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MLS: LA Galaxy- San Jose Earthquakes This is the third California Clásico inside 20 days, with honours shared so far, San Jose took the first 3-1 and I previewd that at the end of last month (notes reproduced below), a few days later, Galaxy got a little revenge with a 1-0 road win in the US Open Cup, but that competition is never a priority for LA and if it was/is revenge they are looking for, it is this evening they will have in mind. Since that win three weeks ago, Eathquakes have failed to score in three MLS starts and have looked toothless in the absence of key striker Chris Wondolowski something we touched upon ahead of the second of those games........ They put huge effort into that game and got a famous win, top scorer Chris Wondolowski got the opener there and is a massive loss tonight having since joined the national team. Also called up for Gold Cup duty is right sided midfielder Cordell Cato, a situation which is compounded as the other midfielder on that flank, Sanna Nyassi,is suspended. These are very difficuly absences to overcome especially against a team with so much offensive firepower and to have to do so following back to back games inside four days against a deadly rival and the biggest name in MLS football is too much. They got Nyassi back last week for a home game with an even more beat up Houston Dynamo, who were missing four key players and Quakes were hugely disappointing in a 2-0 defeat. They played a friendly match with Mexican side America in midweek and had the idea of the squad playing 45 minutes each, but it back fired somewhat as they picked up an injury early and then Nyassi got sent off just before half time and they suddenly got a bit of a tough work out, spending a lot of time without the ball and a man short throughout the second period. Galaxy were on fire offensively with 22 goals in six league and cup games, before a 1-0 defeat in the US Open in midweek away to Real Salt Lake, they were able to rest five players with today in mind and Steven Gerrard who played the second 45 minutes, is expected to see out 90 tonight in what is effectively his home debut and there is of course huge media interest in that and he and LAG will want the points to mark it. They received a further boost yesterday with the signing of Giovani dos Santos and he will join them after the Gold Cup, these are marquee signings and a clear indication of where the MLS is heading. Hosts have won 5 of 9 home games with Earthquakes, with all those wins coming by 2+ goals and if they are to get the points this evening, I feel it will be by a similarly convincing margin. The home side are themselves hurt by international absences and a gruelling schedule, but meet a team with similar issues and without the rotation options, home advantage and big name introduction. LA Galaxy -1.25 goals 2.13 asian line/Sportmarket.

Brazil: Serie A: Corinthians- Atletico Paranaense Atletico Paranaense are losing their way after a solid start to their season and have conceded nine goals in their last five outings ( one win), two or more in four, including at home to goal shy local rivals Coritiba. They now face a second very tough road trip inside five days, after losing 2-0 at Cruzeiro last weekend and thoughts could quickly tun to a home game with Fluminense in three days time should they fall behind this evening. Corinthians have scored twice in each of their last three home games (all wins) and despite being held scoreless at Goias last time out, they were hugely impressive, with great movement up front and some really inventive build up play especially in and around the box, they also looked good aerially. The home coach is very pleased with the progress his team have made and has spoken of them as potential champions this week, they would go top 4 with all three points this evening and can collect those and possibly cover the handicap with ease if things fall for them in front of goal this evening. Visitors arrive without suspended Walter who has been playing the lone striker role all season and that is a major loss. Corinthians -1 ball 2.28 asian line/Sportmarket.

Madison Keys- Agnieszka Radwanska Madison Keys has the game to win Wimbledon, she has not overly impressed so far and had some health issues coming into the event, but every match will help her and she has a very solid team Lyndsey Davenport behind her giving good solid advice and I feel she is too big today. I have a LOT of time for Agnieszka Radwanska , she is very competent on grass and we won good money on her in 2012-13 when she made a run to the final taking Serena very close and then the semis the following year. However, despite recent signs that she is on the way back, her form has dipped over the last two years and she is not quite the defensive brick wall she was, but a very tough, steely and clever opponent. The pair met here in 2013, Agie was close to her peak, Keys just 18 yo and it went to a decider, 15 aces for the youngster that day, but she lost the match on second serve, she is twice the player now and her opponent a little less fearsome and this looks a good opportunity for an "upset". I have no problem with Radwanska as favourite , but circa 55% at best IMO, so getting around 33%-36% on Keys is too good to resist. Madison Keys to beat Agnieszka Radwanska 2.75-3.0 general quote.....3.10 Pinnacle/Sportmarket Pro. Radwanska to win 2-1 sets 3.75 -4.00 will ensure a profit if Keys takes a set and I think she will.

Madison Keys- Agnieszka Radwanska Madison Keys has the game to win Wimbledon, she has not overly impressed so far and had some health issues coming into the event, but every match will help her and she has a very solid team Lyndsey Davenport behind her giving good solid advice and I feel she is too big today. I have a LOT of time for Agnieszka Radwanska , she is very competent on grass and we won good money on her in 2012-13 when she made a run to the final taking Serena very close and then the semis the following year. However, despite recent signs that she is on the way back, her form has dipped over the last two years and she is not quite the defensive brick wall she was, but a very tough, steely and clever opponent. The pair met here in 2013, Agie was close to her peak, Keys just 18 yo and it went to a decider, 15 aces for the youngster that day, but she lost the match on second serve, she is twice the player now and her opponent a little less fearsome and this looks a good opportunity for an "upset". I have no problem with Radwanska as favourite , but circa 55% at best IMO, so getting around 33%-36% on Keys is too good to resist. Madison Keys to beat Agnieszka Radwanska 2.75-3.0 general quote.....3.10 Pinnacle/Sportmarket Pro. Radwanska to win 2-1 sets 3.75 -4.00 will ensure a profit if Keys takes a set and I think she will.

