2010 World Cup

England’s Under 20 women’s side crashed out of the World Cup after failing to win any of their group matches, and there goes the national interest in this tournament, which has thrown up some pretty interesting football matches. England only managed to pick up one point from a draw against Nigeria in their opening match. They then dominated against Mexico but lost 1-0, and then the lively Japan completely over-ran the English as the Asian side ran out 3-1 winners. A lot more was expected of England to be honest, and even though they played quite well, there was a lack of a punch up front for the young women. Sadly it’s an all too familiar story for English national sides. So who is left in the competition? Let’s take a look at the quarter final line ups, and the predicted route to the final for the tournament, which is being held in Germany. The quarter final matches are being played on the 24th and 25th of July, with the final to come on August 1st.

Germany to win: 4/7 at Stan James
Draw: 29/10 at Bwin
North Korea to win: 17/4 at Bwin

Germany v North Korea is undoubtedly the match of the quarter finals to look out for. Germany simply blitzed their way through their group, being one of the most attacking and free flowing teams at the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup. They have hit eleven goals in their three matches so far, elevating them to one of the favourites for the tournament. They beat France 4-1 in their final group match, their supposed toughest game, thanks to a hat trick from Alexandra Popp. Now they have to go up against North Korea, who are one of the best women’s sides in the world, and former World Champions. After wins against Brazil and New Zealand, North Korea looked to be on course to top their group, but a strong comeback from Sweden in their final group match, saw the Asian side fall 3-2 after one of the best second halves of the tournament. The North Koreans are technically good, but they were just out-muscled by the Swedes. Germany have a tough match here, but they will go as favourites, but North Korea are not to be underestimated. On the whole Germany look to have the edge.

South Korea to win: 3/5 at Bwin
Draw: 27/10 at Bwin
Mexico to win: 18/5 at Bwin

Mexico v South Korea. The winner of this will play the winner of Germany v North Korea, so there could be a massive North Korea v South Korea encounter going on in the semi’s. Mexico, courtesy of one win and two draws, squeezed their way through England’s group. They haven’t looked the best side at the tournament, but have played with plenty of heart. South Korea on the other hand have showed some great attacking flair, hitting nine goals in their three group matches. Probably not the strongest defence, but they should be able to get the upper hand of possession against Mexico. South Korea matched up against the tournament favourites USA quite well in their last match, even though they lost 1-0. They will be happy that they created good chances, especially when JI So Yun came on at half time. Would lean towards South Korea getting through here.

Sweden to win: 4/5 at Stan James
Draw: 27/10 at Bwin
Colombia to win: 13/4 at Bwin

Sweden v Colombia starts things in the other half of the draw. The Swedes are one of those teams which dig in well and fight for each other, and they have always had a good record at the different levels of women’s football. Came through the group well, without really overly impressing, but they held Brazil to a draw which was a crucial result, and then stunned favourites Korea DPR in their final group match. The second half of that match was the best we have seen from Sweden, and should give them a huge boost. Colombia left it late to qualify for the quarter finals, a nice achievement for their first appearance in the Women’s U20 World Cup. They have had a mixed bag of results, showing some fight to come back from a goal down to grab a draw against France in their opener. They then got overran by the strong Germans, but bounced back well to beat the group’s weakest side Costa Rica 3-0 in their final match. With Germany beating France, that opened the door for Colombia to squeeze through. If they break down the more established Swedes, then it will be a surprise. Probably a tight game, but would edge Sweden.

USA to win: 7/19 at Bwin
Draw: 7/2 at Bwin
Nigeria to win: 6/1 at Stan James

USA v Nigeria could well have been USA v England. But to their credit, the African side weren’t overawed in their group matches, even if they lacked a little bit of a cutting edge up front. They managed two drawn matches and a win, which sent them through in second place from England’s group. The USA will be outright favourites for this one though, as they are the top ranked team in the world and have been for some time now. After a little bit of a slow start where they could only manage a draw against a hard working Ghana side, the USA have been gaining momentum, and won their group as expected. They perhaps have not had things as comfortable as they would like, but they, without doubt have the quality to go on and win the tournament. They will be relishing the chance against Nigeria, who are one of the weaker side in the quarter finals, and with a semi final match against the winner of Sweden v Colombia, then the road to the final is relatively comfortable for the world’s best team. Would back them comfortably here. They have the tournament’s joint top scorer in Sydney Leroux, who has hit five goals along with Germany’s Popp, and South Korea’s JI So Yun.

World Cup fate out of England’s hands

England’s U20 women have it all to do in their final group match of the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany. After opening their account with a tiring 1-1 draw against Nigeria, England slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Mexico in their second match. The results have not been quite indicative of the quality and effort put in by the England Lionesses, as they have played quite well apart from tiring in the second half of their opener. They dominated most of the possession against Mexico, and showed quite a lot of control in their passing, they have just failed to turn any of their dominance into a victory. Now they will need their best in order to get out Group C, and will be hoping that Mexico can beat Nigeria by a handsome scoreline to help with matters of goal difference. The first task at hand though for the England Lionesses, will be to beat Japan, who, like England, have only amassed one point from their opening two matches

Japan started with a thrilling 3-3 draw with Mexico, and then lost 2-1 to Nigeria in their latest match. Japan however, have scored four goals to England’s one in the tournament so far, but have conceded five. It will be a bitter blow for England if they fail at the group stage, after finish finishing runner’s up at the 2009 European Championships. They now literally have everything to lose, and they will need to find a little more conviction in front of goal, if they are squeeze their way through to the knock-out stage. The defeat against Mexico was a tough one to swallow after being the better side, and now a draw between the Mexicans and Nigeria will put England out no matter what they do. England’s fate is out of their hands, but the Japanese are in exactly the same situation as England and will want a convincing win to help their slim chances. If England have been saving any of their best till last, then now will be the time to show it. They will find the Japanese quite a sprightly and fast team, and England will need to stick to their possession game and be patient, but positive.

