Soccer Betting Odds & Picks

Alberto Contador Heavy Favourite In Tour de France Betting

2011-06-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

The 98th Tour de France gets underway on Saturday 2nd July, as the best cyclists in the world embark on the most prestigious event in cycling and one of the most gruelling physical and mental challenges in sport. The 2011 tour will see 198 racers cover over 3,400km in 21 stages across 23 days. It is always a popular betting market and provides a range of opportunities for punters, ranging from the Outright Winner to King of the Mountains market.

It will come as no surprise to anyone with even only a limited knowledge of cycling to learn that the three-time champion, Alberto Contador, is the major odds-on favourite, with Bet 365 pricing the defending champion at short odds of 7/10 to win what would be his third-straight title. The Spaniard is the best climber in the world and also a nifty time trialist, thus giving him a huge advantage. However, the 28-year-old has been plagued by a long on-going doping investigation, having tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France, which could prove to be a nasty distraction.

Contadors main challenge comes from Luxembourgs Andy Schleck, who has finished runner up in the past two years, and is priced at 9/1 with Bet 365 to go one step better this year. Schleck is one of the best climbers on the tour but unfortunately he is not much of a time trialist, which could be a key factor preventing him from toping the podium.

With Contador such a huge favourite, it may be best to focus on the Tour De France 2011 Odds without Alberto Contador market (see odds below). Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans have a wealth of experience and know what it takes to finish on the podium. The racers are 9/1 and 15/1 respectively to win the tour without Contador. After finishing sixth last year the young Dutchman, Robert Gesink, is definitely in with a shout as is the 40/1 the American! long sh ot Chris Horner. Horner finished in 10th place in 2010 and has had a fantastic year to 2011, winning the Tour of California ahead of Schleck.

As usual the main British hope is Bradley Wiggins. After an array of excellent performances in France two years ago he came away with an excellent 4th place overall, although he did struggle last year, finishing in a disappointing 24th place finish. Bet 365 offers odds of 14/1 on Wiggins to win the race without Contador, which is well worth a punt. Elsewhere Mark Cavendish starts as big 7/5 favourite for the green jersey.

Tour De France 2011 Outright Odds:

7/10 Alberto Contador
33/20 Andy Schleck
25/1 Ivan Basso
25/1 Bradley Wiggins
25/1 Cadel Evans
28/1 Robert Gesink
33/1 Samuel Sanchez
50/1 Frank Schleck
50/1 Jurgen Van Den Broeck
80/1 Janez Brajkovic
80/1 Christopher Horner
80/1 Levy Leipheimer
80/1 Andreas Kloden

Tour De France 2011 Odds without Alberto Contador:

4/7 Andy Schleck
9/1 Ivan Basso
13/1 Robert Gesink
14/1 Bradley Wiggins
15/1 Cadel Evans
16/1 Samuel Sanchez
18/1 Frank Schleck
22/1 Jurgen Van Den Broeck
33/1 Levy Leipheimer
40/1 Andreas Kloden

King of the Mountains Odds:

3/1 Alberto Contador
11/2 David Moncouti
11/2 Andy Schleck
7/1 Anthony Charteau
9/1 Damiano Cunego
11/1 Thomas Voeckler

Tour De France 2011 Points Classification Odds:

7/5 Mark Cavendish
7/2 Alessandro Petacchi
7/1 Phillipe Gilbert
8/1 Thor Hushovd
9/1 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil
11/1 Edvald Boasson Hagen
16/1 Tyler Farrar
22/1 Andre Greipel
33/1 Ben Swift
33/1 Mathew Goss

All odds supplied by Bet365

Sam Worthington The Warm Favourite in the Next James Bond Betting

2011-06-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

The role of James Bond is perhaps the most famous in the world of film, and the speculation about who the next actor will be to play 007 continues to build pace amid rumours that Daniel Craig will bow out after the next movie is released in 2012. Craig has been lucky enough to fill the role of James bond for the last two movies while he has signed on to star in a third which is about to go in production, it could be his last adventure as 007 though and Paddy Power have a lively market open on who they believe will step into the breach and take on the iconic role.

The name of Sam Worthington has been linked with James Bond for some time now and the Australian born Avatar actor is priced as the 5/2 favourite with Paddy Power to replace Daniel Craig and be announced as the next James Bond. Worthington is certainly an actor on the rise at the moment with his turn in Avatar winning rave reviews and he could have the ideal look for a modern and edgy Bond which is reflected in his price. His closest challenger for the role according to the betting is Tom Hardy who is a young actor on the rise, he was part of a massive smash recently when he starred in Inception and is English making him a front runner for the high profile role. His relative inexperience in a leading role may harm his chances but again he could have the ideal look making his price of 4/1 with Paddy Power a nice looking bet.

Punters wanting to take a bit more of a gamble on picking Daniel Craigs successor may want to take a closer look at Michael Fassbender who made his name recently in Inglorious Basterds, he is another up and coming star and although he is not English he did grown up in Northern Ireland which would stand him in good stead. Fa! ssbender may not be a household name just yet but his odds look attractive at 14/1 with Paddy Power, he looks to have the ideal profile for a potential Bond with his look and age seemingly ideal. Whoever takes over the role from Daniel Craig will have big boots to fill, Craig has proven a big success as 007 despite some initial doubts from the traditionalists and the powers that be will be hoping that can repeat that trick with their next selection.

