Greece v Ivory Coast Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2014

Elephants with enough to make World Cup knockout stage for the first time

Greece v Ivory Coast
Greece v Ivory Coast

Greece v Ivory Coast World Cup 2014, 24th June Betting Preview

Both still have a chance at qualification, but Greece have the harder task in trying to make it happen. They have to come out and win, while the Ivory Coast could likely get through with a draw, as long as Japan don’t beat Colombia by a two goal margin in the other Group B match. So the odds are stacked against the Greeks on this one.

Greece v Ivory Coast Betting Tips

This will be the first meeting between these two, and it’s hard not to lean towards the Ivory Coast in this one, as Greece, not surprisingly, are yet to score a goal. The Elephants opened with a 2-1 win over Japan, a game in which they had to come from behind, but then suffered a 2-1 defeat against Colombia in their second group match. This is their easiest game of the group though, so they should have done enough work already to book progress to the round of sixteen. All of the Ivory Coast’s last five games have gone over 2.5 goals, so expect goals to come in this one, even though Greece are playing.

You might want to shoot for an Ivory Coast 2-1 Correct Score, because all of their last four games have been settled by that scoreline, winning two and losing two. The Elephants have conceded two or more goals in five of their eight World Cup matches, so they are vulnerable. Going forward, eight of their twelve goals ever scored in the World Cup have come in the 60th minute or later. Five of their last nine have come in the 60th minute or later, so they are a second half team. The Ivory Coast have a good scoring record at the World Cup, having netted in seven of their eight games played. Gervinho has become the first ever Ivory Coast player to score in consecutive World Cup matches and he is at 2/1 in the anytime goalscorer market, with Didier Drogba and Wilfried Bony both at 5/4.

Greece, in a 3-0 loss against Colombia and a 0-0 draw against Japan have offered little as an offensive unit. That wasn’t surprising to be fair. They have yet to really be at home on the World Cup stage, having played eight matches in their history and winning just one of them. Six of those eight have been lost, and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven of them, their first ever defensive blank coming against Japan in their previous match. They have problems in front of goal as they have failed to scored in seven of their eight World Cup games, so it is hard to see them really threatening to outside the Ivory Coast. Greece have played two World Cup matches against African opposition, both against Nigeria, losing against them in 1994 and beating them in 2010.

Greece v Ivory Coast Betting Odds

Ivory Coast Evens, Draw 5/2, Greece 11/4

The home for 0-0 Bore Draw Insurance at the 2014 World Cup is Bet365 who offer lost stake refunds on the Correct Score, Scorecast and Half Time/Full Time markets if the game ends without a goal. Also for the World Cup they are extending their great unlimited places on First Goalscorer bets, and any wagers placed on the World Cup outright winner market in-play during the tournament, will be refunded if the selection gets knocked out on penalties.

Greece v Ivory Coast Predictions

Would expect the Ivory Coast to continue on and get a win in this one which will see them through to their first ever knockout match. The Greeks just don’t have enough in the tank going forward to really threaten, and the Ivory Coast have good variety up top and can attack on the deck or in the air. Enough value in the Elephants to back them outright.