England were good against Mexico, and they maintained possession, knocking the ball around very well. They actually had 20 attempts at goal against the Mexicans, around three times as many as their opponents. There is proof positive that the chances in front of goal just haven’t been taken, and that is why they are finding themselves in such a dire position. There will be one objective on Wednesday against Japan, and that is to go out and impose themselves again, but turn all of their pressure into goals. A win is a must, and they must hope that the other match, which is played at the same time, works out in their favour. If ever there was a learning curve for the England’s young women, then this will be it. There was bitter disappointment on the faces of the young women at the end of the Mexico game, and they need to shake off that defeat quickly and focus. There is a lot of pressure, and the best players learn how to cope and produce their best games when under such pressure.

It’s England’s last chance saloon to stay in the 2010 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup. Elsewhere, in Group A, host nation Germany are cruising through, and second placed France will only need a point against them to book their place in the next round. After two defeats, Costa Rica are eliminated, but if Germany beat France, then Colombia will be in with a chance with a good win over the Costa Ricans. Group B, as expected, is being controlled by one of the top favourites Korea DPR. They have two wins from two and top the group, while Sweden occupy second place on four points. Brazil are flailing but will be expected to pick up three points against minnows New Zealand, which could let them in if Korea DPR beat the Swedes. In Group D, the Korea Republic (that’s South Korea) are leading the group ahead of world number one ranked team the USA. While the Korea Republic have won their two matches, the USA were surprisingly held by Ghana in their opening match. Now everything could be decided by the crunch Korea Republic v USA match, and Ghana will be watching with interest, hoping that the USA lose. That will give Ghana hope, as they are playing Switzerland, who have no points, no goals and have conceded nine goals in their two matches.

2010 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup Odds at Bwin

Tuesday, July 20 (tips in bold)

Costa Rica to win: 4.25
Draw: 3.40
Colombia to win: 3.40

France to win: 6.50
Draw: 4.50
Germany to win: 1.35

Korea DPR to win: 1.80
Draw: 3.20
Sweden to win: 4.10

New Zealand to win: 9.00
Draw: 4.65
Brazil to win: 1.27

Wednesday, July 21

Japan to win: 2.80
Draw: 3.35
England to win: 2.20

Nigeria to win: 2.80
Draw: 2.35
Mexico to win: 3.10

Ghana to win: 1.90
Draw: 3.35
Switzerland to win: 3.65

Korea Republic to win: 3.30
Draw: 3.25
USA to win: 2.00

England v Nigeria good test for Lionesses credentials

Thought we were done with World Cup action for 2010 once Spain’s Andres Iniesta had hit the back of the net against the Netherlands? Well, think again, as they Women’s U20 World Cup in Germany kicks off on Tuesday July 13th and runs to August the 1st. England are there, ready for a workout, and are in a group which they would be expected to challenge for top spot. We’ll look at England in a bit, but firstly some tournament info. There are four groups of four teams challenging for the honours, and the tournament is held across four German stadiums. The sixteen teams participating come from a mix of all six federations, with Europe having the lions share of five (including host nation Germany). The tournament itself has been held every two years since 2002, with the USA winning two of the four tournaments contested, including the inaugural one and the last one held in Chile in 2008. Sandwiched in-between those two victories for the Americans, has been a triumph for Germany and for Korea DPR.

Group A: Germany, Costa Rica, Colombia, France
Group B: Brazil, Korea DPR, Sweden, New Zealand
Group C: England, Nigeria, Mexico, Japan
Group D: USA, Ghana, Switzerland, Korea DPR

England 9/1 at Bwin
England have never done very well at the Women’s U20 World Cup, as they missed out on action in 2004 and 2006, and the two times that they have qualified, they have gone out at the quarter final stages, once to Canada, and once to the USA. England’s Lionesses should have a lot more optimism going into this tournament, as not only do they have what looks to be a fairly comfortable group, they are going to be hoping that they can emulate Spain in the men’s 2010 FIFA World Cup. England’s Under 20 women are the current European champions, and they have shown a marked improvement in terms of development, and coach Mo Marly had a system which looks to have a very well balanced ethic between attack and defence. The European Championships victory was the first major title than an England women’s side had ever picked up, and one to watch for the Lionesses will be striker Toni Duggan, who plays for Everton. England also have a star goalkeeper in Rebecca Spender.

For their tender age, the women are being labelled as a “Golden Generation” but that is down to the talent that the England side have. Even at this young age, there has been a lot of work behind the scenes, right down to the grass roots, which has paid dividends. With England deciding to send a strong team to the men’s  Under 19 tournament in France, which starts in just over a week’s time, there are signs that England are addressing the problem of a lack of quality youth. For now the spotlight will be on England’s U20 women, as they compete in Group C of the World Cup alongside Mexico, Nigeria and Japan. It is the Japanese who will pose the biggest problem to England, as they sit above England in the World Rankings. Nigeria are ranked down in 28th, while Mexico are ranked 22nd in the World. England’s first game of the 2010 World Cup is against Nigeria on the 14th.