Next James Bond Actor Betting with Paddy Power

5/2 Sam Worthington
4/1 Tom Hardy
8/1 Christian Bale
10/1 Will Smith
10/1 Gerard Butler
10/1 Clive Owen
12/1 Alex OLoughlin
12/1 Dougray Scott
14/1 Michael Fassbender
14/1 Orlando Bloom
14/1 Idris Elba
16/1 Henry Cavill
Bar

Betting market supplied by Paddy Power.com

River Plate relegated for the first time in history, fans riot

2011-06-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

River Plate relegated for the first time in history, fans riot

Published by adam | Filed under Football (aka soccer), Photos, Video, World News

River Plate and Belgrano faced off this weekend in a match to determine who would be relegated to the Argentinian second league. As Second Division 4th place Belgrano won 2-0 in the first-leg, River Plate had a mountain to climb to stay in the top tier. Sundays second leg 1-1 draw on the 15th anniversary of River Plates second Copa Libertadores win saw the giants relegated in a heap of tears and riots. River Plate, with a record 33 league titles was relegated in front of home fans for the first time in their 110-year history. Fans were obviously distraught and the aftermath left at least 89 people injured, 55 arrested and 15 vehicles destroyed in and around the El Monumental stadium.

The 60,000 fans in attendance showed their distaste and the referee did not even allow stoppage time to allow people to leave the mayhem. Riot control used high-powered fire hoses to try and keep fans from jumping the fence and storming the pitch. Players had to dodge a constant barrage of objects while the humiliated River Plate players had to be protected through a human shield as they waited in shame.

River Plate hooligans known as Los Borrachos del Tablon (the Drunks in the Stands), cut through the gates in the previous match and on Sunday, tested themselves against 2,200 police, the largest police force to ever patrol an Argentine football match. Fans were seen ransacking concession stands and ripping the covers from seats to use as weapons against police. Outside, cars and trash cans were set ablaze while many shops were vandalized.

Relegation has left the club in turmoil as players, coaches, and staff watch their careers collapse. Coach Juan Jose Lopez quit on Monday. The police will examine and take evidence from ! the stad ium and facilities in preparation for the Copa America, where the final is to be played in the Monumental stadium.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for River to rejoin the top flight. Considering the clubs financial difficulties and instability, it does not look like that will be happening anytime soon.

American Manager Bob Bradley on Thin Ice

2011-06-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Donovan basically told the press that hes not concerned if fans want to see the 53-year-old Bradley removed as manager. However, some players, such as goalkeeper Tim Howard, backed Bradley to the hilt and said he shouldnt be blamed for the loss to Mexico.

Donovan was left on the bench when the USA kicked off their semi-final match against Panama and he questioned Bradleys decision to the press. Donovan came on in the second half and set up the winning goal. Leaving your teams best player on the bench is all too common in soccer and Bradley is playing with fire by doing so. He would have been crucified in the press and by fans if he didnt start Donovan against Mexico and thats likely why he started the game.

The problem with Bradleys American squad at the moment is they arent playing consistent football. Theyre an exciting bunch to watch, but are quite unpredictable. Theyll need to get their act together though once World Cup 2014 qualifying starts next summer. This means Donovan and Bradley will have to be on the same page if theyre to succeed.

Donovan is seen as a team leader by the players and they think highly of his opinion. If push comes to shove between him and the coach, there will be a division in the dressing room, especially with Bradleys son Michael on the squad.

Theres no shame in losing to Mexico! , but fa ns are worried that the rest of the CONCACAF teams are getting stronger while the Americans are slipping. They point to a lost to Panama in the group stage of the Gold Cup as a perfect example of this. This could cause some huge problems in world Cup qualifying as there are only three guaranteed places up for grabs in CONCACAF with the fourth-place team having to play off against one of the South American nations.

Some fans feel Bradley will struggle in qualifying matches because he tries to protect leads instead of adding to them. This defensive approach is seen as negative and usually backfires more often than not. If Bradley is on a short leash, there are several qualified candidates to take over his job as WCBetting.com has been informed. These include Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake), Carlo Ancelotti (former Chelsea manager), Bruce Arena, (former U.S. national team manager), Marcello Lippi (Former Italian national manager), Marco Van Basten (former Holland manager) Guus Hiddink (current manager of Turkey), and Jurgen Klinsman (former manager of Germany).

