Tweet
SPORTS WAGERS
Colombia +115 over Ivory Coast
Colombia is simply the better team here. Notably, Ivory Coast has been to the world’s greatest tournament in the past three occasions and has never been able to make it past the group stages. Ivory Coast has some celebrated footballers on their roster including Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and the Toure brothers. Perhaps respectable results including a draw against Belgium, Russia and Nigeria have prompted odds makers to give Ivory Coast an outside lane to pull off a draw or upset. However, the Elephants have had trouble against quality opponents like Mexico and Nigeria. The Elephants only managed to accumulate two strikes in those two fixtures while surrendering six goals against. This has always been the problem with Ivory Coast, they have the talent to score goals but they cannot defend well against them.
Colombia will take full advantage of this, as they are a hard-nosed and physical football team. This is a team that has quality from back to front. Captain Mario Yepes anchors a tough back four that earned seven clean sheets in qualifying. The attacking midfield features world-class talent with James Rodriguez in the middle and Freddy Guarin on the wing. As it stands, they’ll be feeding Jackson Martinez, who’s been prolific for Porto and complemented by the speedy Luiz Nuriel and poacher Carlos Bacca. In the end, Columbia knows how to score plenty of goals while not allowing the opposition near their own net. That figures to be on display here.
Greece +261 over Japan
The odds makers have struck again and the target is Greece, yet again. The culprits have projected Greece as an underdog against a Japan team that is clearly inferior to Greece in talent and capability. Notably, the Japanese are architects of some great upsets. In 2010, Japan managed to catapult forward to the Knockout Stage in South Africa. However, Japan did not have to deal with Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia to get there. Greece has since elevated to a top-tier European power and they have eclipsed the top twelve after impressive play in UEFA qualification. Japan emerges as a middle tier club from a mediocre sect of qualification. Greece is a club of no-name players who operate as a cohesive unit. Nevertheless, the Greeks have put together an impressive resume.
With Colombia as the favorite to win Group C, there will most likely be a battle for second between perennial contender Ivory Coast and the ever-explosive Greeks. This match-up will be quintessential for Greece’s survival, as they need these three points after losing its opener. Japan seems more determined to play well than they do to win games. Perhaps it’s a symptom of qualifying through relatively easy opposition in the Asian confederation, where Japan can play their attack minded game without fear. Against tougher competition, though, they get stung, as they did against Ivory Coast in its opener. Japan won praise for their stylish play in the Confederation Cup but they failed to win a game and losing becomes very contagious. Japan is the easiest fixture for Greece to navigate and so the Greeks figure to take care of business in this one.
Colombia +115 over Ivory Coast
Colombia is simply the better team here. Notably, Ivory Coast has been to the world’s greatest tournament in the past three occasions and has never been able to make it past the group stages. Ivory Coast has some celebrated footballers on their roster including Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and the Toure brothers. Perhaps respectable results including a draw against Belgium, Russia and Nigeria have prompted odds makers to give Ivory Coast an outside lane to pull off a draw or upset. However, the Elephants have had trouble against quality opponents like Mexico and Nigeria. The Elephants only managed to accumulate two strikes in those two fixtures while surrendering six goals against. This has always been the problem with Ivory Coast, they have the talent to score goals but they cannot defend well against them.
Colombia will take full advantage of this, as they are a hard-nosed and physical football team. This is a team that has quality from back to front. Captain Mario Yepes anchors a tough back four that earned seven clean sheets in qualifying. The attacking midfield features world-class talent with James Rodriguez in the middle and Freddy Guarin on the wing. As it stands, they’ll be feeding Jackson Martinez, who’s been prolific for Porto and complemented by the speedy Luiz Nuriel and poacher Carlos Bacca. In the end, Columbia knows how to score plenty of goals while not allowing the opposition near their own net. That figures to be on display here.
Greece +261 over Japan
The odds makers have struck again and the target is Greece, yet again. The culprits have projected Greece as an underdog against a Japan team that is clearly inferior to Greece in talent and capability. Notably, the Japanese are architects of some great upsets. In 2010, Japan managed to catapult forward to the Knockout Stage in South Africa. However, Japan did not have to deal with Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia to get there. Greece has since elevated to a top-tier European power and they have eclipsed the top twelve after impressive play in UEFA qualification. Japan emerges as a middle tier club from a mediocre sect of qualification. Greece is a club of no-name players who operate as a cohesive unit. Nevertheless, the Greeks have put together an impressive resume.
With Colombia as the favorite to win Group C, there will most likely be a battle for second between perennial contender Ivory Coast and the ever-explosive Greeks. This match-up will be quintessential for Greece’s survival, as they need these three points after losing its opener. Japan seems more determined to play well than they do to win games. Perhaps it’s a symptom of qualifying through relatively easy opposition in the Asian confederation, where Japan can play their attack minded game without fear. Against tougher competition, though, they get stung, as they did against Ivory Coast in its opener. Japan won praise for their stylish play in the Confederation Cup but they failed to win a game and losing becomes very contagious. Japan is the easiest fixture for Greece to navigate and so the Greeks figure to take care of business in this one.
Comment