Just two months after the 2010 World Cup came to an end, the focus shifts towards Euro 2012, with the first round of qualifiers taking place on Friday. The tournament finals will take place in Poland and Ukraine, which means that just fourteen qualifying places are available due to the co-hosts automatically booking their place at the table.

There are nine qualifying groups, with the winner from each going through to the finals along with the best performing 2nd-placed team. The other eight 2nd-placed teams will play-off to determine the final four places.

It’s little surprise to see Spain as outright favourites (4/1 bet365) to win Euro 2010, with La Furia Roja now the champions of the world as well as Europe. Vicente Del Bosque remains as manager of the national team and it will be largely the same set of players that defend their crown.  A group including Czech Republic and Scotland shouldn’t pose too many problems for the holders.

However, the one other European team that stood out in South Africa were Germany, especially as Joachim Loew took a chance on several young players such as Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. The pair have both signed for Real Madrid this term, while the likes of Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger should ensure that Die Mannschaft are lively contenders. Paddy Power go 11/2 that they win Euro 2012.

Nevertheless, it was the Netherlands that made the final of the World Cup and it was disappointing that Bert van Marwijk’s team resorted to an aggressive style of play against the Spanish which meant justice was served when Andres Iniesta scored an extra-time winner for Spain. Paddy Power offer 7/1 that Holland go one better in Poland & Ukraine, providing that they manage to qualify from a group which includes Sweden and Finland.

The three big European disappointments at the World Cup were England, France and Italy. The English did make it beyond the group stages, although they were badly exposed by Germany and Fabio Capello is now under pressure to deliver in this tournament. Sporting Bet go 12/1 that the Three Lions are victorious, although there’s no certainty that they will qualify from a group which includes Switzerland and Bulgaria.

We should expect a completely different French team from the side that went on strike under Raymond Domenech. Although Laurent Blanc has to restore the confidence of supporters who saw their nation disgraced in south Africa, there are some talented players to call upon and Les Bleus are 14/1 with Stan James to win Euro 2012.

Cesare Prandelli has replaced Marcello Lippi as manager of Italy and he is likely to bring through plenty of young players as the Azzurri look to put the poor performances of the 2010 World Cup behind them. Paddy Power offer 11/1 that the 2006 World Cup winners are triumphant and we should expect an improved showing.

Portugal (12/1 bet365) and Russia (22/1 bet365) are the other teams worthy of consideration, although Carlos Queiroz might not be the right man to take the former forward after setting them up ultra-defensively against the Ivory Coast and Spain in the World Cup.

Poland and Ukraine are the countries co-hosting this tournament and that means that there are only fourteen other places up for grabs. Some would probably argue that Spain should get a bye into the finals after adding a world crown to their European one in South Africa, although we will almost certainly see Vicente Del Bosque’s team in eastern Europe to defend their title.

A selection of bookmakers, including Ladbrokes and bet365, offer 4/1 that La Furia Roja continue to show they are top dogs in Euro 2012 and they will retain the nucleus of the team that won the country’s first ever World Cup. Young players such as Pedro, Jesus Navas and David Silva will ensure that there is fierce competition for places and we might even see a fit Fernando Torres in two years time!

However, many people will be looking to back Germany antepost instead, especially as they are available at odds of 6/1 with Ladbrokes. Although Joachim Low’s team fell short against the Spanish in the semi-finals, there’s a strong case for arguing that they are the second best team in the world and the manager will have two years to ensure that his team can come back stronger.

With Thomas Mueller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and  Mesut Ozil all playing starring roles for Die Mannschaft in South Africa, it will be interesting to see whether they can continue their free-scoring ways which made them so prolific this summer.

The Netherlands are available at 8/1 (Victor Chandler) to win Euro 2012 and they will take some beating if the last World Cup is anything to go by. While the likes of Mark Van Bommel aren’t getting any younger and Gio van Bronckhorst has retired, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin Van Persie will still pack a punch for the Oranje.