American Manager Bob Bradley on Thin Ice

2011-06-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

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There are thousands of American soccer fans whod like to see the back of national team manager Bob Bradley as soon as possible. The teams star player Landon Donovan might even be one of them as he refused to back his coach publicly after losing to Mexico 4-2 in the Gold Cup Final after holding a 2-0 lead. Its no wonder that Donovan didnt back his coach after he was left on the bench in some of Americas most important games only to save their skin when coming on as a substitute. Donovan basically told the press that hes not concerned if fans want to see the 53-year-old Bradley removed as manager. However, some players, such as goalkeeper Tim Howard, backed Bradley to the hilt and said he shouldnt be blamed for the loss to Mexico.Donovan was left on the bench when the USA kicked off their semi-final match against Panama and he questioned Bradleys decision to the press. Donovan came on in the second half and set up the winning goal. Leaving your teams best player on the bench is all too common in soccer and Bradley is playing with fire by doing so. He would have been crucified in the press and by fans if he didnt start Donovan against Mexico and thats likely why he started the game.The problem with Bradleys American squad at the moment is they arent playing consistent football. Theyre an exciting bunch to watch, but are quite unpredictable. Theyll need to get their act together though once World Cup 2014 qualifying starts next summer. This means Donovan and Bradley will have to be on the same page if theyre to succeed.Donovan is seen as a team leader by the players and they think highly of his opinion. If push comes to shove between him and the coach, there will be a division in the dressing room, especially with Bradleys son Michael on the squad.Theres no shame in losing to Mexico, but fans are worried that the rest of the CONCACAF teams are getting stronger while the Americans are slipping. They point to a lost to Panama in the group stage of ! the Gold Cup as a perfect example of this. This could cause some huge problems in world Cup qualifying as there are only three guaranteed places up for grabs in CONCACAF with the fourth-place team having to play off against one of the South American nations.Some fans feel Bradley will struggle in qualifying matches because he tries to protect leads instead of adding to them. This defensive approach is seen as negative and usually backfires more often than not. If Bradley is on a short leash, there are several qualified candidates to take over his job as WCBetting.com has been informed. These include Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake), Carlo Ancelotti (former Chelsea manager), Bruce Arena, (former U.S. national team manager), Marcello Lippi (Former Italian national manager), Marco Van Basten (former Holland manager) Guus Hiddink (current manager of Turkey), and Jurgen Klinsman (former manager of Germany).

Tre Fiori Valletta 28.06

2011-06-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

*matches in all competitions
Tre Fiorilast 5 matches:
Tre Fiorilast 3 away matches:
Vallettalast 5 matches:
Vallettalast 3 away matches:
Champions League preliminaries for the 2011-2012 begin this Tuesday with San Marino champions Tre Fiori welcoming Maltas top team Valletta.
Its hard to believe that any of these teams will make it the preliminaries let alone get near the final qualifying stages. San Marinos Tre Fiori is theunderdoghere and its statistic bares little relevance here as its domestic league is ! composed of amateurs.
They managed to place 1st in the complicated model of the San Marino league winning Group B in the regular season and no less than 6 playoff rounds.
Valletta is a clear favorite for this match and of course the qualification as Maltas championship is no doubt superior to theiradversaries.
They managed to win both the Regular Season and the Championship Group comfortably to enter in this early stage of the Champions League.
My pick: Valletta to win ( over 2.5 goals )
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Germany short price favourites to win Women's World Cup

2011-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Germany short price favourites to win Women's World Cup

Host nation have won the last two tournaments and the bookies have priced a three-peat at thin odds following the opening matches.

27 Jun 2011 13:22:00

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Teams

Germany Women

Germany have cemented their status as favourites for the Women's World Cup after winning their opener against Canada.

The tournament hosts are now a short 1.75 with myBet to make it three in a row on home turf. Goals from Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi gave Germany the perfect start in front of a huge crowd in Berlin's Olympiastadion.

In Sunday's other game France (21.0) beat Nigeria 1-0 (251.0) and the action continues this week the opening group games in the 16-team tournament.

Second favourites Brazil (5.25) get their campaign on Thursday against Australia. Unlike the national men's team the Selecao have never won the Women's World Cup and lost the 2007 final to Germany.

Star player Marta has won a host of individual awards but the Brazilan ace, who has been compared to Lionel Messi, now wants the game's ultimate honour.

"I want to get a team medal, not just for me, but for the entire team, the athletes, the coaches and everyone. And for Brazil," she told the media.

Twice champions the USA have finished t! hird in the last two tournaments after lifting the World Cup in 1991 & 1999. America are still considered long shots with the bookmakers @ 6.50 to upset the German victory parade.

Women's World Cup Winner Odds (myBet.com)
Germany @ 1.75
Brazil @ 5.25
USA @ 6.50
Sweden @ 19.0
France @ 21.0
England @ 23.0
Norway @ 26.0
Japan @ 34.0
North Korea @ 34.0
Canada @ 34.0
Australia @ 101.0
Colombia @ 201.0
New Zealand @ 201.0
Mexico @ 201.0
Nigeria @ 251.0
Equatorial Guinea @ 501.0

Sign up with myBet for a free bet of up to 80

England 25/1 In 2011 Womens World Cup Betting

2011-06-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Womens World Cup got underway yesterday when hosts Germany beat Canada in front of a jam-packed crowd of 75,000. This years tournament is expected to be the biggest womens only sporting ever and as a result the bookmakers Bet365 have a couple of betting specials available for you to get involved in. If you place a pre-match Correct Score, Half-Time/Full-Time or Scorecast bet on any match and that game finishes 0-0, then Bet365 will refund all losing bets on these markets.

Germany are the hosts, holders and odds-on favourites for the tournament and with the last two World Cups and seven European Championships to their name they are certainly the team to beat. As expected the Germans got off to a winning start on Sunday after they beat Canada 2-1, courtesy of goals from Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi, with Christine Sinclair scoring a spectacular free-kick for Canada.

With odds of 9/2 with Bet365 Brazil are the second favourites in the betting. The Brazilians have surprisingly never won the Womens World Cup but they will be eager to create a new slice of history and come away from Germany victorious this time round. They have in their ranks the five-time defending FIFA Womens World Player of the Year, Marta, and are likely to avoid the fellow big guns Germany and the USA until the final.