England’s Group C Matches
England v Nigeria: July 14th
England v Mexico: July 17th
Japan v England: July 21st

Here are the top Women Under-20 FIFA World Rankings
1st USA
2nd Germany
3rd Brazil
4th Sweden
5th Japan
6th Norway
7th Korea DPR
8th France
9th England
10th China

USA 4/1 at Bwin
The USA have been at the top of the rankings for a couple of years now, and will be one of the strongest teams at the tournament. The holders are a strong bet to hold onto their trophy, primarily as they have won the tournament twice, while never finishing outside of the top four at the each tournament. They have the women’s Under 20 equivalent of Lionel Messi in Sydney Leroux, who finished as tournament top score and was named the top player at the 2008 tournament. The Americans are the dominant force on women’s youth football, and came through their qualification for this year’s World Cup, completely untroubled. They have been given a very good draw as well, which will help their cause greatly, only having to go up against Ghana, Switzerland and the Korea Republic. Their one little weakness is probably defending set plays, but they pretty much have enough talent on the pitch to breeze past teams. If England win their group (which is Group C), then they will play the second placed team from Group D, which is the USA’s group.

Brazil 5/1 at Bwin
They have been at the semi finals of three of the four tournaments, but need to make amends for not getting anywhere near in 2008. This is Brazil and you should never count them out. They have, almost single handedly, dragged the quality levels of young women’s football in South America up, and Brazil won the full Women’s World Cup in 2007, as well as finishing as runners up in the Olympics in 2008. They lost to Germany in the quarter finals in 2008, and like any good Brazil side, they will be hungry to fix past mistakes. They have a wealth of talent and trickery in their side, just like any good Brazilian team, and they have fantastic set up behind them to further their development, backed fully by the Brazilian FA. Watch out for fullback Leah Lynn, as she is an exponent of one of those cool throw ins which come from a forward flip. They are in fine form at the moment, and won the South American U20 Championship back in March after winning all of their games. Brazil averaged over four goals per match during qualification for the Women’s U20 World Cup. They are packed with talent up front and solid in defence. Worth a punt, simply because it is Brazil.

Korea DPR 7/1 at Bwin
Brazil have a tough opening fixture though, as they take on North Korea, having won the title once and have been in the last two finals, but were unable to hold onto their title against the USA in 2008. The two sides went head to head in 2006 in their opening fixture as well, with Brazil winning out on that occasion. Korea DPR are not to be overlooked in World Cup betting here, as they have a wealth of talent, and seemingly came out of nowhere to be one of the world’s best sides. They have a star player in Ho Un-Byol in the midfield, and while they could only manage a third place finish in qualification for this year’s tournament, they have good previous experience in their squad. Some of the U17 side which won the U17 World Cup two years ago are around at this higher age level. The Brazil v Korea DPR is a great match on the opening day of the 2010 World Cup

Germany – 3/1 favourites at Bwin
The Germans, as hosts will be in with a very good chance of taking the title here. Maren Meinert’s team is a strong contender. Germany invests heavily in their youth, and they will be hoping for a big improvement over their performance at the Women’s U19 Championships, when they failed to get out of the group stage. The Germans have a great squad, just like the senior men’s at the 2010 FIFA World Cup will play some attractive football. This is probably their most developed, most technically gifted generation of youth. Key player for them is the Dzsenifer Marozsan, which hopefully I won’t have to type again. She is the go-to girl of the German side, and has great vision as the creative playmaker in the side. Much in the vein of Mesut Oezil in the men’s senior team. They are favourites in World Cup Betting at Bwin, but in reality, they should be behind the USA and Brazil.

Women’s Under 20 World Cup Match Betting Tuesday, July 13th
(Tips in Bold)

Germany to win: 1/12 at BetFred
Draw: 13/2 at Bwin
Costa Rica: 19/1 at Bwin

Colombia to win: 15/2 at BetFred
Draw: 18/5 at Bwin
France to win: 3/10 at Bwin

Brazil to win: 13/10 at Stan James
Draw: 9/4 at BetFred
North Korea to win: 9/4 at BetFred

Sweden to win: 4/6 at BetFred
Draw: 27/10 at Bwin
New Zealand to win: 17/4 at Bwin

Women’s Under 20 World Cup Match Betting Wednesday, July 14th

England to win: 18/19 at Bwin
Draw: 9/4 at BetFred
Nigeria to win: 5/2 at BetFred

Mexico to win: 6/1 at BetFred
Draw: 16/5 at Bwin
Japan to win: 3/8 at Bwin

USA to win: 1/10 at Bwin
Draw: 23/4 at Bwin
Ghana to win: 18/1 at Bwin

Switzerland to win: 10/111 at BetFred
Draw: 9/4 at Bwin
Korea DPR to win: 13/5 at Bwin

World Cup Final Odds – Spain V Holland Betting

Spain to win: 23/20 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 12/5 at Totesport
Netherlands to win: 11/4 at Totesport

Spain v Holland brings together a European clash for the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Spain will go into the match as favourites in World Cup betting, and here we take a look over the areas of the games where the World Cup Final may be won or lost. Spain have history in their grasp, but Holland will do their best to make a match of it of course. The Dutch may have a hard time living with the passing quality of Spain, but the Spanish need to keep their feet on the ground and not get carried away with the hype of what is expected of them. The Dutch will be underdogs, but they have already beaten Brazil. Which way will the 2010 FIFA World Cup final swing?

