -123 everyone thinks each team will play for the point. Of course they should play for the point as it would mean both advance but a 0-0 result and everyone will raise a stink about games being fixed. A 1-1 result not so much as at least both teams went for goal and youi can’t blame either team if they played cautiously in the last 10 minutes with so much at stake.

Argentina -1 +123 vs Greece

I think Diego Maradona is going to turn into Bill Belichick circa 2007 and run up the score if he can to send a big FU to the press. Maradona has already said Messi will play and Greece play in a style which Argentina can punish very easily.

Nigeria +114 vs South Korea

Provided Argentina does the business there is a very real chance Nigeria will advance with a win against South Korea. I don’t like how Nigeria let a lead slip away against Greece but I had a feeling South Korea will feel a draw will advance them whereas Nigeria needs a win to advance so in that case I’ll side with the team that is going out there to win from the start.

World Cup Record

12-13-8 -.59 units

Props Record

0-3 -3 unit

Overall

12-16-8 -3.59 units

Oh what a day. After licking my wounds for a couple of days Portugal has put the smile put on my face by destorying North Korea 7-0. If this was the first game of the group people would just be thinking North Korea are this bad but after proving to be tricky against Brazil this result means that much more to Portugal.

Fábio Coentrão is a budding star. He can hold his own at the back but when he pushes up in attack he had been dangerous on the ball. Benfica have another star player on they hands but it wouldn’t shock me if in another year Coentrão leaves for Angel Di Maria type money.

Other World Cup Thoughts.

- Yes he came out and said sorry the next day but how dumb can Wayne Rooney be making that comment towards England fans. If you want to make excuses, if you want to blame the press that is fine but while not my cup of tea those England deserved paid a lot of money to watch their country play and deserved a much better performance. They have every right to boo.

- John Terry is also a moron for talking about having a sit down with the manager to the press. Terry didn’t exactly block Mourinho from being chopped so it doesn’t shock me that he has the knife in hand waiting to stab Fabio Capello in the back.

- The French got what they deserved. Most people knew that it was Zidane in 2006 who carried France into the finals as the players were tired of Raymond Domenech even then. The French FA must of seen these players tuning Domenech out yet they still kept him in charge?

- I know he has earned the Le Sulk nickname over the years but few have said anything bad about what Nicholas Anelka said? Have a feeling he said what a lot of the French players have been thinking.

- I’m sorry for everything I’ve said about New Zealand. Great job earning a deserved point against Italy who are lacking in any creative ideas at the moment. To add insult to injury Italy also have given up goals on set pieces in two straight games. It’s win and your in for Italy and England who are in the same boat. Wonder if one may fail to advance?

- Germany got cocky against Serbia. They need to cut that out against Ghana.

- Love watching Chile play, actually love watching all the South American teams play in this World Cup.

It’s too easy to make a comment regarding how the whole of Ireland (plus Karim Benzema) must be thrilled to see France bow out of the World Cup in such lack luster fashion. I did like reading the comment where someone said Paddy McBlanco scored for Ireland on Mexico’s second goal.

Another thing that’s easy to do is call Raymond Domenech just about the dumbish coach of an elite team, which he is. The thing is he exposed himself as that in Euro 2008 and during the lead up to the World Cup. He should of been fired the day after France sneaked their way into the World Cup. It’s clear as day to see those players hate playing for him.

Personally I’d rather have seen France win this game as I have a lot of prop bets on this group. Hopefully Mexico-Uruguay play for the ever friendly tie so both can advance, this would also cash my Uruguay over 4 points prop. It does effect my USA to go further than Mexico prop. The wildcard here is the France-South Africa game. Do the french throw a pity party and South Africa wins to lose my under 3.5 points prop? Even without that thinking I’m liking South Africa in that game.

Happy with the 2-0-1 day even if my South Korea under 2.5 goals prop for the World Cup lost. It did go out as a hero with South Korea’s goal pushed the first game over.

On to Friday

Germany – Serbia over 2 and 2.5 -109

Germany are the most impressive team so far in the World Cup and it’s not in their nature to let up. Serbia on the other hand could cause Germany problems with their size but I’m going on a little run with the over’s here. Germany wants to control it’s group and Serbia need a Greece like fight back to get back into this World Cup.

USA pk and -0.5 -118 vs Slovenia

Truthfully I don’t feel great about it. As you know I also hate pk and -0.5 lines. I liked the States in this group going into the World Cup so it would be foolish to change my mind now.

England -1.5 104 vs Algeria

I love seeing England fall on thier face as much as the next guy but have a feeling Algeria will be thrown to the wolves here. Fabio Capello made the wrong decisions to start Ledley one knee King and Robert Green in the first game but he is still a World Class coach. Hopefully this will be the game Wayne Rooney breaks out.