The USA come into the tournament as the number one side in the world and third favourites at 6/1. However, they struggled to qualify for the tournament, needing to win a two-match playoff against Italy, and have suffered surprise defeats to Mexico, Sweden and England over the last 12 months. The USA have already won two World Cups (1991 and 1999) and have never finished below third place, and with a relatively easy group which includes North Korea, Columbia and Sweden, they have an excellent chance of winning their third World Cup.

Other t eams to keep an eye on include Canada and England, who both have the talent and determination to spring an upset. Canada come into the World Cup fresh off the back of winning the CONCACAF last year, which will have filled them with confidence. Canada have been drawn in arguably the most difficult qualifying group which features Germany, France and Nigeria, and must be on top form if they are to progress through to the quarter-finals.

England are available at 25/1 outsiders to win the 2011 Womens World Cup. England have a number of good players in their ranks, including veteran striker Kelly Smith, Fara Williams and Rachel Yankey. Hope Powells team know they can beat the best teams in the world following their confidence boosting win against the USA earlier this year and after an impressive qualifying campaign they will be looking to make an impact in Germany.

England have been drawn with Japan, Mexico and New Zealand in Group B. Their first game is against Mexico tonight at 5pm in Wolfsburg, and Bet365 have England as the clear 4/9 favourites to win, while Mexico are priced at 6/1 and a draw is at 10/3. Mexico upset the USA in qualifying and will definitely be a tough opening fixture. England will also have to do battle with the group favourites Japan, who are currently ranked fourth in the FIFA womens world rankings. New Zealand arent expected to pose much of a threat, and have suffered heavy defeats to both Netherlands and fellow Group B competitors Mexico in recent times.

Englands Group B matches:

Monday 27th June: v Mexico (Wolfsburg, 5pm).
July 1: v New Zealand (Dresden, 5.15pm).
July 5: v Japan (Augsburg, 5.15pm)

Womens World Cup Outright Odds

8/11 Germany
9/2 Brazil
6/1 USA
16/1 Sweden
22/1 France
25/1 England
33/1 Norway
33/1 Canada
40/1 Japan
40/1 North Korea
100/1 Australia
100/1 Mexico
200/1 New Zealand
200/1 Colombia
250/1 Nigeria
500/1 Equatorial Guinea

Group B Outright Odds

10/11 Japan
11/8 England
10/1 Mexico
14/1 New Zealand

Group C Outright Odds

8/13 USA
15/8 Sweden
15/2 Korea DPR
50/1 Columbia

Group D Outright Odds

2/5 Brazil
23/10 Norway
12/1 Australia
80/1 Equatoria Guinea

All odds supplied by Bet365

Treasure Beach Cut in St Leger Betting After Irish Derby Success

2011-06-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Aidan OBrien always has a strong hand when it comes to the classic races in the UK and Irleand and the latest star from his yard Treasure Beach could be aimed towards the St Leger following his impressive win in the Irish Derby recently. The horse ran a blinder at Epsom in the English Derby and franked that form with his win at Curragh as he finished ahead of stable mates Seville and Memphis Tennessee. The horse looked like he wanted further and the final classic of the season could now be his aim and the bookmakers agree, Boylesports have slashed Treasure Beach into 5/1 for the Doncaster race and he could prove a nice piece of value.

At this stage of the flat season attention now turns towards the St Leger at Doncater with those top class three-year-olds with an extra bit of stamina likely to be aimed towards the race in September. Aidan OBrien is always cagey about confirming future plans for his horses which is a worry for Treasure Beach fans and that looks to have been taken into account with his current price. The one the bookmakers are most wary about at this stage is Nathaniel who looks ideally suited to the trip following his recent Royal Ascot win, the John Gosden horse was second behind Treasure Beach in the Chester Vase in May and seemed to improve for that when winning the King Edward Stakes at the Royal Meeting.

The St Leger has to be the likely destination for Nathaniel and he is currently available at 3/1 with Boylesports to pick up the win at Doncaster and he could prove to be the one to beat. Another interesting contender in the St Leger Betting is the excellent Brown Panther who was also particularly impressive when winning last time out at Royal Ascot. The Tom Dascombe trained horse is a highly progressive type as he showed when winning the K! ing Geor ge V Stakes and he could be one on the upward curve, Boylesports rate the Michael Owen trained horse as potential winner of the St Leger and is priced at 7/1 to do just that.

St Leger Betting with Boylesports

3/1 Nathaniel
5/1 Treasure Beach
7/1 Brown Panther
7/1 Sea Moon
7/1 Seville
8/1 Memphis Tessessee
12/1 Fiorente
14/1 Carlton House
16/1 Recital
16/1 Solar Sky
Bar

Markets supplied by Boylesports.com

Wimbledon: Mondays Best Bets

2011-06-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

After a rain-affected first week at SW19 its down to the serious business of week 2 at the All England Club and the temperature is rising on and off the court.

All eyes will be on Andy Murray, first up on Centre Court, as he bids to secure a berth in the quarter finals. Hell have it tough against Richard Gasquet but should have enough in his locker to progress at the Frenchmans expense. Odds of 2/9 (Bet365) arent for me however.

The other big three should also make it smoothly through to Wednesday, with Nadal looking the most likely to have to go beyond three sets against Del Potro. Back him to win a four-setter at 5/2 (Bet365, Paddy Power).

