Group A: Home advantage and a banana skin!
The big kick off is happening on Friday evening at 5pm GMT. After the hoopla of the opening ceremony, the focus will switch immediately to the adidas clad host nation. The Germans (BORG) will walk completely in synch to the designated touchline, all turn in unison to face their flag and stand emotionless during their national anthemn. And who will line up alongside them to test the mettle of one of Europe's footballing super-powers?
Costa Rica! Yes the might of Costa Rica. True the embarressed Scotland in 1990 by beating them one nil and setting a precedence that every other nation has followed since. But c'mon. Against the germans? Their star player is old spaghetti legs, Paulo Wanchope. The former Manchester City striker is retiring from international football after the World Cup. Despite being thoroughly erratic in front of goal, he is the Ticos' all-time leading scorer with 43 goals in 67 internationals. A word of warning to the Germans. Senegal. The 1998 World champions France were beaten 1-0 in their opening group game in 2002 by a little known African team. Liverpool the went and spent the entire Scouse slush fund on half their team. Remember Salif Diao anyone?
The Germans are far too systematic to allow an upset of Senegalese proportions. And on home soil. You can chalk this one up to a German win and we might see Miroslav Klosse take a huge step towards the top goalscorer's Golden Boot prize, but more about that tomoorrow. The Hibernian Bet is quite sure about chalking this one up as a home win.
Ireland's 100,000 strong Polish immigrant population will be knocking back their Guiness to a very handy first match up against Ecuador. Yes, Ecuador. The team that made it's world cup debut in 2002 and finished last in their group. Their star player? Well, Southampton paid £3.5m for Agustin Delgado in 2001 and just one goal in three years saw him leave on a free transfer in 2004. Ecuador's top scorer in qualifying, he is thought indispensable. They are rank outsiders at 400-1 to win the tournament. Looks like the Poles should have an easy enough start. However, and please pardon the metaphor, but this game is a potentiol banana skin. I'm thinking a score draw, with some very disappointed Poles trudging the dark streets of Dublin come ten o' clock.
So thats our first fiver out of our hundred euro betting fund. Germany to win doubled with Poland to draw. The potential return is 22 euro for a stake of 5 euro.
Tomorrow..The Golden Boot bet...
Costa Rica! Yes the might of Costa Rica. True the embarressed Scotland in 1990 by beating them one nil and setting a precedence that every other nation has followed since. But c'mon. Against the germans? Their star player is old spaghetti legs, Paulo Wanchope. The former Manchester City striker is retiring from international football after the World Cup. Despite being thoroughly erratic in front of goal, he is the Ticos' all-time leading scorer with 43 goals in 67 internationals. A word of warning to the Germans. Senegal. The 1998 World champions France were beaten 1-0 in their opening group game in 2002 by a little known African team. Liverpool the went and spent the entire Scouse slush fund on half their team. Remember Salif Diao anyone?
The Germans are far too systematic to allow an upset of Senegalese proportions. And on home soil. You can chalk this one up to a German win and we might see Miroslav Klosse take a huge step towards the top goalscorer's Golden Boot prize, but more about that tomoorrow. The Hibernian Bet is quite sure about chalking this one up as a home win.
Ireland's 100,000 strong Polish immigrant population will be knocking back their Guiness to a very handy first match up against Ecuador. Yes, Ecuador. The team that made it's world cup debut in 2002 and finished last in their group. Their star player? Well, Southampton paid £3.5m for Agustin Delgado in 2001 and just one goal in three years saw him leave on a free transfer in 2004. Ecuador's top scorer in qualifying, he is thought indispensable. They are rank outsiders at 400-1 to win the tournament. Looks like the Poles should have an easy enough start. However, and please pardon the metaphor, but this game is a potentiol banana skin. I'm thinking a score draw, with some very disappointed Poles trudging the dark streets of Dublin come ten o' clock.
So thats our first fiver out of our hundred euro betting fund. Germany to win doubled with Poland to draw. The potential return is 22 euro for a stake of 5 euro.
Tomorrow..The Golden Boot bet...
posted by Derek Keogh | 3:29 PM
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