The vuvuzelas will be buzzing their last in the Group stage of the 2010 World Cup very shortly. Unfortunately, they'll probably just go on to buzz throughout the Round of 16, starting in 3 days time! At least that means there are far fewer matches to catch up with, and we have more opportunity to get emotionally involved with the upcoming matches, and far more sleep. Here are the expectations from 3 of the fascinating or home-grown matches in the last 3 days of the World Cup soccer Group Stage.   

 

Match of the Day June 23^rd : Australia vs Serbia

The Aussies haven't before met the Serbians in a World Cup match, and given that some betting agencies are putting the Aussies odds of winning at better than the Serbs, there'll be some hope here.  

 

Top match comment:

"Serbia has an awesome defence and nicely proportioned attacking force. Australia is a tough opponent, though their team is very old and not competent to make the same miracle as 4 years ago."

 

Betting odds(to win the Cup):

Australia: 3.3 - 4.6

Serbia: 1.8 - 2.0

Draw: 3.2 - 3.8

 

Match of the Day June 24^th : Denmark vs Japan

Another fascinating match coming up today ... Denmark and Japan are pretty much even in the bookies' opinions, they don't have a World Cup record to taint our opinions, and both have lost at least two out of their last 3 matches. Neither side might be going through - but this will still be fascinating to watch!

 

Top match comment:

"1-0 for Japan on this one. It may be a little harder than the Cameroon match but I'm sure the Samurai Blue's got this one"

 

Betting odds:

Denmark: 2 - 2.28

Japan: 3 - 3.75

Draw: 3.05 - 3.45

 

Match of the Day June 25^th : Portugal vs Brazil

Both Portugal and Brazil are coming off the backs of quite a few wins into this, one of the last matches of the Group Stage. It's likely that whichever way this match goes, both teams will advance ... so you'll always be rooting for a winner. Chgeck the odds if you're looking to be a winner though!

 

Top match comment:

"It was a bad idea to pair up these two teams. One mother, the other their child. Nevertheless, both will play so damn well!"

 

Betting odds:

Portugal: 3.5 - 4

Brazil: 1.8 - 2.38

Draw: 2.75 - 3.3

 

 

 

We have settled into the swing of the World Cup now ... re-learned how to program the DVD recorder so that we don't have to get up at 4am, and learned to mute the insane buzzing noise of the vuvuzela and re-familiarised ourselves with the competition format and progression rules. We've had a few surprises, upsets and controversial results in the second week of the World Cup's group stage - here's an overview of what's happened, and what is to come.

 Punters' Cup

There have been a couple of subtle changes in World Cup betting odds based on the outcomes of the Group Stage matches so far ... subtle, but telling! Here's how the only numbers that matter are currently looking:

• Spain are no longer clear favourites - they are currently placed pretty evenly along with Argentina and Brazil at around 5.50 - 6.0
• North Korea is now the only team with odds above 1501.0 ... some places are offering 2001.0 to 1
• Australia's odds have lengthened to around 750 at most betting centres, although some sports books are still offering 101.0
• Two of the biggest teams that are actually seen to be living up to expectations are Argentina and Holland ... hint, hint!

 Reporter's Cup

Wooo ... people are getting angry at some of the controversial and disappointing occurrences in the World Cup! Here's what they're reporting:

• Many Tweeters are reporting the vuvuzela has been banned. Not yet ... they are just trying to get you to click their links. Don't fall for it!
• The referee in the recent US-Slovenia match that failed to award a goal to the US where many feel it was due is likely to be dropped by FIFA for the remainder of the tournament ... although there is no recourse for the US.
• Patrice Evra,  the captain of the French team, described their 2-0 loss to Mexico as a 'punch that we never saw coming'. Nicolas Anelka has been discharged from the French team after making, and then refusing to apologise for, a massive verbal rant at the Mexican captain.
• The final round of World Cup group stage matches is considered at highest risk of match fixing, and will be scrutinised by FIFA.

 

Tweeter's Cup

Since I don't speak Spanish, Italian, French or Japanese, I can't guarantee that these are the funniest, most relevant and thought-provoking World Cup tweets available. But they would have to come close...

~~~ patsch06 RT @Rove1974: Why can't we just win? Now I have to use maths to work out if we can make it or not. Maths! This is sport for crying out loud! #worldcup

~~~  _ abeer61aj RT @theunlikelyfan: I am the guy at the barbecue/party forcing you to talk about the #WorldCup. Three more weeks is all I ask. Shhhhhh. Just give me this.

~~~ ScoreHints #WorldCup #Sweden Only want to watch the delayed telecast if your team wins? WWW.SCOREHINTS.COM

~~~ serenosaur Will probably miss #worldcup tomorrow due to #warriordash! I can't wait to get my viking hat! >:D

 

 

 

 

We're certainly in the thick of Cup fever now ... holed up under blankets on the couch, awake at all hours of the night, and with a massive fever ... a fever which comes from getting hot under the collar yelling at the television, anyway! Today we check out some of the highlights of the next 3 days matches, and make some bold (and some not very bold!) predictions.