Here are a few other games that catch the eye from a betting perspective

Bernard Tomic v Xavier Malisse

The young Australian has had a fantastic couple of weeks that has seen him rise to number one slot in his home country ahead of Lleyton Hewitt. Since negotiating 3 qualifying rounds hes seen off players ranked 27th, 79th and 5th in the world, not bad for an 18-year-old who came into the tournament in a lowly 158 rank himself. Its now 11 wins from 14 in a matter of weeks on the grass and his confidence must be sky-high, particularly after disposing of an admittedly under-the-weather Robin Soderling in straight sets on Friday.

His opponent Xavier Malisse also enjoyed a good first week at Wimbledon but hes been a habitual one-weeker in previous years. His semi-final appearance here in 2003 is the only time hes made it to the last 8 in a slam event and his record on the grass in London since reads like a DJ testing his mic (1, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 3).

Both men are on the cusp of one ! of their best tournament performances but Id rather be on the emerging talent of Tomic than back a player who hasnt cut here in the past.

Bernard Tomic (6/4 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes, William Hill)

Marion Bartoli v Serena Williams

Serena Williams remains my pick for the womens title but shes not had it all her own way so far. Shes dropped a set in 2 of her 3 matches to date as she feels her way back to full fitness. She remains the powerhouse that has seen her dominate this tournament along with her sister but shes far from 100%.

In Marion Bartoli she faces a former Wimbledon finalist and winner of the warm-up event at Eastbourne and if theres to be an upset in Round 4 it might just be found on COurt Number one. The Frenchwoman is 7/2 (Sportingbet) to upset the odds.

But it would be foolish to bet against either of the Williams sisters at their favourite tournament and so I expect Serena to win a tough test over three sets.

Serena Williams to win 2-1 (7/2 Sportingbet)

Wimbledon First Round Tips

Wimbledon: Day 3 Betting Tips

RPL: Dinamo Moscow v Lokomotiv Moscow

2011-06-26T11:00:00.001-07:00

Moscow derby. As far as I am concerned, I rate Dinamo much better. They haven't got the best start starting off with two defeats in the first three rounds, including a loss away at Lokomotiv, but then slowly got back to where they deserve to be and climbed up on the first four places. That they have a strong attack I think everybody knows that, but the best part is, their defence has also started doing fine. An example of great defending was their trip at Spartak last round, not allowing the home team a single real chance on goal. As for Lokomotiv, they're just too irregular and also don't have enough class to match Dinamo. Honestly, I was expecting some better performance from their side when they travelled to CSKA last round. It did not happen and it's only their name in Russian football that still makes some victims once in a while. I expekt a home win.

Bet: Dinamo Moscow -0.5 @ 2.00 188bet

Zenit Terek Grozny 26.06

2011-06-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Zenitlast 5 league matches:

Zenitlast 3 home matches:

Terek Groznylast 5 league matches:

Terek Groznylast 3 away match:

Table positions:

Zenit 2

Terek Grozny 11

Day 16 in the Russian Premier League with second spot holders Zenit St. Petersburg welcoming mid table Terek Grozny in a very important match.

Zenit has a total of 29 points so far, two below leaders CSKA Moskva that played one match less than them and two above third Rubin Kazan.

Decent results for them on home gro! und with a rather poor start as they managed 5 victories and 2 draws in all 8 played scoring 16 goals and conceding 6.

Terek Grozny no doubt the underdogs here as they are currently on the 11th spot of the table with a total of 18 points in all 16 played.

Very poor record for them in away matches with only one victory and no less than five defeats in all 8 played this season with a goal balance to match as they scored 5 and conceded 12.

My pick: Zenit to win ( over 2.5 goals )

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Spain U21 Switzerland U21 Euro final

2011-06-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

*matches in all competitions

Spain U21last 5 matches:

Switzerland U21last 5 matches:

Although favorites from the start of the Under 21 Euro competition, the Spanish team didnt have an easy ride but managed to qualify for the final where they will face Switzerland.

Spains Under 21 team finished Group B in the first place with a total of 7 points, victories against the Czech Republic andUkraineand a one all draw against England in a match they dominated from start to finish.

Their superb display of football makes them clear favorites in lifting up the trophy at the end of this match but their struggled victory over Belarus, in the semi-finals, obtained in extra-time, has showed that their offensive play can be blocked effectively.

Switzerland is a relative surprise in this Under 21 Euro final, they managed to overcome some difficult opponents such as the Czech Republic and hosts Denma! rk.

< p>As their current adversaries, they needed extra-time against the Czech Republic in the semi-finals managing the narrowest of victories to qualify. Their main advantage is their defensive strength as they conceded only one goal in all 5 matches of this final tournament.

My tip: Spain U21 to win ( under 2.5 goals )

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Betting Blog: Chelsea should have given Andre Villas-Boas a 30-year contract, beware of win to nil market plus tips

2011-06-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Betting Blog: Chelsea should have given Andre Villas-Boas a 30-year contract, beware of win to nil market plus tips

JD is pining for the good form of last month, is impressed with the latest recruit to the Stamford Bridge hotseat and doesn't think Spain will neutralise Switzerland.

By JD

24 Jun 2011 16:50:00

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Roman Abramovich, Chelsea (Getty Images)

Teams

Chelsea
Spain Under 21
Switzerland Under 21

Bring back May, that's what I say. The football season was reaching its exciting climax, champions were being crowned all over Europe and Barcelona were getting the rewards that their beauty deserves. Oh, and I was making a killing on the footy betting markets.