To Lift Trophy
Spain: 4/7 at Bet365
Netherlands: 6/4 at Bet365

Spain V Holland Preview

Goalkeepers. Iker Casillas, who is known as Saint Casillas back in his home nation has the edge on this one. If you were backing one of them to pull off a match winning save, then it would be Casillas, who is one of the top goalkeepers in the world. That is not to say that Stekelenburg has not pulled off some good saves, he has done the trick and looked fairly solid, but this is the big occasion and for Casillas, who generally has very little to do, his concentration is fantastic. Casillas was at fault largely for the Swiss goal against them, but other than that he has been good. The Dutch keeper will be the busier of the two without doubt, and even if it goes to penalties, you’d back the confidence of the Spaniard.
Goalkeeping: Spain 1, Holland 1

Defence. With full backs Joan Capdevila and Sergio Ramos flanking Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, there probably is not a more solid and consistent back line in the World. Not only that, they are a major threat at the other end of the pitch with Pique and Puyol going up for corners, and the two full backs playing as wingers. That is the confidence which Spain have, and they use the overlapping full backs to get crosses into the opposition box, so much better than any other team in the world. Not only do opponents have to find a way to stop the threat of the Spanish midfield tearing down the centre of the pitch, they have to stop the wide players as well. If there is a chink in the armour then it probably is Capdevila, but there is so much quality and composure in the back line, they really don’t give much away. For the Dutch, watching the Spanish full backs run at them will give them nightmares. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Khalid Boulahrouz are not the fastest of full backs, and Van Bronckhorst, while a great professional, may have a torrid time against Spain when they attack down the right. It will be imperative that he gets help from Robben or Kuyt, whoever is patrolling the left of midfield at the time. That doesn’t instil a lot of confidence either, as they aren’t great at tracking back. In the middle they are a little more secure with John Heitinga and Joris Mathijsen, who both look very solid. While they have the height to deal with crosses and long balls, they are going to be test more on the floor from the Spanish passing, an area which they aren’t as strong. Cameroon caught them out badly when playing at pace, and Brazil tore them apart in the early stages of their quarter final match, and that should send warning signals.
Defence: Spain 1, Holland 0

Midfield: This is where the game will be one or lost. If you are looking for the most likely candidate to get a red card in the World Cup final, then look no further than Holland’s Mark Van Bommel. The midfielder, who is out of favour at Bayern Munich has been fouling left right and centre under the nose of the referee and he keeps getting away with things. He will have a very tough time in trying to keep Xavi and Xabi Alonso quiet. How well Van Bommel and his midfield partner (which will probably be Nigel De Jong who will return to the side after suspension) can deal with the Spanish duo will be key. They can’t afford to lose sight of them, especially with Alonso making late runs to join attacks, and they can’t give too many free kicks away either. There is a lot of responsibility resting on their shoulders, and while Van Bommel has probably been one of the best Dutch players, he will need to be on top of his game. If he has a bad day at the office, Spain will run riot. Why are Spain so good in midfield? Because they have such phenomenal passing quality in there. Xavi is one of the best passers of the ball in the world, and pretty much everything goes through him. Opposition know that, and still they have a hard time in keeping him quiet, and that is because Spain as a team keep the ball so well. When they start stretching their passes across the full width of the pitch, it creates so much space in the middle for Xavi, they are able to use him to the best of his best ability. Spain do like to keep things fairly narrow in the centre of the pitch, when defending, but when going forward, there are always options out wide, and Xavi will pick out the passes. For the Spanish, having Iniesta dropping back to pick up the ball as well, he uses his phenomenal control to take advantage of any space. He takes balls into tight spaces and ties up defenders, creating space for his team mates. For Holland, their main weapons in going forward are Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder is in awesome form, being the link up man between midfield and attack. The question is, can he find the space to deliver his usual performance, as he may spend a lot of time tracking back? The same for Robben, who switches flanks well with Dirk Kuyt and Robben, Kuyt and Sneijder are great on the break. They may have to do more defensive duties than they will like, but when they do break, they simply have to make it count. The counter punching quality is there for Holland, but not the ball retention or creativity.
Midfield: Spain 1, Holland 0

Forwards: Not surprisingly Spain will have the edge here, as they have tournament top scorer David Villa. Villa hugs the left hand touchline and likes to come in and attack from angles there. He has pace, he has great close control and he is bristling with confidence. He will give any back line in the world a problem, and it is no wonder Barcelona have paid big money to land him. He has an incredible international scoring record and would be well worthy of lifting the Golden Boot at South Africa 2010. He will be the big threat, but the question is, who will be his partner? Will coach Del Bosque throw Torres back into action after dropping him for the semi final? Will he stick with the livewire Pedro whose energy really gave Spain an extra dimension, but blew a clear cut chance to make it two nil in the semi final by being selfish? Will Del Bosque change things altogether and put in Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas in a supporting role? Questions, but Torres will likely get the nod because of experience. For Holland, Robin Van Persie is quality, but he was expected to carry just a little more threat at the tournament, only scoring once so far. Has been a bit anonymous, truth be told and he will need to have a big game, as the Dutch do not have a great deal of options on the bench. If a chance comes his way he will have to take it, as it he clearly will not get as many as David Villa will.
Forwards: Spain 1, Holland 0