While Spain, Germany and Holland ensured that there were three European teams in the semi-finals, there were several of the ‘old order’ that failed to make much impact at all in South Africa. Expectations were once again high that England would deliver in a major tournament although their poor performances throughout means that Sporting Bet have pushed the Three Lions out to 12/1. It could be a period of transition for this team who need to bring young players in.

As for France, there will also be sweeping changes with the players in the squad. Raymond Domenech has been replaced by Laurent Blanc and the latter will command much more respect within the camp after the shameful way that Les Bleus conducted themselves in South Africa. Perhaps they are the best bet at 14/1 (Stan James), especially as the squad will be packed with top quality players.

Italy were equally as disappointing with their failure to beat New Zealand, Slovakia or Paraguay in their World Cup group and they have been pushed out to 11/1 (Paddy Power). Meanwhile, you can back Portugal at 14/1 (Coral), Russia at 20/1 (Blue Square) and Ukraine at 40/1 (bet365).

England v Austria Match Odds

England to win: 3/5 at Bwin
Draw: 11/5 at Bwin
Austria: 5/1 at Bwin

The future of English football could be on display in France on the weekend, as the UEFA Under 19 Championship kicks off. The eight team tournament will give England’s youth a chance to shine, in the hope that the FA can learn something from another senior World Cup failure, and learn how to nurture and embrace young talent, instead of training any flair out of them. After all the fall out of England’s failure at South Africa 2010, eyes will turn to the Under 19’s as the benchmark for the next generation of England’s youth. There have been concerns that there is not enough youth coming through from grass roots in English football, and that the English game and lack of professional youth coaches, are taking something away from the national game. It has been suggested that any inherent flair and technical ability to play a passing game, is drilled out of youngsters, as the focus is more on the physical aspect of the game, and learning to play at tempo. So, just how England do at the UEFA Under 19 Championship could be an eye opener for things to come. England have been drawn in Group A of the tournament, along with host nation France, Austria and the Netherlands. It is a group from which they will be expected to get out of without too much trouble. Here are the fixtures for England at the UEFA Under 19 Championship:

Sunday, July 18th: Austria v England
Wednesday, July 21st: Netherlands v England
Saturday, July 24th: England v France

There is a sprinkling of hope for the future of English football, as England finished as runner’s up in the previous tournament, where they lost to the Ukraine in the finals. This, in all honesty, is not too bad of a draw for England, as Holland are making their debut in the competition, and Austria are rank outsiders to win the tournament. The toughest challenge in the group stage will be France, who are joint favourites along with Spain to win. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will go forwards to the semi finals. This tournament does have bigger implications, as the teams which finish in the top three out of each group, will earn automatic qualification for the 2011 FIFA Under 20 World Cup. Coached by Noel Blake, England were the last team to qualify for the tournament, and hopes could rest on 2008/09 top scorer Nathan Delfouneso, who is on the books at Aston Villa. They also have a strong pairing in the midfield of Dean Parrett and Jacob Melis, while there is plenty of experience t the back with Fulham’s Matthew Briggs and Manchester United’s Reece Brown.

There were some club v country discussions going on ahead of the tournament, as some clubs were unwilling to release some of their young players for the tournament. However, after the senior England side failed to perform and lessons were learnt from Germany’s youngsters, England were able to select a strong squad to take to France. There are two notable omissions though, with Everton’s Jack Rodwell and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere missing out, as they are wanted to step up an age group. It is the Germans and the Spanish which England need to emulate. Since investing heavily in their youth, Germany have won the European Championships at every age level, while Spain have won the Under 19 Championships four times. Getting things right at these young levels, will naturally enhance the quality of what will come in future senior teams. There are signs that England are on the right track, after the Under 17’s won the European Championships a couple of months ago, and that was on the back of the Under 21’s reaching the final of their respective tournament the year before. Germany didn’t make the tournament this time around, after failing to get out of the Elite group qualifying process, finishing third in a group which Holland won.

