Important comment first. Please regular readers do not attach the same level of importance to my football advice as my gee-gee opinions as quite frankly my level of aptitude on the former is not up to much and you can count the number of football bets I have each year on one hand. But anyway I am convinced that the old top goalscorer will emerge from Group A as there are some woefully weak teams contained within and goals should be aplenty (unlike in the other 3 pots where stalemates are far more likely due to the strength and evenness of the contestants). My advice would be to back old boy Robert Lewandowski (each-way, 22/1) in this market. Poland will almost certainly go out at the quarter-final, or even group stage, but in these games I think chances aplenty are going to fall to this excellent marksman. Unlike in many of the other games where chances are going to be rare. Would also advise a modest saver on my old fave, RVP (10/1). OK so I’ve contradicted what I said just now but I am, of course, a sentimental fool. Another sound bet I believe is Italy to finish bottom of Pot C (11/2) and Ireland to qualify (4/1) from the same grouping. I’ve had a good look at the tournament and believe the semi-final line up will be: Spain v The Netherlands, Germany v Ireland. What happens beyond that is anyone’s guess, I believe, with in each instance the best team on the day progressing.
1 thing stands out for me - there is a genuine "group of death" and if with the expansion of the Euros to 24 teams and the already bloated World Cup this is the last group of death there will ever be in international football. if Holland get throught this group I tip them as the team to beat.
Alan Hansen has just tipped Germany, Holland and Portugal to make the semi finals does he not realise they are all in the same group. What a ****er
I do think the 'less is more' approach is needed to keep the matches tense and exciting for the fans... But again political votes and leverage from those votes is winning out again... Its not like we are bleating about it being a closed shop as we dont qualify every year, but that it means so much to get there... Its another dumbing down of competitive international sport that eventually will become meaningless...
The European Championships should stick to 16 teams (though I imagine Scotland and Wales might benefit from the expansion) - personally I think 32 teams is right for the World Cup. The last few World Cups have had a Group of Death (especially 2006), even if they're not as evil as Group B this year.
I agree that the euro champs should not increase,leave it as it is. I'm on benzeman at 16s but i see the money is coming in for him and he has been cut to 11s after scoring two goals against estonia last night. I'm also having a wager on the russian lad Kerzhakov at 33/1. Russia have a fairly handy group and should top the group.Kerzhakov has competition up front with Pogrebnyak and Pavuchenko but i think he will start most games up front.He also bagged 23 goals from St Petersburg this season so i reckon this is a decent outside bet.So my bets for top scorer are Benzaman- Top scroer at 16s Kerzhakov- Top scorer 33s Spain to top group C 8/13 Robbie Keane to out score Wayne rooney 4/1-Cracking bet me thinks,Rooney misses two games.
mate, that's an interesting bet. I bet you could get some fancy prices on some of the lesser known players like Lewandowski
Very oddy, heres the link to the full list. Ive brought Robbie Keane. If he scores 1 you win and it could be big if he scores 2 or 3.... 1.3-1.6 for Lewandowski http://www.spreadex.com/Sports/#/tcl/1339015167836/PRICES|GROUP_ID=468496
Looking at the groups and further into the tournament aka semis and final ! Can't have a top goal scorer from holland Germany Portugal England Italy ! Which leaves me with the choice of Russia and France !!! Russia having to play any of Germany holland or Portugal I have had to go with benzema ! 10/1 doesn't seam value but doubled it with the country that's dominated everything Spain ! Benzema and Spain are 60/1 with paddy power
Not a market that i get involved with but the top goal scorer isnt going to have to score many to win it... Last years winner David Silva got 4. Milan Baros scored 5 in 2004, Kluivert and Milosevic got 5 each in 2000 and Shearer got 5 in 1996... Spain won in 2008, Silva top scored... Czechs got a losing semi in 2004, Baros top scored... Holland got a losing semi in 2000 but Yugoslavia didnt make the semis when Milosovic got his 5 goals... England lost as we know in the semis when Shearer got his 5 goals... So realistically you need the extra games of getting to the semis and beyond... As i have it as semi final line up of Germany, Holland, France and Spain i suppose the winner will come from them... I think Holland will win this and i would go with RV Persie...
