Month: July 2024

Cracking match in Hamburg, the winner will face Germany or Spain in Semi final.

Two wins and a loss in the group stage gave Portugal top spot. They beat Turkiye and Czechia but lost to Georgia in a shock. Last round became the Ronaldo show as he overshadowed his teammates in a dire 0-0 draw. Diego Costa the hero in penalty shoot out against Slovenia. France have also underwhelmed so far. One win and two draws in group saw them finish 2^nd behind Austria. The sneaked past an awful Belgium side 1-0 in R16. Again, not very fluid or even attacking well.

Team news: No problems for Portugal but after 120 minutes on Monday there could be some rotation. Adrien Rabiot is suspended for France. Kingsley Coman is possibly doubtful too.

Head-to-head statistics: 8 games 1 wins Portugal, 2 draws and 6 wins France

Betting selection – Close game this and hopefully Ronaldo doesn’t diminish his team mates again like last round. France so far boring and hard to watch. Take Portugal qualify at 2.375 or 11-8 Betfair.

Berlin for the game of the competition so far. A Semi Final position awaits the winner.

Perfect record for Spain with 4 wins from 4. Topped the group without conceding by beating Italy, Croatia and Albania. They beat Georgia 4-1 in R16 in a very controlled but positive way. Germany have three wins and 1 draw so far. Beat Scotland and Hungary with ease but struggled slightly against Switzerland. Their R16 game was a straightforward 2-0 win over Denmark.

Team news: Nacho is back fit for Spain but not likely to start. Jonathan Tah is available after suspension for Germany.

Head-to-head statistics: 8 games 3 wins Spain, 4 draws and 1 wins Germany.

Betting selection – Unreal game this one and too close to call for sure. Could even be penalties to separate them. I take Draw at 3.20 or 11-5 Betfair.

League of Ireland against and bottom v top at Hunky Dory Park in Drogheda.

Drogheda are in bottom place with 16 points from 22 games. Overall form is 3 wins, 7 draws and 12 losses. Home form is 3 wins, 4 draws and   4 losses. Recent form reads a winless run of 8 games with 2 draws and 6 losses going back to early May. Shelbourne are top of the pile with 46 points from 23 games. Season record of 13 wins, 7 draws and 3 losses. Away form is 6 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Recent run of form of 6 wins and 1 loss.

Team news: Striker Perriot is suspended while Bawa, Deegan and McNally are injured. Shelbourne have no issues.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games 4 wins Drogheda, 7 draws and 9 wins Shelbourne

Betting selection – Prices seem great value on Shelbourne – one of the only attacking threats for home side Perriot out so a bonus. Take Shelbourne win at 1.83 or 5-6 Betfair

First knockout stage match of Copa America and favourites Argentina take on Ecuador.

Argentina won all three group games without conceding. Beating Canada, Peru and Chile. That takes their recent all competition form to 8 wins from 8 matches (17 scored and 2 conceded) Ecuador finished 2^nd in their group behind surprise winners Venezuela but in front of Mexico and Jamaica. Thet beat Jamaica, drew with Mexico and lost to Venezuela. That takes their recent record to 5 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses.

Team news: Messi was rested last match as were a few other top players so they should be fresh here. No injury worries for them. Ecuador have no issues either.

Head-to-head statistics: 17 games 9 wins Argentina, 5 draws and 3 wins Ecuador.

Betting selection – No extra time in QF or SF so draw is a possibility as Ecuador will try and shut up shop like the Mexico game. I take Argentina win to nil at 2.00 or Evens Betfair.

US MLS on Wednesday night and Lower.com Field.

Colombus are 7^th in overall table with 33 points from 18 games. Overall form is 9 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses. Home form of 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss. Recent form is 4 wins and 2 losses. Nashville are 7 points behind the home side with 2 games more played. Overall form is 6 wins, 8 draws and 6 losses.  Away form of 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses. Recent form is 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses.

Team news: Jacen Russell-Rowe is away with Canada. Nashville lose Moore, Godoy and Shaffelberg to international duty.

Head-to-head statistics: 8 games 3 wins Colombus, 3 draws and 2 wins Nashville.

Betting selection – A lot of games in hand Columbus and with Nashville losing 3 internationals a great opportunity for three points. Columbus Crew -1.25 at 1.93

Norway Eliteserien at Komplett Arena as Sandefjord and Tromso meet up.

Sandefjord are in bottom place with just 9 points from 12 games. Overall form is 2 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses. Home form of 2 wins and 3 losses. Recent all comp form is 2 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses. Tromso are only 1 point ahead of home side. Overall form is 3 wins, 1 draw and 8 losses. Away form is winless and 1 draw and 3 losses. Recent form is 4 wins, 1 d raw and 3 losses.

Team news: Nilsson and Tibell unavialble for home side while Koskela and Erlien are out for Tromso.

Head-to-head statistics: 19 games 5 wins Sandefjord, 8 draws and 6 wins Tromso

Betting selection – Two sides out of form but at least some home form for Sandefjord – take Sandefjord draw no bet at 1.75 or 3-4 Unibet.

Not a match up many imagined but intriguing none the less.

Austria topped Group D ahead of France and Netherlands and deservedly so. They beat Poland and Netherlands scoring 3 in each game and only lost 1-0 to France due to an unlucky own goal. Turkey finished 2nd in group F with 2 wins and 1 loss. Beating Georgia and Czechia but losing to Portugal.

Team news: Suspension takes winger Patrick Wimmer. Two huge losses for Turkey who miss skipper Hakan Calhanoglu and CB Samet Akaydin.

Head-to-head statistics: 6 games 2 wins Austria, 1 draw and 3 wins Turkey

Betting selection – Fully fit Turkey would have been a match for Austria but without Calhanoglu they drop down a few levels. Take Austria win at 2.00

Munich and another surprise r16 match up as Romania made it through to face Netherlands.

Romania topped group E with 4 points as all teams dead heated with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. They beat Ukraine 3-0 drew with Slovakia 1-1 and lost to Belgium 2-0. Netherlands ended up 3^rd in a tough group but gained 4 points also. Beating Poland drawing with France and losing to Austria.

Team news: Suspension takes Nicusor Bancu but Razvan Marin is fit. Joshua Zirkzee if fit for Netherlands.

Head-to-head statistics: 8 games 1 wins Romania, 1 draw and 6 wins Netherlands.

Betting selection – Has not been many goals at KO stages but I see so in this one – Two sides not firing on all cylinders but goals. Take over 2.50 goals at 1.83 or 5-6 Betfair.