England Under 19 Squad: Goalkeepers: Declan Rudd (Norwich), James Severn (Derby); Defenders: Nathan Baker (Aston Villa), Matthew Briggs (Fulham), Reece Brown (Manchester United), Stephen Caulker (Spurs), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace), Thomas Cruise (Arsenal), Josh Thompson (Celtic); Midfielders: John Bostock (Spurs), Matthew James (Manchester United), Jacob Mellis (Chelsea), Dean Parrett (Spurs), Matthew Phillips (Wycombe), Andros Townsend (Spurs); Forwards: Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Ryan Donaldson (Newcastle), Frank Nouble (West Ham).

UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winners
2002: Spain
2003: Italy
2004: Spain
2005: France
2006: Spain
2007: Spain
2008: Germany
2009: Ukraine

While England are in with a fair shout at claiming the honours here, there are some quality youth teams taking part alongside them. Spain will be one of the strongest competitors at the tournament, and they will be expected to win Group B, where Portugal, Italy and Croatia also reside. Croatia are making their debut in the tournament, and therefore they won’t be looked at for too long in the betting. Portugal have shown in the past they can put out a decent crop of youngsters, but they have probably fallen just a little bit behind the other stronger European nations, as this is their first year back after missing the last two tournaments after failing to qualify. Italy are a little bit of an unknown quantity, but will be expected to get through to the semi finals. From a football betting point of view, England and France will be expected to progress from Group A, and Spain along with Italy will be expected to get through from Group B.

UEFA Under 19 Championship Outright Odds at Bwin
Spain: 4.50
France: 4.50
England: 6.00
Italy: 6.50
Netherlands: 8.00
Portugal: 8.50
Croatia: 12.0
Austria: 15.0

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

World Cup Final – Over / Under 2.5 goals – betting tips

The climax of four years preparations are about to come to fruition for either Spain or The Netherlands.
For me it will be won and lost in the midfield. With Iniesta and his crew just shading it.
From a betting angle there are good trading opportunities for those brave enough to take a view.
Spain’s attack has seen them ahead on CORNERS WON in their previous matches. I can’t see it being any other way here.
TOTAL corners could also be a possible bet. Over 10.5 looks good. Most bookies will make prices available for both bets.

TRADING SCORELINES.
For those who enjoy this type of battle there are some interesting outcomes in the offing.
Dutching the following will appeal to many who decide how the game may end.
For betting purposes The Netherlands are regarded as the HOME SIDE.

UNDER 2.5 GOALS.  Available at around 1.6. Bet365
Cover for 1 – 2 (11.5) and 2 – 1. (17.5) Approximate profit 30%.

OVER 2.5 GOALS.  Available at around 2.62. Bet365
 WITH NETHERLANDS TO WIN
 1 – 0 (10.0)
 1 – 1 (7.8)
 2 – 0 (24.0). Approximate profit 50% +

OVER 2.5 GOALS. Available at around 2.62. Bet365
 WITH SPAIN TO WIN
 1 – 0 (6.4)
 1 – 1 (7.8)
 2 – 0 (10.5). Approximate profit 31%.

Many bookies will offer NOVELTY MARKETS. My tip is give them a miss. When you look at the mathamatics of the offers, they are sadly lacking in balance. They are eheavily weighted in the bookies favour. (Surprise surprise).

3rd and 4th PLACE.
Usually neither side would want to be here. However the Uruguyans have stated that they aren’t there to make-up the numbers.
As both sides may well give some of the unused squad players an outing,
 (As has happened in the past), Forget NORMAL FORM and plump OVER 2.5 GOALS.
Both teams are capable of getting a netful on their day.
The 1.76 on offer is an indication that others feel the same way.

ROLL-ON EURO 2012.

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.

We started the 2010 World Cup with thirty-two teams from all over the planet, although just four remain after 60 matches of football. On Tuesday night, the first place in the final is up for grabs, with Holland facing Uruguay at the Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town.