 

Match of the Day June 20^th: Italy vs New Zealand

These two teams have met only once before and it was actually a pretty close match ... Italy scored 4 goals, but New Zealand scored 3. Barrack for them today - it may well make a difference!

 

Top match comment:

"I think Italy will come on to the pitch overly confident and be struck by an amazing kiwi team out of nowhere 2-1 to kiwis!"

 

Betting odds:

Italy: 12.0 - 19.0

New Zealand: 1001.0 - 2001.0

 

Match of the Day June 21^st: Portugal vs North Korea

In a match with similar history to the Italy-New Zealand lineup above, these two team have met before in a relatively close matchup - but have a massive disparity in odds. Ronaldo's telling everyone not to count Portugal out ... but we feel betting on this World Cup match could just be a great investment!

 

Top match comment:

" The return of 1966 World Cup."

 

Betting odds:

Portugal: 26.0 - 29.0

North Korea: 1001.0 - 2001.0

 

Match of the Day June 22^nd : France vs South Africa

France has won two of the matchups for this pair, with one left over as a draw. However, South Africa has that home court advantage, have won 3 of their last games and are riding on adrenaline...

 

Top match comment:

"Watch S. Africa win this one... I expect S. Africa to advance to the round of 16. France... WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!?"

 

Betting odds:

France: 15.0 - 29.0

South Africa: 126.0 - 151.0

 

 

 

 

We're only a few days into the World Cup ... and for those that pay no attention to any country apart from Australia, we're about 72 hours into it!  The Group Stage really is action-packed, with 3 games per day for the first two busy weeks. Today we check out some of the interesting upcoming matches from June 16^th onwards.

 

Match of the Day June 16^th: Spain vs Switzerland

A 15 to nil record in favour of France makes this a pretty certain sort of match.  These teams have drawn three times though, and Switzerland has scored 15 goals to Spain's 45 - so should at least be interesting to watch.

 

Top match comment:

" The Swiss will not be happy to have to play such a great team in their first game and will lose my a large margin. They may also find the nice hot weather a bit hard to handle."

 

Betting odds:

Spain: 4.50 - 5.50

Switzerland: 151.0 - 301.0

 

Match of the Day June 17^th: France vs Mexico

Their head to head record is again pretty one-sided - France has recorded 5 wins in men's A series over Mexico and one draw, with a total of 15 French goals to 4 Mexican. Youch! However, Mexico is coming off the back of 2 wins and a draw, while France's last two matches have been a loss and a draw. What do the punters think?

 

Top match comment:

" France really need to get the tactics right this time. If we can take our chances more in this game, a bit more clinical finishing, and do not start with Govou, then we can definitely win the game."

 

Betting odds:

France: 15.0 - 29.0

Mexico: 67.0 - 101.0

 

Match of the Day June 18^th: England vs Algeria

England is coming off the back of two wins and a draw, with Algeria coming off the back of 3 losses. England are confident ... perhaps too confident?

 

Top match comment:

" England WILL win provided our strikers do not go on an 86 minute fag- break again. Rob Green will not concede."

 

Betting odds:

England: 6.50 - 10.0

Algeria: 301.0 - 2001.0

 

Match of the Day June 19^th: Ghana vs Australia

The Aussies are a lot more hopeful than they were against Germany, but there are plenty of voices out there warning not to underestimate Ghana...

 

Top match comment:

"Angry, yes. Determined, yes. But Aus had never been much of a goalscorer and with only two strikers that won't change."

 

Betting odds:

Ghana: 67.0 - 81.0

Australia: 101.0 - 401.0

 

 

 

 

 

There have been a lot of people in one the Indo-Pacific side of the globe waving the flag for the World Cup at all hours of the night this week. The first days of the World Cup are always a little messy, always filled with emotion across the globe as early exists are made to the tune of the zuzuvela. Here's a quick rundown of World Cup basics for the first week.  

