We have already had some thrilling World Cup last sixteen matches, but perhaps the best is saved for last with these two Iberian neighbours squaring off at Greenpoint Stadium for a place in the quarter finals of this competition.

This ground will hold happy memories for the Portuguese as they ran seven goals past North Korea here a little over a week ago. It didn’t look like a team that had struggled to qualify for South Africa, although they might have their work cut out trying to contain a Spain team which has seemingly recovered from a slow start.

As far as that opening game defeat to Switzerland is concerned, it’s a case of ‘no harm done’ for the Spanish, who still ended up topping the group thanks to victories over Honduras and Chile. It has seen Vicente Del Bosque’s team shorten to a best price 9/2 (Sporting Bet) in the betting, while they are no bigger than 11/10 (Boylesports) to win Tuesday night’s game in normal time.

It appears as though Xabi Alonso is struggling to be fit for the match in Cape Town after picking up an injury against the Chileans last Friday, although Spain have a ready-made replacement in Cesc Fabregas. The biggest concern for La Furia Roja is the form / fitness of Fernando Torres, with the Liverpool forward proving to be sluggish in the matches he has played so far.

The team will need El Nino to be at his best against a tight Portugal defence and he is 11/2 (Paddy Power) to open the scoring, although he often acts as a foil for strike partner David Villa, who scored three times during the group stages and has looked highly dangerous so far. It’s little wonder that Barcelona want to shell out so much money for a player that makes things happen and he’s a tempting 4/1 (William Hill) to break the deadlock for the third game running.

Not that the Portuguese will be easy to break down, with the team one of only two (Uruguay being the other one) not to concede during the group phase. However, while defensive performances against Ivory Coast and Brazil sandwiching that North Korea goalfest helped them qualify, they might need to bring more to the party if they are to knock out the pre-tournament favourites.

Carlos Queiroz’s men are the 10/3 (bet365) outsiders to win in ninety minutes, or you can back them at 7/4 (Ladbrokes) to qualify for the quarter finals in some shape or form (penalties is a possibility as they have a superior record over Spain). It’s likely to be more evenly-matched than the odds suggest, especially if Portugal can get Cristiano Ronaldo on the ball. The forward will have noticed that the Spanish defence is capable of creaking and he’s 6/1 (bet365) to break the deadlock in Cape Town.

If you think that Spain will lead at half-time and full-time for the third match running, you can get odds of 5/2 (Stan James) and there’s the possibility that the Euro 2008 winners will start moving through the gears after a tough qualifying group.

Winning Group G gets more important with the passing of every day. While the victors at the Moses Mabhida Stadium would potentially play Holland in the quarter finals, they will avoid the half of the draw which includes England, Argentina, Germany and probably Spain. While Vicente Del Bosque’s team are hovering around even money to win Group H, a runners-up berth is surely more likely. Therefore, while Brazil are through to the last sixteen, it’s hard to see Dunga treating this game particularly lightly. He will want to maintain the excellence shown against the Ivory Coast last Sunday, even if the team will be missing the suspended Kaka. While the Real Madrid star sits on the bench and considers how foolish he was to receive two yellow cards, his team-mates are strong favourites at 13/10 (Coral) to land another win which would give them maximum points in Group G. It promises to be an entertaining game, especially as the Brazilian defence is not proving particularly watertight. North Korea and the Cote d’Ivoire both managed a consolation goal against the Selecao in previous matches, so perhaps it follows that Portugal will also find the net, especially as six members of their squad were on the scoresheet against the People’s Republic on Monday. Carlos Queiroz’s team will be going for the win, especially as they have little to fear due to the nine goals’ superior goal difference they have over the Elephants. The Iberian team are 11/4 (Bet Fred) to land a famous win and book themselves a match against the runners-up of Group H. It’s clearly just a matter of speculation as to whom they would meet, although Switzerland going through in second place would give them a strong chance of getting through to the final. The team have a clear match-winner in Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be looking to break free from the shackles of Gilberto Silva to make a difference for his country. The Real Madrid forward is 6/1 (Ladbrokes) to open the scoring and you can bet that he’s been practising his free kicks ahead of this match, although it’s strange that Tiago is priced at 33/1 (Paddy Power) on the same market considering that he scored two against the North Koreans. This will also be a significant match for striker Liedson, who was born in Brazil and became a naturalised Portuguese international recently. He’s 9/1 (Ladbrokes) to break the deadlock. As for Brazil, they still have attacking flair without the suspended Kaka and striker Luis Fabiano is on course to win the Golden Shoe after his excellent brace against the Ivory Coast. The Sevilla forward will be eyeing more goals from this match ahead of the knockout stages where games are traditionally more low-scoring. You can back him at 11/2 (Victor Chandler) to score first. If you think that Brazil will dominate to the extent that they did in their last game, Stan James offers 3/1 that the World Cup favourites lead at half-time and full-time.