It’s likely to be a huge betting contest and many bookmakers have special offers for the game which is well worth checking out. Over at bet365, they continue to run their ‘Penalty Payback’ promotion for the 2010 World Cup, where they’ll refund losing outright bets on any team that gets knocked out on penalties.

So far, bet365 have got away with only refunding losing stakes on Japan and Ghana, not two of the well-backed teams in the competition. However, it’s possible that at least one semi-final this week could go to spot kicks, not to mention the final. Spain are 15/8 favourites, Germany are 2/1, Netherlands are 21/10 and Uruguay are 10/1 with this firm.

Bet365 also have their 0-0 cashback offer available on the Holland v Uruguay and it’s likely that the south Americans will be looking to keep things tight. All losing first goalscorer, last goalscorer, anytime goalscorer, correct score and half-time / full-time bets will be refunded if the game is goalless after ninety minutes. Paddy Power and Blue Square are doing something similar for this game.

Meanwhile, Bet Fred are offering to refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast bets on Holland v Uruguay if Dirk Kuyt scores in the game. The Liverpool striker likes to get forward and it’s not a bad offer at all.

Similarly, Stan James have used their imagination to create a Diego Forlan special for Tuesday night’s game. If the Uruguay striker scores at any point during the 90-minutes on Tuesday night, then the firm will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, anytime goalscorer and hat-trick bets placed on the game.

There’s been plenty of money for the Netherlands in the build-up to the match in Cape Town and it’s possible that Coral’s 4/6 won’t last until kick-off. Other bookmakers have been running for cover as a major gamble takes place on Bert van Marwijk’s team, with punters clearly being swayed by that victory over Brazil in the quarter final. Sporting Bet are now as short as 4/7 (Sporting Bet) about a Dutch win.

It’s good to see that Ladbrokes have also been giving their punters extra value throughout the World Cup and it’s worth checking out their Enhanced Doubles currently available on the World Cup semi-finals. You can back Holland and Spain both to win at odds of 10/3 or alternatively go for the 9/1 that Uruguay draw and Germany win.

The Magic Sign also have goalscorer doubles available and offer 3/1 that Robin Van Persie scores on Tuesday and David Villa finds the net on Wednesday. A Diego Forlan x Lukas Podolski double is on offer at 9/1.

Uruguay v Holland Betting Odds

Uruguay to win: 6/1 at Bwin
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Holland to win: 4/6 at SkyBet

Holland

Uruguay v Holland is the first of the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi finals, and a match which sees the Netherlands take on the mantle as outright favourites. This is simply a matter of weighing up the odds and stats, and it is easy to see why the Dutch are tipped to take the match over the South Americans. But there is a lot more to this match than meets the eye, as the Dutch go into this encounter on somewhat shaky ground. Holland won their group as expected, strolling to top spot ahead of Japan, Denmark and Cameroon, winning all three matches. That sounds mightily convincing, and the case for the Netherlands to reach the final is all the more compelling when you look and see that they beat Slovakia and then the mighty Brazil in the knockout stages. No-one really gave Holland much of a chance against Brazil, but it was they who ran out 2-1 winners over one of the tournament favourites, thanks to a brace from Wesley Sneijder, and some luck. Holland have simply not been convincing at all through their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign, and the old whispers of them not being mentally composed enough to win football’s greatest prize are starting to get louder. The Dutch are generally a self destructive bunch when it comes to tournament football, usually cracking at the seams when the pressure starts mounting. What the Dutch do have in spades, is great technical ability, and they are set up to play a very attractive style of football, which does not always possess all of the qualities needed to win tournaments. Like mental fortitude.