Coach: Del Bosque inherited the current squad pretty much, but still he has worked well with them in turning them into a world beating side. Really has not had a lot to do tactically, as Spain play their way whoever the opposition is. Showed a lot of sense in dropping Torres for the semi final, and whether he puts him back into the line up or not is his only question. Van Marwijk deserves a lot of praise for his work, having only lost one match since taking over as national coach. The Netherlands are on a 25 game unbeaten run, and that is thanks to the calm composure he has instilled in his team. Does not change things tactically too much, as Holland like to play on the attack, but seems to be a great leader of a nation which is usually self destructive.
Coach: Del Bosque 1, Van Marwijk 1

Tactics: Tactically the sides will line up relatively similarly. They both employ a back four, and while Holland have two holding midfielders, Spain employ just the one in Sergio Busquets. Sneijder is the key man as he stays central in joining the lone attack, while Robben and Kuyt are used for width. This means that they are great on the break, but are also vulnerable to teams getting in behind them. Spain, with a similar system, use Xavi and Alonso in front of Busquets, and then Iniesta and Torres to drift wider into attack. Spain use their full backs better in getting forward, and David Villa creates a whole world of space because he has that extra level of movement in him, attacking from wide on the left. Dynamic is the word for Spain, predictable would be the one for Holland. Holland are set up strongly, but Spain play to the strengths of their playmakers, and that allows them to control games with possession.
Tactics: Spain 1, Holland 1

Spain V Holland Betting Tips

Prediction: Holland may put up stubborn resistance, but Spain should be backed to win this final simply because player for player, they have a higher level of quality in the midfield. With their foot on the ball and playing their patient game, Spain will dominate anyone. They have grown in confidence, and there is just the feeling that they will have saved their best till last, and will win comfortably in the end by a couple of goals.
Winning Margin: Spain to win by one goal 13/5 at Bet365

Let’s start this article with a few stats:

•    Spain have won their last three World Cup matches by a 1-0 scoreline
•    David Villa has scored the opening goal on two of those occasions, although the match against Germany saw him playing as the (less effective) front man
•    Spain have been level at half-time in these three matches before going to find a winner in the second half

Therefore, if you believe that we will see the Sunday’s World Cup final follow a similar pattern, then there are some corresponding bets that might catch the eye:

•    Spain to win in ninety minutes is 11/10 with bet365
•    Spain to be level at half-time and ahead at full-time is 4/1 with Paddy Power
•    Spain to win by a 1-0 scoreline is 11/2 with Ladbrokes
•    Spain to keep a clean sheet is 5/4 with Sporting Bet
•    Spain to ‘win to nil’ is available at odds of 21/10 with Paddy Power

While a Netherlands goal will mean the latter three bets are losing selections, we  should also bear in mind that the Dutch go into this match as outsiders and that’s because the bookmakers are not expecting them to have a lot of possession at Soccer City. Therefore, their first port of call will be to ensure they keep things tight against the European champions before looking for ways to attack.

Yes, Holland beat Brazil and some might fancy backing them at 11/4 (bet365) to beat the other team that headed the pre-tournament outright market. The Dutch have certainly had Lady Luck on their side, playing a fluid formation with Wesley Sneijder going forward! However, are the Oranje really any better than a vibrant Germany team that were clearly second best against Spain during the semi-final on Wednesday night?

The big concern for Bert van Marwijk is that his team have not kept a clean sheet in the past four matches, with the defence making sloppy mistakes to allow Cameroon, Brazil, Slovakia and Uruguay to score. Therefore, their customary defensive approach might end in tears and the manager might be looking for ways to get the supply line through to Robin Van Persie, who has been isolated for much of the campaign. The Arsenal striker is 15/2 (Blue Square) to open the scoring on the biggest stage imaginable and Spain do have a chink in the defence.

Joan Capdevila is the only player in the likely starting XI that doesn’t play for Barcelona or Real Madrid and the left-back could be targeted by the tricky Arjen Robben (10/1 Blue Square), who is the class act in the team, despite Sneijder (9/1 Paddy Power) scoring five goals during this tournament (it was actually four but FIFA have gifted him a 5th).

Therefore, can the Dutch manage a 1-0 win (15/2 bet365) of their own and claim their first ever World Cup? It’s unlikely, although their defensive tactics means that Under 2 Goals (10/11 bet365) can be backed with a fair degree of confidence considering that you will get a refund if there are exactly two goals in normal time.

Germany v Uruguay Betting Odds

Germany to win: 4/5 at Paddy Power
Draw: 14/5 at Totesport
Uruguay to win: Evens at Bet365

Germany have been one of, if not the most exciting teams of the 2010 FIFA World cup, and narrowly missed out on the Final, after losing to Spain 1-0. Now the wonderful German youngsters have to pick themselves back up and continue on their steep learning curve in the World Cup third place play off. The most impressive factor about the Germans has been the youthfulness of their side, and that is thanks to the large investment the German FA poured into developing their youngsters. A third place finish at the World Cup would represent a huge step forward for the youngsters, and they have the opportunity to build ahead of Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. For Uruguay, they have exceeded expectations with their great team ethic and hard graft. They have not been an expansive side, but that is understandable considering they were the second smallest populated nation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The third place play off is often met with players who have not taken part in the tournament so far for either side. Uruguay may well take that approach, but Germany could well be keen to keep their young side together.