Portugal Threat Bigger Than Just Cristiano Ronaldo

Enter Cristiano Ronaldo to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is fair to say that we could see a major improvement in the quality of dead ball deliveries when Portugal kick off against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday. This is probably the biggest clash in the first round of opening group matches, as these are two strong teams, scrapping for supremacy in the race to keep tags on Brazil in the group. A loss in this opening fixture could spell disaster in such as tough group, with both having obviously having to still play the South Americans. Hopefully this should turn out to be the best match of the opening games, with both teams needing to go for the jugular, but with both teams having their vulnerabilities. Neither side are particularly consistent, and neither have been able to stand up and say that they have made best use of the resources available to them. Portugal struggled through qualification, and while Cristiano Ronaldo did miss a lot of the matches through injury, it could highlight just how much the nation relies upon his heroics. Yes, he is a World Class player, that is not in doubt, and once he had returned from injury, he started to really shine for his new club Real Madrid by banging in the goals. Can he elevate Portugal, who have climbed up to third in the FIFA World Rankings, after a reshuffle of the points system.

That came as something of a surprise, as there are better teams around than Portugal. Do Portugal need Cristiano Ronaldo to carry them? Well, the fact that Ronaldo himself came out and said that in order for them to succeed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup they would need more than just the handful of star players which they have to perform, points to the reasoning that they do. Ronaldo called for his team mates and unsung heroes to stand up and play their part, and not rely solely on him. Portugal have already lost Manchester United winger Nani through injury, and A Selecção das Quinas need to show the same battling qualities which they displayed over the latter half of qualification. After winning just one of their five opening matches, Portugal suddenly plugged the holes in their back line, and rediscovered their scoring touch. OK, it was not a spectacular turn around, but the fight that Carlos Queiroz’s men displayed in getting over the line, was admirably, if not pretty. Their troubles in actually getting to the World Cup finals will probably mean that a lot of people underestimate them. Being drawn in a group along with Brazil and the Ivory Coast won’t have helped much, but Portugal have more to offer than their early qualification form showed.

With an impressive build up to South Africa 2010, Portugal could be peaking at the right time, now having won their last eight matches. During that run, they have conceded just one goal. So should the Portuguese be worth looking at in a little more depth for your World Cup Betting? Absolutely. They are no slouches, and on the day, they should have more confidence and team mentality than the Ivory Coast. They seem to have gotten over whatever slump was bothering them, and have found their consistency. They really could be ones to watch out for, and while they are out at 33/1 at Bet365 to win the tournament, that could shorten dramatically if they beat the Ivory Coast. The trouble is, if they cannot get the better of Brazil in the group, then the second placed team from Group G will go up against the winner of Group H, which is likely to be Spain. But with a great defensive record at the moment, which may surprise a lot of people, Portugal could be primed and ready to take them on. Let’s not forget, Portugal reached the semi’s in 2006. But for now, they will need to continue their fine form and take out the Ivory Coast, who are being coached by a familiar fellow.

Sven Goran-Eriksson The Missing Link?