June has been dogged with ill luck, missed chances and a lack of consistency on my part. The weekends seem to be profitable and we landed a couple of doubles last week that paid nicely. However, midweek has been less fortunate and I will need another profitable few days to get back on track.

JD on the new Special One

For punters it has been a hive of activity in the transfer markets with ple! nty of t asty moves happening. Chelsea have landed probably the best signing of the summer by securing the services of Andre Villas Boas on a three-year contract. If it was up to me, I would have given him a 30-year contract.

This young man was born to coach and I have no doubt he will be a huge success at Stamford Bridge. A scouting report he did for his old boss Jose Mourinho has been doing the rounds on the internet and no doubt a few of you read his analysis on Chelsea - Newcastle back in 2005.

His observation and detail was incredible especially for one so young at the time. It's a fine read for anybody who has daydreams of being a coach as the Portuguese tactician dissected the Geordies with formidable insight. One amusing part was when he referred to Newcastle's then strike pairing of Michael Owen and Alan Shearer as world class which even in 2005 was pushing it a bit.

Villas-Boas' record and work to date has been exceptional. His Porto team won the whole lot last season and you can get decent prices on how successful he will be at the Bridge.

Punters can avail of evens (2.0) on Villas-Boas winning a major trophy in his first season as Chelsea manager. If Roman Abramovich's latest appointment is given the support and cash he needs to refresh the squad then that could be a fine investment. for the latest tips

Jenson Button 17/2 In European Grand Prix Betting

2011-06-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jenson Button sparked the 2011 Formula One season into life after he won a pulsating race at the Canada Grand Prix two weeks ago. The Brit had a blistering finish, catching up with the race leader Sebastian Vettel with only a few laps remaining, before forcing the young German into a rare mistake on the final lap to snatch a dramatic victory. Although Vettel still leads the overall standings by quite some margin, 60 points to be exact, Buttons win will give both himself and the other top drivers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise one sided season to date.

At 13:00 BST on Sunday 26th June the drivers will be revving up their engines as they get ready to roar into action in Valencia for the European Grand Prix. On Friday it was Mark Webber who was the quickest in the first practice. The Australian has been totally and utterly eclipsed by the exploits of his talented team mate Vettel so far, meaning he will be desperate to get a good starting place on the grid in order to have a chance of winning his first race of the season. The 34year-old can be found at 25/1 with William Hill to win Pole Position, record the Fastest Lap and finish as the Race Winner.

The Valencia street circuit may not be as glamourous as Monaco or as challenging as Montreal but it does offer some good overtaking opportunities which will make it an exciting race. Vettel will once again head into the race as the favourite, with odds of 23/20. Lewis Hamilton will be eager to put his recent controversies behind him and focus on getting his season back on track and is 7/2 to win on Sunday. At 17/2 Hamiltons McLaren team mate Button looks good value after his exploits in Montreal, while Ferraris Fernando Alonso is available at 9/2 to win his first race of 2011.

European Grand Prix Race Winner Od! ds court esy of William Hill

23/20 Sebastian Vettel
7/2 Lewis Hamilton
9/2 Fernando Alonso
15/2 Mark Webber
17/2 Jenson Button
28/1 Felipe Massa
40/1 Nico Rosberg
50/1 Vitaly Petrov
50/1 Nick Heidfeld
66/1 Michael Schumacher

All odds supplied by William Hill

McDermott : Henderson can hit the goal trail

2011-06-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Barton : Carroll will deliever

2011-06-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Who will replace Puyol at Barcelona?

2011-06-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Henrik Larsson's old club Helsingborg to beat Trelleborg in bet of the day

2011-06-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Chelsea and Andre Villas-Boas Specials with Paddy Power

2011-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since Chelsea ruthlessly axed Carlo Ancelotti in the aftermath of their final game of the 2010/11 season there has been a media frenzy concerning the identity of their new manager. With Guus Hiddink the obvious favourite since betting commenced, it came as a surprise earlier this week when Andre Villas-Boass name was re-entered into the ballot. Yesterday Chelsea put an end to heavy speculation by appointing the 33-year-old as Ancelottis replacement, and as a result Paddy Power have an array of cracking Chelsea and Villas-Boas betting specials for the 2011/12 season, in what promises to be yet another entertaining year at Stamford Bridge.

After what happened to Ancelotti at the end of the previous campaign, following his failure to win any silverware, there will be heaps of pressure on Villas-Boas to win at least one trophy this season for which he has odds of evens. The former Porto boss has already displayed his confidence by stating that he is targeting the quadruple in his very first season in change, a bold and perhaps erratic statement that he will surely regret come Mayproviding he lasts that long. As we know football is an unpredictable game and virtually anything can happen in the next 12 monthsfor instance can Chelsea do the unthinkable and win the Premier League, Champions League, Carling Cup and FA Cup at odds of 350/1? Unlikely but possible.

As the whole of the football world is aware, Roman Abramovich is absolutely obsessed with winning the Champions League, which is something that has so far eluded six different managers during the Russians time at the club. Paddy Power currently have Villas-Boas at 2/1 to win the lucrative European competition in his first season with the club. If the ambitious amongst you are feeling particularly inspired by his appointment then you can back Chelsea to match the famous M! ancheste r United treble winning season of 1998/99 by placing a bet on the Blues to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup this upcoming season at odds of 100/1.