 

 

'Cotelindae Africanus'

 

Punters' Cup

Finally, the only part of the World Cup that most of us can actually get physically involved in! The bookies opinions are precious in themselves ... not least because they show at least five teams placed well below Australia in the rankings. Phew! You can check out the entire World Cup betting odds listing for a more comprehensive view - here are the highlights:

• Spain, Holland, England, Brazil and Argentina are all placed below the 10.0 mark
• Spain are the current favourites, with odds of 4.75 at most World Cup betting centres
• Algeria, New Zealand and North Korea are the worst-placed teams (or perhaps the best, in the event of a mass fireball that takes out all European and South American teams...), with odds of over 2000 to 1.
• Australia's odds are around 401 at most betting centres. That puts us higher than the teams listed above, as well as Greece and Honduras. But that's about all...

 

Reporter's Cup

At this busy stage of the World Cup there's a lot to report! Here are some of the highlights:

• People are loving the official World Cup 2010 theme song ... 'so much better than Shakira' and 'much more inspirational than that horrible, nightmarish 'Tubthumping' have been some comments observed on Youtube. Just sayin...
• The vuvuzelas, those deafening, horrible plastic horns that have dominated this World Cup, have been tested at 127 decibels. Exposure to noise levels over 100 decibels foor more than 15 minutes causes hearing damage. You can also download a less noisy iPhone app mimicking the sound though.
• Tin Cahill was reported as being 'a mask of raw emotion and his eyes welling with anguish' after learning that he'll possibly be suspended for the rest of the Group D stage.
• The media has been just as harsh on the Australian team's performance in general. Won’t stop millions of us watching or betting on the World Cup, though!
• Jong Tae Se, a North Korean soccer star known as 'The People's Rooney', is being touted as making North Korea an outside chance to advance in the World Cup. So, a bet on one of the 2001.0 odds teams may end up paying off ... ?

 

Tweeter's Cup

Wow ... the World Cup is a truly global effort, not just in terms of football, but also in terms of Tweeting! Just type #worldcup into Twitter, wait a few minutes and watch the 'Tweets since you started searching' build up. Here's a very recent selection!

 

~~~ phetched Maybe these goalies would be better at catching the ball if they weren't wearing Hamburger Helper hands. Just sayin'. #worldcup #noodles

~~~  _witt Even I can score more than Aus #worldcup

~~~ NielsDC I only just now realized that a soccer ball magically appears next to the #worldcup hashtag  (Small things...)

~~~ manny_miles #WorldCup Hack: A Simple Fix to Eliminate That Annoying Vuvuzela Horn - http://is.gd/cPs69 via @Alyssa_Milano, others..

 

UEFA is starting to get mighty interesting! We saw a couple of upsets last week, with both Chelsea and Sevilla ousted from entering the finals by the underdogs. The lesson: don't be afraid of long odds! When all it takes is one goal, anything can happen. Today we check out the past weeks' matches.

 

The Matches

We can't look forward today - the quarter finals draw will occur sometime in the next 24 hours. Here's the base results from last weeks matches, though - including a couple of surprises!

Sevilla	1-2		CSKA Moskva
Chelsea	0-1		Internazionale
Barcelona		4-0		Stuttgart
Bordeaux		2-1		Olympiacos

 

 

The Odds

As far as a bookmaker's estimation of their chances, the remaining teams are fairly evenly matched. Here's the payouts for different teams, after the Group phase has finished:

• Barcelona, Inter Milan and Man U are the top three favourites, with odds ranging from 2.88 to 5.5
• CSKA Movska and Girondins Bordeaux are considered the longest shots, at 34.00 and 19.00 respectively
• Keep your eye on Arsenal and Bayern Munich, at 7.00 and 11.00 respectively.

 

The Gossip of Champions

The side conversations, the speculation and the general beer-lubricated gossip that goes on amongst soccer players!

• Laurent Blanc, the manager of Bordeaux, realises that his team is considered the 'easy win' in the quarter finals, admitting that there are seven teams that are hoping they draw Les Girondins
• In typical exaggerated soccer-player style, Andres Palop has said he is 'living the worst moment of his career' after missing a shot that cost Sevilla (Tuesday's favourites) the match
• Sky Sports will run live coverage of the draw for the quarter finals on Friday.

 

The League of Tweeters

With the next matchups not yet finalised, the Twittersphere has been all about the last week's four matches. Here's what they have to say - at least, what those who Tweet in English have to say!

 

--- MikeyMMA: Think if I was rafa benetiz I'd be concentrating more on qualifying for the champions league than winning the Uefa Cup

--- UCL_Soccer Barca: back on track in Europe after easy win: Real proved that their painful exit from the Champions

--- maljal: So much soccer on today! I have really missed my afternoons of champions league. Thank god for UEFA Europa League.

--- GHoonyToon: HAHAHA, sorry Chelsea fans,but it looks like another Barcelona year in the UEFA Champions League...BARCA BARCA BARCA ALL DAY!!!