BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview of tonight’s World Cup play-offs between Greece v Romania and Ukraine v France.
Greg is now 37.52 points in front with 23 WINNING BETS FROM 44 !!
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He now previews Greece v Romania and Ukraine v France…..
Movie Magic
Going into the Fridays four World Cup 2014 first leg Play-Offs take place around Europe and I can’t help but see a touch of theatre and movies in each riveting tie. Ukraine v France has a touch of the ‘Les Miserables’ with France going through a bit of a football French revolution-A positive one this time. Portugal v Sweden has a Rocky theme with Ronaldo in the role of ‘Rocky’ and Ibrahimavic as Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren!). Greece v Romania has a look of the Sparta story of the ‘300’ starring Gerard Butler where the more experienced warriors take on the younger enemy. Iceland v Croatia, Iceland v Croatia, Iceland v Croatia…..okay, script yet to be written!
Whilst the most appealing tie by far is the ‘Rocky’ one but for me it is hard to place a wager on a game where Portugal’s goalkeeper is making more mistakes than England’s Joe Hart and Sweden’s defence parts easier than the Red Sea. Iceland v Croatia has draw written all over it but there is a worry that Iceland could freeze and the counter attacking Croats could just nick it if Croatian gaffer Niko Kovac is prepared to risk cutting loose away from Zagreb.
Greece v Romania
This for me is a fascinating tie. Greece, European Champions 2004 , host the quick paced Romanians. Whilst it is well known that most of Europe’s countries are in some kind of economic turmoil it is old news now that Greece has been one of the worst to be hit by a downturn in fortunes. It is times like these that a country needs a lift and the whole of Greece will look to their football team to give a boost to morale in all corners of it’s ancient land. The Greeks qualified here by finishing second on goal difference to the Bosnians. There is no shame in this as firstly Bosnia have turned out to be quiet the goal scorers possessing two of the top scorers in all of the qualifiers, Edin Dzeko and Stuttgart’s Vided Ibasavic. As with Euro 2004 it is from the back that this current Greek side sees it’s main strength and though not the most prolific goal scorers they do create enough chances in every game to produce that one killer blow. Georgie Samaras is clearly a big game player and this has been proven not just with Greece but with his many forays into the Champion’s league with Celtic FC. In Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou they have a goal scorer in form at the right time. Mitroglou recently scored a hat-trick in the Champion’s League away to Anderlecht and has scored 18 goals in 18 games in all competitions this season. Greece coach Bentos has also got plenty experience (not old!) having two of the 2004 winning team to the squad. Famis Gekas probably won’t start however Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis obviously will and it is experienced heads such as his that could be the difference between winning and drawing in Athens.
Romania travel to Athens in a very difficult position mentally. They know that if they go down one nil in this fist leg then they will have a wall that even the 300 Spartans would have find difficult to break down on the return leg in Bucharest. It is not just mentally however as they have been hit by a huge injury blow to their Captain Vlad Chireches. If losing their captain is bad enough Chireches is also Romania’s number one centre back, not the type of experienced position where you want to lose a player in a trip away to the street wise Greeks. To add to their woes, it now possible that they may lose their first choice goalkeeper and whilst one would automatically think that Man City’s new first choice cat Pantilimon would be called in as back up then one would be mistaken. Romanian gaffer Piturca has instead opted for 36 year old Bogdan Lobont of AS Roma who incidently has not played a competitive game this season. If the first choice Tatasarnu does not pass the fitness test then this will be a huge boost to the Greeks and a huge blow to the visitors. Romania made it this far by qualifying second behind runaway winners Holland however had a close battle with a Turkish side in transition and a weak Hungary team. They are stepping up a level here and I believe it may be a level too much particularly in this first leg.
Ukraine v France
France are far and away the better team and squad. They’re only danger is themselves and their is a tiny chance of some of these French lads getting in a fight over some hair gel just before kick-off and the whole thing could go wrong BUT the signs lately are that this won’t happen. Didier Deschamps has inherited an incredibly gifted squad and his regular first eleven on a going day are world beaters. Their will be no treating the away first leg as going for a nil nil draw as they do not possess the players nor the know how for this tactic. If they go out and play football they way the can then the goals will come. ‘Les Bleus’ are peaking at the right time and playing some beautiful football. The revolution has begun and who knows where it will end-“Vive la France”!
Betting on BETDAQ – Greg’s Tips:
Back 2 POINTS GREECE TO WIN @ 2.08
Back 2 POINTS FRANCE TO WIN @ 2.50
BACK 1 POINT THE DOUBLE
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