To Finish Third
Germany: 4/11 at Bet365
Uruguay: 5/2 at Totesport

Goalkeeper: Germany’s Manuel Neuer has stepped into the fold after a crises with German goalkeeping. Number One Rene Adler was rocked by injury just before the tournament, and in stepped the youngster as the back up. He has not been without his nervous handling and positioning moments in the tournament, but really stepped up his game in the semi final against Spain. Uruguay’s keeper Fernando Muslera has been pretty decent himself between the sticks, and has played his part in making Uruguay a tough side to beat. Again has had his moments where he has lost his concentration, but has not done too badly. He was responsible for Italy’s equaliser, and really should have gotten to Van Bronckhorst’s long range shot which gave Holland the lead in the semi final. Would lean towards Germany in this area of the field though, with the Schalke 04 star the safer pair of hands to call upon.
Goalkeeping: Germany 1, Uruguay 0

Defence: Uruguay have shown some fantastic resistance at the back, largely through the influence of captain Diego Lugano, who is the epitome of the team. They are tough tackling, tough battling back line who work hard for each other. They had some trough breaks in the semi final against Holland which were ultimately their downfall. The strength of the Uruguay side has been in their defence, and they have changed formation through the tournament when situations have been needed. They are a little cautious in their approach to matches, which mean that they sit a little deep, and the defence is ably aided by the defensive midfielder. For Germany, they have a lot of height in their young back line, and captain Philipp Lahm has been one of the outstanding defenders of the tournament. You really don’t see him putting a foot wrong, even though he is a left footer playing at right back, with Jerome Boateng taking over on the left. For Germany, Per Mertesacker has looked very impressive in the centre, and along with Holger Badstuber, stand at over 190cm in height. Arne Freidrich also looks a very solid player, thanks to his experience. Whichever four coach Joachim Loew goes with, there is a lot of wise young heads there, and Lahm is insistent that they have the right mentality to learn from their semi final loss to Spain, and the Germans will look to emulate them.
Defence: Germany 1, Uruguay 1

Midfield: In terms of an attacking force, Germany will win this one hands down. They employ two holding midfielders in Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, both of which are the back bone of the team. That does not stop Schweinsteiger getting forward though, and he works incredibly hard in both attack and helping out in defence. He is a real role model for midfielders and has had a fantastic tournament. Germany have a star youngster in the middle of the park, in Mesut Oezil, who influences a game so much for such a young player. He is very dynamic when it comes to passing and in going forward with the ball at his feet. When they have the ball in the middle, they are able to stretch the ball wide with a lot of pace and confidence, with Thomas Mueller and Lukas Podolski operating as the links from midfield to attack down the flanks. Mueller has quite frankly been a revelation, having scored four goals at the tournament, and his presence was greatly missed in the semi final, as his speed and work rate in getting back and helping out was a component which was lacking against Spain. For Uruguay, their main creative outlet is Nicolas Lodeiro, who also missed their semi final through injury. They have a Roy Keane like Diego Perez in the middle, who is crucial in breaking up the opposition attacks. He is tireless and works hard but simply does not have the impact in going forward, as either Germany’s Khedira and Schweinsteiger can deliver. The lack of creativity in the middle of the park was their one weakness through the tournament, and was visible in their semi final against Holland without Lodeiro. Germany have it all, while Uruguay look a little one dimensional.
Midfield: Germany 1, Uruguay 0

Forwards: Mirsoslav Klose is one of the World Cup legends as he goes looking for his fifteenth goal at the World Cup finals, although there are now doubts about his fitness for the third place play off. The difficulty for Germany is that they have not quite found a lethal replacement for him, who is probably playing at his last World Cup. They have Brazilian born Cacau who has been struggling for fitness, and Mario Gomez who had nailed down a place in the side but lost it due to injury and couldn’t get back in. There is plenty of time on the side of the alternative options for coach Joachim Loew to consider, as the side is packed with youth. For Uruguay, they actually have a potent looking forward line, and they have found a goal in all of their games except their opening fixture against France. Diego Forlan has had a great tournament, who apparently played through the semi final carrying an injury. He has oozed class and he has been ably partnered by Luis Suarez, who, controversial handball aside, has looked a fantastic young talent. The Ajax striker will probably find himself an offer from a top European side coming his way, but there has been a third, hard working party in the mix. When Uruguay have gone with three up front, Edinson Cavani has been a very hard working figure, and a major team player in getting back to help out in midfield. Without Forlan and Suarez though, Uruguay look a little barren.
Forwards: Germany 1, Uruguay 1

Coach: Germany coach Joachim Loew has done an incredible job of shaking things up in German football, and bringing a lot of their successful under 21 squad into the full squad. Loew has named his formation and he has picked the players who can perfectly fit into it, and do the jobs that is expected of them. Loew, looking dapper in cashmere sweater looks a quiet, but convincing leader. Got things a little wrong in the semi final, leaning towards caution instead of dong what Germany have done best in taking games to opposition. Oscar Tabarez for Uruguay will also earn himself a lot of plaudits, after putting together a squad that has gelled together well, and their solidarity has been fantastic. Hard work and discipline are big key factors with him.
Coach: Germany 1, Uruguay 1

Tactics: Germany are an expansive side and play quite a modern style of football. They are not afraid to throw plenty  of players forward into attack when the opportunity arises. They got a little overwhelmed against Spain, but that was down to mentality as opposed to anything being wrong with their formation. Uruguay have looked much better when they have gone with three up top, as it allows them to keep strong in the middle of the park, with forwards supporting the midfield. On the other side, Germany’s midfielders support the attack and that is the big difference between the two sides.
Tactics: Germany 1, Uruguay 0

Betting Tip: Germany should win this, and hopefully now that all of the pressure is off, we will see more of an attacking performance from Uruguay. If they are not scared of finishing fourth in the World, then they should come out and have a good go. If they do that, they will create plenty of space for Germany to use their attacking powers, and it could be an open game. Germany should be dominant and a win here would be a fantastic boost for their young side and they continue their impressive development. Germany to win.
Anytime Goalscorer Odds:
Thomas Mueller: 13/5 at Boylesports
Miroslav Klose: 5/4 at Coral
Luis Suarez: 3/1 at Totesport

It’s the final weekend of the World Cup, with Germany and Uruguay wondering what might have been as they take to the field in Port Elizabeth. However, while Spain v Holland twenty-four hours later is likely to be similar to a game of chess in terms of tempo and tactics, we might see something completely different on Saturday night.