There has already been much talk on which team will inflict the first league defeat of the Villas Boas reign. The Portuguese manager has been dealt a potentially tricky first game away to Stoke City, and the Potters may be a good bet at 7/2 to deliver that first defeat on Chelseas new boss. In their following three games West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland are unlikely to pose too many problems but then on 17th September Chelsea have a crunch match with Manchester United at Old Trafford, which will be huge indicator of how they are progressing under their new boss.

Chelsea & Andres Villas-Boas Specials with Paddy Power

Evens Villas-Boas to win a major trophy in his first season as Chelsea manager
2/1 Villas-Boas to win the Champions League as Chelsea manager

Villas-Boas First League Loss: (Applies to Chelseas First Premier League loss of the season)

15/8 Man Utd
7/2 Stoke City
11/2 Sunderland
14/1 West Brom
16/1 Arsenal
16/1 Bolton
22/1 Everton
25/1 QPR
40/1 Norwich

50/1

10/3 To be Unbeaten at end of October

Villas-Boas 2011/12 League Losses: (Applies to number of Chelseas Premier League defeats in 2011/12 season with Villas-Boas as manager)

Evens Exactly 4, 5 or 6
3/1 Exactly 1, 2 or 3
2/1 Exactly 7, 8 or 9
18/1 10 or more
50/1 None

Chelsea Multiple Trophies:

8/11 No Trophies
16/1 Premier League & FA Cup
18/1 Premier League & Carling Cup
22/1 Premier League & Champions League
25/1 FA Cup & Carling Cup
40/1 Champions League & FA Cup
40/1 Champions League & Carling Cup
100/1 Premier League & FA Cup & Carling Cup
100/1 Premier League & Champions League & FA Cup
125/1 Premier League & Champions League & Carling Cup
250/1 Champions League & FA Cup & Carling Cup
350/1 Premier League & Champions League & Carling Cup & FA Cup

All odds supplied by Paddy Power

Luka Modric Likely To Stay Put But Parker, Rodwell, Nasri And Cahill All On The Move

2011-06-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

The big transfer story of the week has of course been Luka Modric and his potential move to Chelsea but the latest summer transfer window odds suggest there may be no deal as far as the Croatian is concerned. There are however many other transfers that should be taking place soon according to the bookies odds.

Luka Modric is currently odds on to stay with Spurs following a strongly worded statement from chairman Daniel Levy saying that the midfielder would not be sold at any price. That means he is now 4/5 to remain with Spurs and out to 11/10 to join Chelsea, although any potential move would then leave egg on the face of Levy. Man Utd are unlikely to drop their pursuit of the playmaker but they have fallen behind in the pecking order, they are now 6/1 to sign Modric this summer.

If Modric does go to Chelsea then it seems highly likely he will be replaced by Scott Parker, the West Ham midfielder is almost certain to leave Upton Park this summer and he is just 2/9 to link up with Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane. If that is the case and Man Utd have missed out on Modric then they should turn their attentions to Jack Rodwell and Samir Nasri, Rodwell is just 11/10 to join Man Utd this summer (Spurs are second favourites at 5/1) whilst Samir Nasri is just 4/9 to be playing at Old Trafford this season and that transfer looks very likely.

Another big player on the move this summer is likely to be Boltons Gary Cahill. Trotters boss Owen Coyle has admitted that the England international will leave the Reebok Stadium if the right offer comes in and it appears Liverpool could be making a move, they have been cut to 9/2 to sign Cahill from 10/1. Arsenal are still favourites but they have drifted out to 5/6 whilst Man City are 2/1 and Tottenham are 4/1.

You can find the latest news and odds on the summer transfer rumours by visiting OLBG.com and pick up some free bets while youre at it.

Wimbledon Day 4 Tips

2011-06-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Venus Williams struggled past Kimiko Date-Krumm, the 40 year old Japanese player was desperately unlucky to lose out on centre court. Five time champion Williams started the tournament as third favourite but has now dropped behind Petra Kvitova (8/1, Sportingbet) in the betting at 19/2 with Betfair.

Elsewhere there was a welcome win for Brit Laura Robson who played some emphatic forehands to come from a set down to progress, she remains a long shot at a massive 1999/1 with unibet as she will meet 4/1 favourite Maria Sharapova in the next round.

In the mens draw, Nadal, Roddick and Murray made it through to the third round in convincing straight set wins but Del Potro fell a set behind in his match with Belgian Olivier Rochus. The Argentine was fifth favourite before the tournament kicked off but went down in the tiebreak before the match was suspended for the day. He remains strong a good bet to progress though at 1/3 with Bet365.

Here are a few others to look out for on day four.

Robin Soderling v Leyton Hewitt (Soderling to win at 4/11 with Blue Sq)

The opener on centre court should not daunt either player, but Soderling should be much stronger. Hewitt has lost the zip which led him to the title in 2002 and is carrying a foot injury. He managed to get through his first round with Nishikori which was somewhat of a surprise but the inexperience of the Japanese star is no match for Soderling.

The Swede is a commanding figure on court at 6 ft 4 and at 5th in the world is a whole 125 places above Hewitt in the ATP rankings. Only! Djokovi c, Nadal and Del Potro have got the better of Soderling in the last five tournaments and it is highly unlikely Hewitt will add to that list.