The flaws with Holland, and they have been visible in this tournament, is the lack of desire to really dig deep and battle, and lack of creativity and invention. Some will argue that they showed great resilience in beating Brazil after going behind, but it was more of a case of Brazil beating themselves than anything the Dutch did in terms of football. Holland did a great deal of unsportsmanlike playing up to the referee, falling to the floor and making it seem as if Brazil were wearing sharp edged ice skates instead of football boots when any South American went near them. While it worked in getting Felipe Melo riled enough to get himself stupidly sent off, it was not a pretty picture which the Dutch painted, and it gave a great example of just why they always seem to remain on the fringe of great success. They are their own worst enemy usually, with arrogance and over confidence generally at the root of their downfall, and when you have you best players like Robin Van Persie publicly bemoaning his coaches decision to substitute him, all cannot be well. Instead of getting on with trying to play football, Holland degenerated their match against Brazil into a less than admirable spectacle of football quality. It was their way to regain control, after Brazil in the first half, had exposed many weaknesses in the Dutch formation, cutting through them with ease.

The Netherlands however, will have a tougher time of things when they face Uruguay in their semi final, because Uruguay are a lot more of a no-nonsense team than Brazil. Uruguay will really get stuck into the midfield of the Netherlands, and will physically drain the confidence out of the Dutch. Holland did not have the technically ability to beat Brazil in a toe to toe contest, and while they will be believing that they certainly have that advantage over Uruguay, underestimation of these South Americans would be perilous. The 2010 FIFA World Cup has not seen the best of Holland and there is a train of thought which leans towards the reasoning that coach Bert van Marwijk is hampered by his players. Tactically, Holland are very sound, letting Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt patrol out wide, supporting lone striker Van Persie, while helping out in midfield. This allows Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder to roam freely as the link up man between midfield and attack, which is why he is so dangerous. He is that a-typical South American floating number 10. The Dutch attack allows for a lot of movement and creativity, but behind that, they have problems with quality personnel. The distribution to the attack is not a quick, nor as sharp as it should be. Holland could learn some good lessons from Germany about quick transition play. Why is this important in World Cup betting? Because semi final opponents Uruguay have a much stronger midfield than Holland, in terms of work ethic. Snuffing out the supply line to the forwards, by pressing the Dutch defence when they are on the ball, is a sure fire way to frustrate Holland, and that will create chances for Uruguay. In technical ability, Holland win hands down. They have not been playing well and have been riding their luck, and that is why they are very vulnerable, especially with the added weight of breaking the mental barrier of actually winning the World Cup. Uruguay may not have to beat them, for they may do it to themselves again. They will already be without Nigel de Jong and Gregory Van Der Weil after picking up their second yellow cards against Brazil. They are lucky to have Mark Van Bommel too, who was lucky to escape a red card. Holland, beating themselves.

Uruguay

The South Americans are the surprise package of the tournament, and they are very proud of themselves for getting to the semi final. As a nation they have won the World Cup twice before, but that was a long time ago back in 1950 and since then, they have not been able to compete strongly. They are the last South American team left in the tournament along with three European nations. This in itself is as big of a surprise as seeing Uruguay in the semi’s, as Brazil and Argentina were supposed to be in the mix at this stage. South American teams are generally ones that have a great balance between attack and defence, and if they are lacking the out and out technical brilliance of say Brazil, they make up for it with a physical presence. Chile were a perfect example of this, as they and Uruguay are probably the two hardest working teams attending the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Uruguay like to defend from the front, and that is why they put out a three man attack, so that the middle of the park can be kept tight and narrow in defence, and the extra attack can drop back and help out in midfield. This is something which is expected of South American teams, even though the top players don’t always put in that top effort in defence. This sole reason was the downfall of Argentina, whose forwards were not dedicated enough in making sure their midfield was reinforced when they did not have the ball. That same concern is not there for Uruguay, although they will be missing their star striker, a team that the Dutch will know fairly well.

