PARAGAY / NZ + ITALY / SLOVAKIA

[bobbybottler]

Just doing the honours.

I've been deeply impressed (and wrong) about NZ in this tournie so far, and I expect that to continue because I'm tipping Paraguay.

Paraguay are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me ever since I first saw Chilavert, the mutha of all free-kick taking penalty scoring centre forward assaulting goalkeepers from Hell.

Italy - but who knows they'll probably go on and win from here. They were as shite as this in the group stages of 1982.

So.....in a break from the current conventions on hobnob I will post my bets up pre-match...

Paraguay to win
Italy / Slovakia under 3.5 goals

Many thanks.

[NR_Royal]

ParaGAY?

[Zammo]

I've not been impressed with NZ at all. Slovakia should have had them out of sight before NZ scored a very late equaliser, and Italy had them under the cosh for most of the game last Sunday. I fully expect Paraguay to play all over them today, and win cosily.

Despite Italy only having drawn their first two games, I actually think they've played all right (better than France & England). Again, they should brush past the Slovakians with ease.

The double pays just over even money. Fill your boots.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Kiwis possess will and luck in roughly equal measures, which helps when you can't match anybody for talent

I've found Paraguay very, very impressive, both here and in past performances --and if this competition ends up matching my vague sense that it would be domin7ed by the southern hemispheric/equatorial nations, then I expect them to be right there in the mix (route: Japan/Denmark >> Chile/Spain/Swiss even/Portugal >> Argentina/Germany/England >> final)

For today, it'll come down to keeping their bookings to a minimum, and I don't see NZ refusing to oblige them by getting into the rough stuff and making the referee start flashing the cards

Italy to do what's needed; Japan v. Denmark later on is the one that's got my attention in any case

[Magnus]

I've not been impressed with NZ at all. Slovakia should have had them out of sight before NZ scored a very late equaliser, and Italy had them under the cosh for most of the game last Sunday. I fully expect Paraguay to play all over them today, and win cosily.

Despite Italy only having drawn their first two games, I actually think they've played all right (better than France & England). Again, they should brush past the Slovakians with ease.

The double pays just over even money. Fill your boots.

Don't like accumulators (even over 2 legs), especially when just backing favourites, and especially in this WC where the favourites keep losing.

But for all that, f*ck it I'll join you. If only as I can't see any other value bets today.

[bobbybottler]

I've not been impressed with NZ at all. Slovakia should have had them out of sight before NZ scored a very late equaliser, and Italy had them under the cosh for most of the game last Sunday. I fully expect Paraguay to play all over them today, and win cosily.

Despite Italy only having drawn their first two games, I actually think they've played all right (better than France & England). Again, they should brush past the Slovakians with ease.

The double pays just over even money. Fill your boots.

Zammo - another way of looking at exactly the same teams would be to see NZ as plucky never-say-die triers, Slovakia as hopleless bottlers and Italy as toothless mediocrities. Don't forget that Italy needed a penalty to equalise against NZ and were unable to break them down in open play.

[Wycombe Royal]

I've not been impressed with NZ at all. Slovakia should have had them out of sight before NZ scored a very late equaliser, and Italy had them under the cosh for most of the game last Sunday. I fully expect Paraguay to play all over them today, and win cosily.

Despite Italy only having drawn their first two games, I actually think they've played all right (better than France & England). Again, they should brush past the Slovakians with ease.

The double pays just over even money. Fill your boots.

Zammo - another way of looking at exactly the same teams would be to see NZ as plucky never-say-die triers, Slovakia as hopleless bottlers and Italy as toothless mediocrities. Don't forget that Italy needed a penalty to equalise against NZ and were unable to break them down in open play.

Wasn't the NZ goal offisde though?

[bobbybottler]

I've not been impressed with NZ at all. Slovakia should have had them out of sight before NZ scored a very late equaliser, and Italy had them under the cosh for most of the game last Sunday. I fully expect Paraguay to play all over them today, and win cosily.

Despite Italy only having drawn their first two games, I actually think they've played all right (better than France & England). Again, they should brush past the Slovakians with ease.

The double pays just over even money. Fill your boots.

Zammo - another way of looking at exactly the same teams would be to see NZ as plucky never-say-die triers, Slovakia as hopleless bottlers and Italy as toothless mediocrities. Don't forget that Italy needed a penalty to equalise against NZ and were unable to break them down in open play.

Wasn't the NZ goal offisde though?

Not disagreeing but that doesn't in any way disprove Italy's lack of a cutting edge. Is Pirlo still absent today?

[leww_rfc]

ParaGAY?

You just know it was done on purpose

[leww_rfc]

Predictions...

Paraguay 2-1 NZ
Italy 1-1 Slovakia

[3 veesinarow]

That would put Italy through with 3 x 1-1 draws in the weakest group of this World Cup...

How undeserving would that be? Probably go on and win the whole shooting match again, though...

[NR_Royal]

Well I'm hoping ParaGAY win the group.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Just to refresh my memory: Slovakia have a vote in this --aye?

[TFF]

Is it possible to watch ITV online?

[Silver Fox]

Just to refresh my memory: Slovakia have a vote in this --aye?

they certainly do now, 1-0

[TFF]

http://live.itv.com/episode/41

Couldn't get it to work at all in firefox, then had to sit through adverts before the stream started. Missed the goal.

I fcuking hate ITV

[No Fixed Abode]

As it stands

Paraguay and New Zealand going through.

[Maguire]

Try stv if ITV won't stream - i've used it all WC with no issues.

Slovakia actually owning Italy here. Shame..

No bets on today having lost heavily laying England yday. Tennis acca came in to claw a bit back but still a bit of a bloodbath

[TBM]

As it stands

Paraguay and New Zealand going through.

Paraguay and Slovakia - surely?!

[Schards#2]

As it stands

Paraguay and New Zealand going through.

ALOL @ Kes's grasp of football