John Isner v Nicolas Almagro (Isner to win at 1/2 with Sportingbet)

Isner made sure there was no repeat of the longest match in tennis history with a much quicker straight set win over Mahut in the first round and with his huge serve will expect another victory over clay court specialist Almagro.

The Spaniard is uncomfortable on grass and lost his only previous match on the surface this year to Berrer and has exited Wimbledon at the first round on three out of
five occasions. In the unchartered territory of the second big serving, 6 ft 9 Isner will be a challenge too big.

Maria Kirilenko v Tamarine Tanasugarn (Kirilenko to win at 5/6 with Skybet)

Both came through their first round matches in straight sets but Kirilenko looks the better to progress to the next stage. Previous to her first round win over 123rd ranked Yaroslave Shvetova, Tanasugarn had lost in the first round in straight sets in her last two Wimbledon appearances.

Kirilenko is in good form, the Russian narrowly missed out on a quarter final at Roland Garros in a three-setter with Andrea Petkovic and her current ranking at 27th in the world shows her superiority. A 2-0 set win for Kirilenko may well be on the cards and the odds are good at 15/8 with Skybet.

European Under 21 Championship Semi-Final: Switzerland v Czech Republic Match Report

2011-06-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Carlton House And The Queen Going For Irish Derby Success After Epsom Failure

2011-06-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

All the talk leading into the recent Epsom Derby was about whether or not the Queen would have the winner, Carlton House entered the race as the warm favourite but he could only manage third place behind eventual winner Pour Moi from France. Her Majesty will have been disappointed with that run at Epsom but Carlton House has another chance at glory this weekend as he heads across the water to take in the Irish Derby at the Curragh, the horse has been left in the race at this stage and is expected to take his chance on Sunday for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

There was a feeling at Epsom that Carlton was hampered going around Tatnam Corner and although he made up ground on the leaders he was left too much to do in the end, with that in mind Paddy Power have forgiven the run and installed the horse as the 5/4 favorite for the Curragh race. Carlton House is not a definite starter and with a raft of Aidan OBrien horses set to run it looks a competitive renewal this season, OBrien and the Ballydoyle team have won the race for the past five years and they have a number of contenders as they go for a sixth straight win.

The most obvious candidate for Aidan OBrien in the betting is Treasure Beach who was one place in front of Carlton House at the Epsom Derby, the horse went so close to winning the race and punters wanting to back him to go one better at the Curragh can get a price of 3/1 with Paddy Power. Prior to Epsom it was assumed that another OBrien trained horse Seville was the superior type to Treasure Beach but he was beaten soundly by his stable mate that day, he could bounce back at the Curragh though and is priced accordingly at 6/1 with Paddy Power! .com . Seville has good form behind Carlton House from the Dante Stakes back in May and with the addition of Treasure Beach it looks a fascinating betting race for punters this weekend.

Irish Derby Odds 2011 with Paddy Power

5/4 Carlton House
3/1 Treasure Beach
6/1 Seville
9/1 Native Khan
12/1 Roderic OConnor
12/1 Memphis Tennessee
20/1 Dunboyne Express
25/1 Notable Graduate
33/1 Best Hello

All markets supplied by Paddy Power

RPL: Amkar v Nalchik

2011-06-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like standing/results speak in this case as bookies/general opinion tend to enjoy Amkar's recent results while Nalchik's overall situation doesn't seem very bright. In my opinion, Nalchik are a better team. Even if they seem to have lost their focus from last season, they're still better especially in attack. Amkar will typically close the play and try to exploit their home advantage playing tight defence and hoping for the "wonder" goal to come, but they have the worst attack in the league in my opinion, and -0.5 looks too "aggresive" and not justified either. Nalchik are not in a good situation as they stand rock bottom with one win on board only, so they really can't afford to lose this one. They have the class and motivation to pick up a result today, and unless a bad day, I just don't see them ending up defeated against an impotent team such as Amkar.

Bet: Nalchik +0.5 @ 1.97 IBC

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River Plate relegated for the first time in history, fans riot

River Plate relegated for the first time in history, fans riot

Published by adam | Filed under Football (aka soccer), Photos, Video, World News

American Manager Bob Bradley on Thin Ice

American Manager Bob Bradley on Thin Ice

Tre Fiori Valletta 28.06

Germany short price favourites to win Women's World Cup

Germany short price favourites to win Women's World Cup

Host nation have won the last two tournaments and the bookies have priced a three-peat at thin odds following the opening matches.

27 Jun 2011 13:22:00

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Jenson Button 17/2 In European Grand Prix Betting

McDermott : Henderson can hit the goal trail

Barton : Carroll will deliever

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Henrik Larsson's old club Helsingborg to beat Trelleborg in bet of the day

Chelsea and Andre Villas-Boas Specials with Paddy Power

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Wimbledon Day 4 Tips

Robin Soderling v Leyton Hewitt (Soderling to win at 4/11 with Blue Sq)

John Isner v Nicolas Almagro (Isner to win at 1/2 with Sportingbet)

Maria Kirilenko v Tamarine Tanasugarn (Kirilenko to win at 5/6 with Skybet)

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European Under 21 Championship Semi-Final: Switzerland v Czech Republic Match Report

Carlton House And The Queen Going For Irish Derby Success After Epsom Failure

RPL: Amkar v Nalchik