Yes, Sven is back at the World Cup. After leading England through two disappointing campaigns, Eriksson was drafted in at a late stage to coach the Ivory Coast at the World Cup. This came about after a poor African Cup of Nations, which they were expected to win, which resulted in the firing of their head coach. So, the nation went for the experience of Eriksson, even though he seemed to be a strange choice, considering the strengths of the Elephants, and Eriksson’s philosophy towards the game. Eriksson is a cautious chap, as most England fans will tell you, and that is a bit of a departure from the free flowing attacking game which the Ivory Coast like to play. What can be said in Eriksson’s defence, is that the Ivory Coast have not had any great success with their style, and perhaps it is time to change. But Eriksson has not had a lot of time to stamp his authority over the side, and picked a predictable 23 man squad to take with him. He may have to cede some ground, and use the players which he has at his disposal in the best way that suits them, and that may mean relinquishing the reins a bit, a letting the natural Ivory Coast way shine through, and perhaps just glossing it over with his defensive and economical tactics.

It is considered a Golden Generation for the Ivory Coast, as their current squad has been together for quite some time. It is a pretty tough first competitive match for Eriksson to take the helm for though, as the stakes really could not be higher. He will know Portugal well, after England lost at both the 2006 World Cup, and the 2004 European Championships to the Portuguese. The big question on everyone’s mind, is will Didier Drogba play? The Ivory Coast talisman was injured in a warm up ahead of South Africa 2010, fracturing his arm, and no-one is sure if he will be able to play or not. The Chelsea man is with the Ivory Coast squad, and has been attending training. The decision will probably be left to the last minute by Eriksson, if for no other reason than to keep Portugal guessing. Will it be third time a charm for Eriksson against Portugal in recent times? He has some good players on his side, capable of winning, but has he had enough time to bring those players together as a team? That has always been the one criticism of the Ivory Coast, they have star players who look good on paper, but not so good on the pitch. See here for more on Ivory Coast v Portugal.

Portugal v Ivory Coast Odds and Stats

Ivory Coast 2, Japan 0
Paraguay 2, Ivory Coast 2
Korea Republic 2, Ivory Coast 0
Ivory Coast 2, Algeria 2
Ivory Coast 3, Ghana 1

Portugal 3, Mozambique 0
Portugal 3, Cameroon 1
Portugal 2, China 0
Bosnia 0, Portugal 1
Portugal 1, Bosnia 0

Last 5 Match Goals
Ivory Coast: 9 For, 7 Against
Portugal: 10 For, 1 Against

Recent Stats:
Ivory Coast: P37, W13, D12, L12 with a 35.1% win percentage
Portugal: P50, W28, D12, L10 with a 56.0% win percentage

World Cup Stats
Ivory Coast: P3, W1, D0, L2, GF5, GA6
Portugal: P19, W11, D1, L7, GF32, GA21

Last 10 Match Form:
Ivory Coast: DDDDDWDLDW
Portugal: DDWWWWWWWW

Match Odds
Portugal to win: 5/4 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at BetFred
Ivory Coast to win: 13/5 at Totesport

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Could be a close game, but nonetheless it seems as if Portugal should have enough to edge it. There is a huge amount at stake on this match, so we could see a cautious start by both side. The best prices would be giving Ivory Coast at least a goal advantage, but Portugal +0.25 for 2/5 at Bet365 is decent value on a safe bet.

The Ultimate Ivory Coast V Portugal Tipping Contest!
 
Group games don’t get any more exciting than Ivory Coast v Portugal on 15th June, with both teams looking to secure the three points ahead of other Group G matches against Brazil and North Korea. Here at soccerbetting.info/online-betting.me.uk, we have £500 in free bets to give away to those who can predict the correct outcome in this match, courtesy of our friends at William Hill.