Ajax’s Luis Suarez was at the centre of the much publicised debate over whether his punching of the ball on the goal line in the dying seconds of their quarter final match, was deliberate cheating or not. Suarez stopped a sure fire goal with his hands, received a red card, and opponents Ghana missed the last gasp penalty, sending the match to a penalty shoot out, which the Africans lost. Suarez had pulled off the biggest save of the tournament, to which he is now citing that he has the “real” hand of God. Uruguay will miss the striker, but they have Diego Forlan, who has been one of the outstanding players of the tournament. Both he and Suarez are on three goals, one of the few teams in the tournament who have more than one player up front to rely upon for goals. Holland’s Robin Van Persie has just one to his name, in contrast. The way Uruguay will set up, will probably leave space down the flanks for Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt to receive plenty of the ball. That is how Uruguay like it. It is unlikely that they will let Holland go through the middle of them, and that means the Dutch will have to work a lot harder down the flanks. Uruguay will be happy with that, as their mean defence will be confident of handling a lone striker in Van Persie.

While Holland have received good news about a scan on Robin Van Persie’s elbow which showed no problems, Uruguay have been hit with bad news about creative playmaker midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro who will definitely miss the showdown after picking up a knee injury against Ghana. Uruguay are also anxiously waiting news about captain Diego Lugano, who is a serious injury doubt after having to come off against Ghana as well. The South Americans will also be without Suarez and defender Jorge Fucile who is also suspended. These are the small things which can accumulate into a big problem. It is a shame that Uruguay may not be able to field their strongest side at such an important juncture in their World Cup history. They are the underodgs for the match and the rank outsiders of the four teams left in the tournament. Their teamwork has gotten them this far, and now it looks as if it is being sadly broken apart through injury and suspsension. While Paraguay rang a lot of changes to their starting eleven against Spain and still put up an admirable fight, Uruguay will be hoping that the incoming players will give the benefit of fresh legs, which they will need after playing extra time in the semi finals. Uruguay will run and chase and pressure Holland all day long, and they will probably sit back and look to launch counter attacks, and look to make the most of their chances from dead ball situations. Forlan is the key man, along with Diego Perez in the centre of midfield, who will be putting in the heavy tackles. A great, disciplined team, Uruguay are on the brink of repeating successes of their peers, but they face their toughest challenge yet in one of Europe’s top sides. The margin between them will be small, and it may just take another flash of genuis from Forlan to sneak it.

Betting Tip – To Win – Uruguay 6/1 at Bwin

Match Verdict: Uruguay are the ideal team to be the thorn in the side of another Holland World Cup dream. They are so disruptive in midfield, and so tight at the back, that they can cope with slicker passing and faster paced teams. They do not flex their attacking muscles as much as one would hope, but they have a system which works for them, and its gotten them this far. This is a quality passing and moving attacking team versus a disciplined defence one. Uruguay though have goals in them, and can step up into the role of an attacking side, whereas Holland probably can’t switch to a defensive one so well. Uruguay can very well sneak this by a goal, or even take it all the way to penalties. They probably won’t get overwhelmed or overrun, not unless the Dutch come out and play by at least a couple of levels better than they have done during the tournament so far.
Uruguay +0.75 Asian Handicap 41/40 at Bet365

Top Uruguay v Holland Bets

Correct Score
Uruguay to win 1-0: 12/1 at Paddy Power
Holland to win 1-0: 5/1 at Boylesports

To Qualify
Uruguay – 13/5 at SportingBet
Holland to win: 1/3 at Totesport

Anytime Goalscorer
Robin Van Persie – 5/1 at Coral
Wesley Sneijder – 7/1 at Bet365
Diego Forland – 3/1 at ExtraBet

Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town plays host to the first semi-final of the 2010 World Cup and it might be a lot closer than people are predicting. Indeed, everyone seems to be raving about the Dutch since they beat Brazil in Port Elizabeth, although let’s not forget that Bert van Marwijk’s team didn’t look like scoring until Felipe Melo and Julio Cesar got themselves into a right tangle which led to the Netherlands grabbing an equaliser in the quarter final match.