The last five World Cup finals have yielded two goals or less, although the exact opposite is the case when it comes to third place play-offs. Therefore, perhaps we should follow the trend and back Over 2.5 Goals at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, something that is on offer at 3/4 (bet365). While third place is much coveted, no team is going to fear finishing fourth in the same way that they would dread the thought of reaching a World Cup final only to lose.

Indeed, we saw four or more goals being scored in the corresponding fixture in 2002 and 2006, so it could even be worth contemplating bet365’s Over 3.5 Goals at 11/5. Four years ago, it was the Germans who put Portugal to the sword when winning 3-1 and Die Mannschaft look as though they will take all the beating on Saturday.
 
At the moment, Germany are available at 8/11 (bet365) to win this third place play-off and finish their excellent campaign with a flourish. Joachim Low deserves tremendous credit for the way that he’s put faith in some talented young players and it’s little surprise to see them shortening to win Euro 2010 at the moment.

There are several reasons to think that the European side will prove too strong for their south American counterparts. Firstly, they produced two devastating performances to see off England and Argentina on their way to the semi-finals and probably would have fared better against Spain if Thomas Muller had not been suspended. Considering that they led at the interval in their last sixteen and quarter final matches, Victor Chandler’s 9/5 that they do the same against Uruguay is quite tempting.

Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez is making all the right noises about the third place play-off although it’s been a tough campaign for his team, especially after playing 120 minutes of football against Ghana in the quarter finals. However, if you think La Celeste can pull off the victory, they are on offer at 4/1 (Ladbrokes) and they will be boosted by the return of Luis Suarez from suspension. The Ajax striker will be a man in demand this summer and he’s 11/1 (William Hill) to break the deadlock.

However, it’s simply got to be Germany in this match and it’s worth looking at some tasty correct score bets. They have already hit four goals on three separate occasions and Coral offer 40/1 that we see them triumph by a 4-0 scoreline. Coral also have a massive 33/1 that the game finishes 4-1 in favour of Die Mannschaft.

Will Missing Mueller Be Key Factor?

Germany will be without Thomas Mueller, who has been in sparkling form at South Africa 2010. The exciting young winger, who has accumulated four goals in his seven international appearances for his country, will have to watch from the sidelines after picking up a harsh yellow card in Germany’s 4-0 thrashing of Argentina in the World Cup quarter finals. It was a dubious call for an alleged handball, which was a whole lot of nothing, and the semi final will be robbed of one of the tournament’s best players. Coach Joachim Loew has a big selection to make, as to who will step in for the young midfielder, and have to carefully think who will be able to do the job as well as Mueller has. The main choice could be Piotr Trochowski who is a midfielder, while the other options would either be Cacau or Mario Gomez. Both of those are strikers though, and while Mueller joins in the attack a lot from midfielder, the question is whether any of the two forwards would be able to complete the same kind of work ethic in getting back for midfield duties. Cacau probably won’t get the nod as he has been struggling for fitness all tournament, while Gomez would likely be saved for the role as coming on as a substitute up front.

Loew had to go through training without two other key players in Arne Freidrich and Sami Khedira, but both are expected to start. Khedira teams up with Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield, and will be vital in closing out the threats from the Spanish midfield. Missing Mueller though could be one of the key factors of the Spain v Germany semi final. He has been so creative and has done his job in the formation so well, that he will be missed. Loew has a system and a formation into which he fits players who can do the roles, and now the Germans will be missing one of their main source of goals. But that does not mean they will be short, certainly not with Lukas Podolski, Mesut Oezil and Schweinsteiger in the team. The Germans may not be able to get as much possession as they would like against the Spanish, but when they do, they look as if they are not afraid to get numbers forward. This is why the second of the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi finals should be quite an open affair. This could almost be the final that the crowds want to see, with Spain’s immaculate passing game, going up against the high tempo youthful German team.

Germany v Spain match Odds
Spain to win: 7/4 at Bwin
Draw: 23/10 at Ladbrokes
Germany to win: 15/8 at Boylesports

Stage of Elimination
Semi Final: 10/11 at Bet365
Winner: 21/10 at Blue Square
Runners Up: 10/3 at Bet365

Anytime Goalscorer:
Miroslav Klose: 21/10 at Bet365
Lukas Podolski: 11/4 at SkyBet
Mesut Oezil: 11/2 at SportingBet
Bastian Schweinsteiger: 7/1 at SportingBet

Spain to go with Fabregas or Torres?