World Cup Record

12-8-7 +2.13 units

Props Record

0-1 -1 unit

Overall Record

12-9-7 +1.13

Good end to a bad day this afternoon with Uruguay beating South Africa. The bad news is I’ve dripped down to the negative side of things. The good news is I can’t lose my Uruguay over 4 points in the group stage bet and hopefully France avoid losing to South Africa in the final game to cash my under 3.5 points bet as well.

Speaking of losing, wow is all I can say about Spain losing to Switzerland. Talk about a smash and grab job there. All the credit in the world should go out to those Swiss players and their coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who with his resume should really be up there when it comes to the games top coaches.

I know it may sound crazy and I’m sick of hearing today is the day over’s will turn but with the lines dropping down I’m not going to change the way I look at these games just yet. I’ve usually gone over in the group stage and under come the first knockout round. So with that

Argentina-South Korea over 2 -133

Nigeria-Greece over 2 +125

France-Mexico over 2 +117

Record

10-8-6 -.12 units

Group of Death = Group of Dull – Well for the first game and half.

Part of me wishes to say I’m bummed out about Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast but I’m almost resigned to it now, in fact I’m glad we didn’t lose. The effort is there but that moment of magic isn’t. What Maicon did against North Korea today hasn’t happen for a Portuguese team in along time. That is why few have predicted Portugal to repeat what they did in 2006. Now whatever happens they have to go through Brazil in order to safely make it to the knockout stage. What is even more scarier is the fact if Brazil had a hard time breaking down North Korea for a half how is Portugal going to do it?

On a side note I’d like to thank New Zealand’s Winston Reid for turning a push into a win with his late goal against Slovakia. It’s always nice to have a bounce like that go your way.

Moving on to Wednesday

Chile-Honduras over 2 and 2.5 +111

Geography lesson aside both of these teams play a South American style, which usually means push the ball forward. Luckily for me I didn’t think the over’s will start hitting on Tuesday but do believe that turn will start to turn on Wednesday.

Spain -1.5 +111 vs Switzerland

Before Spain break through the glass celling the book on them was great first round and nerves come the knockout stage. Since winning Euro 2008 it’s now the best of both World’s as Spain should remember losing to the USA at the Confederations Cup and won’t take Switzerland lightly.

Uruguay pk and -0.5 +112 vs South Africa

I liked Uruguay to advance from this group and nothing has changed my mind. Mexico were in a tough spot opening up against South Africa, while playing at the host nation isn’t easy there will be less focus on this game for Uruguay. Uruguay has Diego Forlan and here is hoping he becomes the first non Germany striker to really break out at this World Cup.

Record

8-5-6 +.76 units

Just thinking about Tuesday is making me sick. It’s like a nervous energy that is to the point where I feel like throwing up. For me the World Cup really starts tomorrow.

Bad day on Monday but it could of been worse. Just one of those days where the coin didn’t flip your way. The coin didn’t flip Italy’s way either and while some will panic Italy still have two winnable games coming up so the panic should only start once the knockout stage kicks in.

Two games for tomorrow.

New Zealand +1 +105 over Slovakla

I know New Zealand sucks but Slovakla isn’t much of a football powerhouse. Maybe New Zealand will show Austraila a thing or two about being competitive in a World Cup. Only a handful of games have been decided by 2 or more goals, here is hoping this game won’t be one of them (unless New Zealand wants to win by 2 or more of course)

Portugal pk and -0.5 -105 vs Ivory Coast

We shall see if I fall for the pk and -0.5 trap which I nicely avoided in the Italy game today. From my lips to God’s ears.

Record

7-4-5 +.23 units

This first thing which occurred to me when I read about Ricardo Quaresma signing for Tuskish Giants Besiktas is when in the world did former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster take over and why didn’t I get wind of this last week when it was announced? Kinda interesting to see Schuster lock heads again with former Barcelona and now Galatasaray coach Frank Rijkaard.

Turkey is along ways away from the eyes of the Portuguese media for Ricardo Quaresma but on the flip side Besiktas could do what Sporting and Porto weren’t able to do and that is pay him pretty close if not the same as he was making at Inter.

Moves like this bug me. It’s a great move for Besiktas but you don’t go from an 18 million dollar player to a 6 million dollar player overnight. Either you are in a wrong team for your style of play or your a head case. Quaresma may be alittle of both but I’d still side with Inter being a team ill suited to his style of football. Another top club should of taken a flyer on Quaresma as this was a classic case of buying low with the ability to sell high down the road.