Therefore, while Coral’s stand-out 4/6 is likely to be popular about Holland winning in normal time and booking their place in a World Cup final for the first time since 1978, there will also be people on betfair laying the Oranje at odds of around 1.66. Yes, they have won all five of their games in South Africa, although the team have only shown glimpses of attacking play and they are sure to continue with the slow tempo start which has served them well up to now.

Uruguay are also unbeaten in this World Cup, something which enabled them to win Group A and enter what many have described as an easier half of the draw. La Celeste then squeezed past South Korea in the last sixteen before the luckiest of victories against Ghana in the quarter final, something which saw Asamoah Gyan miss an extra-time penalty and then Oscar Tabarez’s team eventually triumphing on spot kicks. Perhaps the south Americans will now believe it’s their fate to win the World Cup for a third occasions and you can get 11/2 (bet365) that they land a ninety minute win.

Indeed, while the Black Stars were flying the flag for Africa on Friday, Uruguay are doing the same for their continent after the demise of Argentina and Brazil. Unfortunately, they will be missing the excellent Luis Suarez, whose ‘hand of God’ was spotted by the referee and led to a red card. It means that Diego Forlan (17/2 bet365) will weigh heavy with the burden of trying to score for his team, although the remarkably confident Sebastian Abreu (14/1 bet365) might get his first start of the 2010 World Cup.

As for the Dutch, they will be missing Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong from the team due to suspension but it won’t stop van Marwijk playing two holding midfielders in front of the defence and hoping that Wesley Sneijder (7/1 Paddy Power) and Arjen Robben (6/1 Ladbrokes) can conjure some magic in the middle of the park. Robin Van Persie is the 4/1 favourite (Paddy Power) to break the deadlock and the Arsenal forward might be up against a weakened defence due to injury concerns over Diego Godin and Diego Lugano.

Even so, the Uruguayans will stick manfully to the task of trying to prevent their opponents from scoring and Boylesports offer 5/2 that the match is a draw and goes to extra-time. If you fancy Tabarez’s team to go through on spot kicks once again, Sporting Bet offer 11/1.

Brazil vs Holland Odds – World Cup Quarter Finals – 2nd July

Brazil – odds: Evens at SkyBet
Draw – odds: 12/5 at BetFred
Holland – odds: 7/2 Bet365

Holland

Two of the most fluent passing teams go head to head in the quarter finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and it promises to be one of the best matches so far. Holland take on Brazil in the first of the Quarter Finals, and it is a match which is being waited for with much anticipation. Holland, with four straight wins in the World Cup, have the unenviable task of taking on a Brazil side which have not broken a sweat yet. Holland themselves though have sailed through their matches, and have not been troubled at all. Holland came into the tournament as one of the strongest European candidates, and while they have seen most of Europe’s elite fall, the Oranje have carried on regardless. They are great exponents of playing the beautiful game, and reinforces just how far attacking football can get you, a lesson which a lot of Europe could learn. The Dutch have quality players in every position but they will go into the match as underdogs to the South Americans. Maybe this will suit Holland perfectly, as they are famous in World Cup history for not being able to break through mental barriers to win the World Cup, with over confidence often being cited as their biggest downfall. The Dutch do have an air of arrogance about them, but this time around it does not appear to be a the same level as it has been at in the past. They are a fully confident team and rightly so. There has not even been any reports of infighting and disarray in the camp, which is something else which usually plagues the Netherlands at tournaments. They are calm, composed and ready to take on the world’s best.

Holland have not been pushed at all in any of their matches so far. They have had the upper hand in all of them, even if they have not ran up large score lines. The simple fact of the matter is that they have maintained possession and movement very well, and with the return of Arjen Robben, they have been made even stronger. Robben returned to the starting line up against Slovakia in their last sixteen match up, and found the back of the net. Holland ran out 2-1 winners after conceding a penalty at the very death of the game, but they never looked in any danger of losing the match. The same can be said of their group games against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon. They were probably pushed the hardest by the industrious Japan, but still, there is an edge of confidence and quality about Holland. There always is, as their passing game is a joy to watch. Do they have what it takes to go all of the way and win the World Cup for the first time in their history? A knockout match in the World Cup against Brazil at any stage is like a World Cup final in itself. There is perhaps more of a maturity about Holland this time around, and they are on a long successful run of being undefeated, and so far, their run has not been threatened. While they have had a lot of success, they haven’t really been tested against the top teams, and it doesn’t get better than Brazil. The key players like Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder need to be on top of their games, and Holland will need their mobility and width to get the best out of attacking Brazil, which they will find with Dirk Kuyt and Robben.