Spain will go into Wednesday’s semi final against Germany, with coach Vicente Del Bosque pondering what do to with the out of form Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. Del Bosque has received some good news about Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas who has been cleared fit to play. Fabregas had picked up an injury during training but despite some initial fears there was no real damage to the influential midfielder. Fabregas would be the ideal replacement to come into the side, if Del Bosque decides to start Torres from the bench. After coming back from a couple of knee surgeries in the summer, Torres has looked far short of sharp best during the World Cup so far. While Del Bosque has persevered with him, worrying about dropping him from the side and denting his confidence even further, at such a crunch time at South Africa 2010, will the coach go with form over reputation? Fabregas is likely to be heading to Barcelona in the summer, with reported bids already coming in for the 23 year old, but has not been a starting choice for Del Bosque.

Del Bosque may simply stick with his starting eleven and see if Torres can provide something up front with David Villa, even if it is only for the first half. Spain have been carrying him through the tournament, but can they afford to do so right now? Whether Torres starts or not could all depend on the degree of fitness of Fabregas. It would probably be a safer bet for Del Bosque to pull Torres off and inject some extra pace in Fabregas in the second half, rather than worrying about whether to put an out of from Torres on if the game happens to need rescuing. The Netherlands will await the winners of Spain v Germany, which itself is a rematch of the Euro 2008 final, which Spin won thanks to a goal from, yes, Fernando Torres. Apparently an octopus in Germany has predicted a win for the Spaniards, who have not been right at the top of their form throughout the tournament, and have been heavily outscored by the Germans. “Paul” has gotten all of Germany’s results right so far at South Africa 2010, and of all World Cup betting tips this has to be one of the weirdest, but certainly has had the success and the legs to run and run.

With all yellow cards being wiped out for the semi finals, Spain have a fully fit squad to pick from, as long as Fabregas is fit. How much of an influence will Torres starting or not have on the actual match? Although he has not been scoring, he has still been doing his job in creating space for the attacking midfielders to join in the play, notably Iniesta and Xavi. He is still contributing to the team, but it is like the old argument about England’s Emile Heskey, do you need a striker who is scoring? While Fabregas is more suited to the middle of the park, the other options up front for Del Bosque would be Fernando Llorente or Pedro. While Pedro is an incredibly exciting talent, his inexperience will count against him, and would you throw Llorente into the mix instead of Torres? Probably not, not at this stage of a tournament. Fernando Torres is 2/1 at SportingBet as an anytime goal scorer. Bets are that Del Bosque will stick with Torres and leave his options on the bench. Spain need to find goals from somewhere else though, and take lessons from Germany’s clinical finishing in front of goal.

Spain v Germany Match Odds
Spain to win: 7/4 at Bwin
Draw: 23/10 at Ladbrokes
Germany to win: 15/8 at Boylesports

Stage of Elimination:
Semi Final: 10/11 at Bet365
Winner: 21/10 at Paddy Power
Runners Up: 10/3 at Bet365

Team Specials
Spain to Reach Final: 17/20 at Blue Square
Spain to keep a clean sheet in the final: 11/4 at 888Sport
Spain to win to nil in the final: 10/3 at Blue Square
Spain to score in both halves in the final: 5/1 at 888Sport
Spain to win having been behind in the final: 12/1 at Blue Square
Spain to win the World Cup on penalties: 14/1 at 888Sport

Quite simply, this is a huge game of football and many people will have wished this contest to be the World Cup final on Sunday. It’s a repeat of the Euro 2008 final where Spain won 1-0 thanks to a Fernando Torres goal, although the net might bulge more than once when these two attacking teams clash swords in Durban.

The bookmakers are also getting excited about the match and have started to produce a number of special promotions for the biggest game of the World Cup so far. Totesport should be applauded for a wide range of moneyback specials on all the big events and the UK firm will refund all losing correct score bets on this game if Germany manage to get their revenge for Euro 2008 and win the game 1-0.

Meanwhile, bet365, Paddy Power and Blue Square will be running with their customary ‘Bore Draw’ cashback promotions, with refunds being offered on selected markets if the game ends goalless. While Germany have been scoring for fun recently, they will surely adopt a more defensive approach against a free-flowing Spain and they will have Thomas Muller suspended for the big game.

Ladbrokes are continuing to offer their unprecedented 500% new customer bonus during the World Cup, where you will get a free £25 bet simply by depositing £5 when you register. It’s been a popular offer and they are also providing special odds on the two teams going through in extra-time or on penalties.

Only three matches in the 2010 World Cup have gone to extra-time so far and two were decided on spot kicks. However, Germany and Spain might be evenly-matched at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and you can get 10/1 with Ladbrokes that Vicente Del Bosque’s team win after extra-time. However, you can’t rule out Die Mannschaft winning on penalties as they have done so many times before, with odds of 12/1 available about this possibility.

Over at Coral, you can get a free £20 bet when you deposit and wager £10 on the Germany v Spain match. There are so many markets to choose from and it’s noticeable that they are offering a best-priced 4/1 that Miroslav Klose finishes as Top Goalscorer in the 2010 World Cup. While they might be looking to balance their books, it could be a value offer as the Bayern Munich striker looks to break Ronaldo’s record.

Talking of goalscorer bets, Paddy Power are offering customers the chance to bet on ‘First to Score for their Team’ and ‘Insurebet First Goalscorer’ on the Germany v Spain match in addition to First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer and Anytime Goalscorer. The Insurebet option means that if a player doesn’t score the first goal in a match but scores later in the game, you will get your stake refunded. David Villa has scored first in the last three Spain games and is on offer at 13/5 on the Insurebet market or 4/1 if you just think he will score first.