Cristiano Ronaldo or the European Champion

            Both yesterday’s matches from World Cup have finished without any surprise, Brazil defeating Chile 3-0, just Robinho and Luis Fabiano scoring one goal each as I have anticipated, while Netherlands won easier then the score shows Slovakia with 2-1. Thus, besides the huge favorites’ wins, there have been confirmed my over 2.5 recommendations in both cases. At Wimbledon, I was surprised by Novak Djokovic’s and Kim Clijsters’ wins against 2 really tough opponents, the Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Justine Henin. Only Serena Williams has confirmed, defeating in straight sets Maria Sharapova.

            In first match of the day Paraguay meets Japan in the Round of 16 of the World Cup. After 4 matches in a row with at least 3 goals scored in the Round of 16 and only one match of the 6 played so far has finished with less than 3 goals scored, it is time to watch again a closed match, which doesn’t promise to be very spectacular and I am looking forward to both teams being very cautious, the most important thing being not to risk anything, because in a eliminatory game just one mistake in defense can be deadly and sending the team with the mistake home. Paraguay has got a very solid defense, but which won’t be pushed too much because the Japanese players will play overcrowded in defense and they will try only on counterattacks to surprise the South Americans. Paraguay didn’t succeed to score against New Zealand in last match, what makes me think they will face problems today too against the ambitious Japanese team.

            In the last match from Round of 16 the Iberian Peninsula rivals will faces each other, Spain and Portugal. The quality difference between the 2 teams is quite obvious in the European Champions’ favor, which have got a united team, a lot of confidence and a very spectacular combinative game. Portugal has got a few very good quality players, passing quite well and will be very motivated against the Spanish rivals, having additionally an important advantage, one of the best football players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. About Ronaldo it was said many times that in the most important matches he doesn’t prove exactly his quality, being scared of the huge stake and that he wouldn’t have a champion’s character, who exactly in those matches plays at the best level. At this tournament he is still indebted, not succeeding to prove completely his qualities. Portugal plays very careful in defense in this kind of matches, even with the price of a tougher game and many yellow cards, while the Spaniards, though they have showed here and there a good quality football, they haven’t been very efficient in front of the opponents’ goal, succeeding to score only 4 times in 3 matches against quite easy opponents. Spain looks to be far from their 2 years ago form, when they have won the European Championship, and even if they will win today, it won’t be more than 1-0 or 2-0. Anyway, the bet which I am recommending you is Under 2.5 in this case too.

            At All England Club it will be played the quarter finals in the women competition. Surely the hugest surprise match at this stage of the competition is between Kaia Kanepi and Petra Kvitova. The Estonian Kanepi is more experienced, comes from the qualification rounds and has as advantage the head to head meetings record. Her game is very solid on grass, impressing through the easiness with which she has defeated her opponents on the road to the quarter final. Kanepi will be the only surprise player in Wimbledon’s semifinals, thus I am recommending you to bet confidently on her. In the other 3 quarter finals matches I believe the winners are obvious, Kim Clijsters and Williams sisters will qualify further if things will run in normal conditions, myself predicting already from the beginning a Williams sisters final, which now is looking almost inevitable. However the quarter finals sisters’ matches look much more balanced than the odds settled by bookmakers, thus I am recommending you to bet on Na Li to keep Serena on the court at least 20 games, and also on Bulgarian Pironkova to win +6 games handicap. Venus and Serena won’t push more than necessary, most probably will win in straight sets, but I don’t think they will trash their opponents, my picks not to be confirmed. On the other side, both Na Li and Tsvetana Pironkova have showed a very good form and I am sure they will play respectable today.