The quarter-finals were another mixed bag for us, with Colombia deciding not to turn up to their defeat against Brazil on Friday, while Germany sneaked through against France in a 1-0 win. Argentina kept up our hopes of a lovely outright bet on winning the damn thing as they moved past a listless Belgian team, while Holland and Costa Rica played out a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes, bagging us a nice 7/2 win on our money.
In that Argentinian win, Gonzalo Higuain got his World Cup account off the mark, but it’s surely too late in the day for him to win us any money on an each-way Golden Boot win. Even though Colombia are out it looks like James Rodriguez’s for the losing.
So, just two matches to lump on this week, and a chance for us to salvage a little pride ahead of the Final on July 13.
Holland couldn’t find a way through against Costa Rica in normal time, but that was just fine for us (Image: Getty).
World Cup Bets
Semi-FinalsBrazil v Germany
Tuesday 8 JulyGermany win in 90 minutes
5pts @ 19/10 (Coral)Thomas Muller 1st scorer (Germany)
1pt @ 13/2 (Coral)
Brazil first team booking
4pts @ 5/6 (bwin)
Brazil have been carried this far on the back of a fervent support at home plus the mercurial talents of Neymar and the professionalism of defender, Thiago Silva. But now there’s one (OK, two) problems for Brazil going into the semi-final against Germany: Silva is suspended and Neymar is out of the World Cup, having suffered a broken vertebrae in the QF against Colombia.
Colombia were over-awed by the whole occasion, but then so was the referee who managed to overlook numerous Brazil fouls. There is definitely a thought that Brazil are fouling their way to the Final on July 13, but surely the referee will start to come down hard on the hosts’ physical approach. With their two best players out, Brazil have gone from ordinary to decidedly lacklustre, and Joachim Low’s efficient team should prevail in normal time. We’re also plumping for Thomas Muller to add to his goal tally and getting one nearer James Rodriguez in the Golden Boot contest.
Portrait in Pain: A Neymar-less Brazil will be up against it versus a well-drilled German team in the semi-final. (Image: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters).
Netherlands v Argentina
Wednesday 9 July
Draw in 90 minutes
4pts @ 23/10 (bet365)Lionel Messi first goalscorer
1pt @ 4/1 (BetVictor)
Gonzalo Higuain first goalscorer
1pt @ 7/1 (Betvictor)
The Netherlands needed a penalty shootout win against Costa Rica (after an inspired goalkeeping substitution by coach, Louis van Gaal) to progress to the semi-finals, while Argentina hardly flattered in their 1-0 win over Belgium. Argentina could well be missing influential playmaker Angel di Maria to injury, but they still have enough class to make it to the final and a chance of spoiling the party for hosts Brazil, if they should make it too.
Lionel Messi has destiny in his hands if he is to help Argentina win the World Cup and cement his place as the greatest player of all time. He’s also in the running for the Golden Boot, so as well as the game going to extra time, we’re plumping on the Barcelona man scoring.
Gonzalo Higuain was our big pre-tournament each-way tip for the World Cup’s top scorer but he only opened his account in the last game. With a goal under his belt a tickle at 7/1 that he can double that tally seems a decent bet.
Lionel Messi is just two games away from football immortality. No biggie, then. (Image: AP).
World Cup Outright Bets
Progress So Far…Netherlands to Win Group B (Won)
Lowest Scoring Group: Group D (Won)Highest Scoring Group: Group F (Lost)
Golden Boot: Edin Dzeko Each-Way (Lost)
Golden Boot: Gonzalo Higuain Each-Way (Pending)
Chile to Win World Cup (Lost)England to Reach Quarter-Finals (Lost)
Argentina to Win World Cup (Pending)
England Top Scorer: Raheem Sterling (Lost)