Brazil

Brazil will set the Netherlands new challenges in their quarter final match. The Dutch defence will come under a lot more pressure than they have done in any of their recent matches, with a need to maintain a lot more concentration. Brazil have looked completely unfazed during their run to the World Cup 2010 Quarter Finals, and they have arguably been tested harder than Holland have. Brazil came through a group against Portugal and the Ivory Coast, and then had a tricky last sixteen match against Chile. They did not blink an eyelid in dispatching the Ivory Coast and Chile very comfortably, scoring three goals against each, but they did fail to break down Portugal in a dour match. We were expecting a much more defensively sound Brazil at this World Cup, as coach Dunga shook up the Brazilian style to inject his own stamp on the team. Even with a solid back line now, backed up by the best goalkeeper in the world, Julio Cesar, they have not lost that typical Brazilian attacking flair. Far from it. If anything it has been enhanced by the solid foundation behind it, and one of the unsung heroes which makes it happen, is ex Arsenal star Gilberto Silva who holds the midfield together. Brazils movement in going forward is still something to be admired by all teams in the world, and they still make everything look so effortless and easy. Passing the ball is done almost on automatic pilot, and with Robinho and Kaka roaming around behind Luis Fabiano, they are so hard to pick up and stop.

Kaka drops off behind both of Robinho and Fabiano, and pulls a lot of the strings as expected. He had a slow start to the tournament, coming back from injury, and he received a petty red card in Brazil’s match against the Ivory Coast. While Dunga wasn’t happy about that, he saw Kaka pick up another yellow card, and he is now treading a thin line. To see Kaka miss the semi final or the Final itself by picking up another booking would be a huge shame for the tournament. Brazil are looking in ominous form, and the strongest force at South Africa 2010. With all of the expectation surrounding Brazil as they go in search of their sixth title, the fact that Argentina and Spain are in the running as betting favourites, may have taken some of the pressure off them, as punters look elsewhere. But Brazil look incredibly confident, and one thing which stands out about them, is that they are enjoying their football as a group. They look relaxed and full of smiles, and with some of the most technically gifted players in the tournament, there’s no reason not to be. But Brazil will face their most technical challenge so far of the World Cup, facing one of the teams that are equally comfortable in possession. Holland do not have as much of a clinical finish about them as Brazil do, neither do they have the quality on their bench that Brazil do. The South Americans face challenges will calm heads and they play to the strengths of their experience, as they are one of the oldest sides in the tournament. They do not look it though, as they move the football so quickly, and one of the stars of the tournament so far, Robinho, injects so much pace and creativity to complement the sturdiness of the defensive corps behind him, Brazil are perfectly balanced and perfectly primed.

Brazil vs Holland Prediction / Betting Tips

Prediction (who will win) – Brazil to win – odds: Evens at SkyBet

Brazil have outstanding class, and while they can be matched in style by Holland, the Europeans will have a hard time standing up in a toe to toe match against the South Americans. Hopefully the Netherlands will do their best to stick to their own strengths and not simply try to fill in the midfield to stifle Brazil, because this has the promise of a wide open master class in passing football. Still, Brazil have looked the more dangerous through the tournament, and have the potential to outscore Holland no matter how many the Dutch may put on the board. That is the class of Brazil, the ability to go one better all of the time.

Brazil vs Holland Prediction – Betting Tip – Robinho Anytime Scorer – odds: 2/1 at Ladbrokes