Somebody has to win a first prize of £150, while there are nine other prizes between £10 and £100 for those that are also correct with their prediction. In order to get your hands on some free cash, simply take the following steps:

1) Sign up at William Hill by clicking on this link
2) Deposit and place at least one bet with this bookmaker
3) Send an email to competitions@soccerbetting.info with the subject line “I want a free bet with William Hill”. You should include the following details:

- Your Ivory Coast v Portugal prediction (Ivory Coast win, Portugal win or draw)
- Your William Hill username
- The date you signed up and the first deposit amount

The deadline for all entries is 2.55pm on 15th June, which is five minutes before the match kicks off. One lucky participant will be walking away with a first prize of £150 for getting the outcome right – will it be you?

Next to this one, we are organizing 2 other World Cup tipping contests:

The Ultimate World Cup Winner Tipping Contest!

The Ultimate Ivory Coast V Portugal Tipping Contest!

The Ultimate Cameroon V Denmark Tipping Contest!

There will be plenty of nerves on display in Lisbon, Athens, Dublin and Moscow this coming Saturday, with eight teams battling it out for four World Cup places. These matches are sure to be popular as far as pre-match and In-Play betting is concerned, so we’ve taken a look at our favourite bookmakers to find some top promotions.

Over at bet365, they are running their usual Bore Draw Money Back offer, where correct score, HT / FT and Scorecast bets are refunded if a match finishes 0-0. We would say that these type of matches have a much stronger chance of finishing goalless, especially as the first leg games are bound to be tight and cagey. Teams will be afraid of conceding and you can bet that the likes of Bosnia and Slovenia will be setting up defensively against Portugal and Russia respectively.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power have come up with a typically crazy promotion for the Ireland v France match, which ties in with the X Factor! John and Edward are one of the favourites to be eliminated and, if they are evicted on Sunday, then your losing First Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast bets will be refunded. The pair were close to being axed last week so this could be a popular promotion.

Meanwhile, although Ladbrokes don’t have any set promotions for the four matches, they are providing a unique type of bet. The Quatro enables to you to select a combination of the winning team and the amount of goals scored. For example, they offer odds of 2.50 that Ukraine win or draw in Greece PLUS there are two goals or less in the match. Similarly, Ladbrokes offer Goal Time Quatro, so for example you can back Republic of Ireland to score first PLUS the first goal being scored after the 27th minute. At odds of 4.00, it’s not a bad shout.

My personal hunch is that the matches are likely to be low-scoring. If you look at the previous first leg scores in the play-offs, there are often few goals involved and it could therefore be worth looking at the Under 2.5 Goals prices. Stan James are offering some great odds on this market, going best price for the Greece v Ukraine and the Ireland v France matches. Doing four lines of trebles on the quartet of games would return a profit if three involve two goals or less and the Bosnia manager has already stated his intention to pack out the midfield in Portugal.

Over at Unibet, they have priced up some goalscorer match bets, with Kevin Doyle being paired with Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane going head-to-head with Nicolas Anelka. Meanwhile, Canbet customers should be aware that you get a 10% bonus on any winnings from a multiple bet. Providing you include at least three selections and that your accumulator amounts to odds of at least 6.00, you can get 10% added to the pay-out.

Of course, all of the bookmakers we mention will be offering In-Play betting on the four World Cup qualifying matches, while bet365 will be streaming the games from Moscow, Lisbon and Athens so that you can watch and bet on the action!

Well the hectic start to the Premier League continues to throw up some surprise results. I had felt at least one team would suffer a champions league hangover, unfortunately for me, I chose the wrong teams.

Arsenal it seems are the inconsistent members of the top 4. It’s often said that true champions are judged on how they respond to defeat. Well Arsenal have responded to poor results with resounding victories, however, true champions respond with several wins rather than solitary ones! So this could be an interesting trend to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

This Weekend sees the resumption of World Cup qualifying and we need to search for value in this particular market. The obvious wins are just that and the bookies have them priced accordingly.

Which is precisely why my eye has been drawn to Sweden hosting Portugal. Both teams have their injury woes so I see this as a contest of who has the best strength in depth. Both teams have had a fairly indifferent start to the campaign and I feel both will have a ‘don’t lose’ mentality, which makes the draw priced at 9/4 with Coral an attractive proposition