Women's World Cup Final: US- Japan We have a repeat of the 2011 final and the extremely well conditioned and prepared Japanese team have proved that win was no fluke and that they are perhaps the best team in the world and few will doubt that if they win this evening. In that previous final they twice came from behind to tie the US, including once in extra time and showed incredible mental strength to do so, I do not think that any other team in world football , would have been able to do so under similar circumstances. My preview of their quarter final win over Australia is reproduced below, that includes my pre tournament notes about how well prepared the Japanese were and how seriously they have taken their role as world champions and they have loved the four years since and I feel that once again they have been seriously underestimated by the oddsmakers and that there is no huge gulf between the two. Of course, this is not a coinflip as the US will have massive support in Vancouver, but Japan have already played here three times and will feel very much at home in stadium and city.They were disappointing against England in the semis, but I think that was the match in which all the pressure was on them, now it is very much on the US, they are going to have to make the running and they will be very vulnerable to the speed and technical ability of the Japanese. I think we might well see extra time again and I am happy to take ..... Japan +0.5 at 2.07 asian line/Sportmarket.

Copa America: Paraguay - Peru These 3rd and 4th place playoff games almost always produce goals, it is easy to see why, there is usually one side a little more motivated than the other and both can easily let intensity slip for what seems largely a meaningless fixture at the end of a long competition, coming after a gruelling domestic campaign for many. I do suspect that both would have taken 3rd or 4th spot if you had offered it to them pre tournament , so maybe we will see both going for it this evening, but each suffered a very disappointing semi final result, albeit for different reasons and they could let things slide if falling behind. However, both teams have players, Lucas Barrios of Paraguay and Peru's Paolo Guerrero who have a good chance to become the competition top scorer, that would be an honour both individually and for the nation and we can expect that to motivate both offensively. Paraguay are hard hit by injury and could be missing four players who started the semi final against Argentina in Roque Santa Cruz, Derlis Gonzalez, Bruno Valdez and Nelson Valdez, which would weaken them up top and especially on the right flank. Peru will be without suspended Carlos Zambrano from the backline and did have to play 60 minutes down to ten men after his sending off against the hosts, but that is counter balanced by having an extra day's rest and recovery time. Peru have impressed me more, I think they have a little more about them, look stronger defensively and at the ned of the day, Paraguay have only beaten Jamaica inside 90 minutes at the Copa and no team other team in nine starts and I have to suggest ....... Peru -0.25 2.12 asian line/Sportmarket.

Copa America: Chile- Peru With Brazil, who have always been a bogey team for Chile out of the competition and Argentina facing a rematch with a Paraguayan side they struggled with at the group stage tomorrow, things are starting to look hugely promising for the hosts, but with that comes added pressure, the level of expectation is through the roof and now, failure to reach the final will be seen as a bit of a disaster and if Peru can hang on in there early, they can use that to their advantage. Peru have looked very well organised at these championships and were comfortable quarter final winners over Bolivia, ahead of which I wrote ......Peru have looked very solid keeping Colombia and Venuezuela scoreless and Brazil at 1-1 (after two early goals) for 87 minutes. They do not have any real weaknesses, look good in defence and midfield and have three veteran forwards in Paolo Guerrero, Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro who are all the wrong side of thirty and playing in what might be their last major championship, the trio have all played at the top level in Europe and have 60 international goals between them and can find a goal and one might be enough, to edge this. Peru feel they are improving and have more to offer and I would have been very keen on them for this if they were not without captain Carlos Labatón and defensive midfielder Josepmir Ballón, who are both suspended. That kind of tempers enthusiasm, but they are in their 7th straight Copa quarter final and will be looking to at least equal their 2011 3rd place finish. They were not adventurous enough in the semi final against Uruguay that year and I feel they will have learned from that. They were 2-0 up inside the first quarter of the game, had a whopping 27 attempts on goal (hitting the woodwork twice) and Paolo Guerrero scored a hat trick, before Bolivia made the scoreline respectable with a late consolation goal, it was an impressive victory and this is a team on the up and improving game upon game. Chilean centre back Gonzalo Jara is suspended after putting his finger where it should not be put (!) and the hosts conceded two goals at home to the US in the only start he has missed in 2015. Mexico are the only team who have really taken the game to Chile in this competition and they scored three without the cream of their offensive talent and if Peru are prepared to have a go, I can definitely see a goal or maybe two for them and I am very keen on the "away" team with the handicap start. Peru use both flanks well and could create havoc in the box, with a big aerial advantage over Chile and I have to take ..............1 Peru +1 ball 2.03 asian line/Sportmarket. Gary Medel and David Pizzaro ended the Bolivia game in the middle of the backline for Chile, they are each 1.71m tall, Guerrero and Claudio Pizzaro are both 1.84m + and this could be a real route to goal for Peru, who are a very tempting 6.5-7.0 general quote to score twice ("over" 1.5 goals) , how about something small on that.....

Copa America: Chile- Peru With Brazil, who have always been a bogey team for Chile out of the competition and Argentina facing a rematch with a Paraguayan side they struggled with at the group stage tomorrow, things are starting to look hugely promising for the hosts, but with that comes added pressure, the level of expectation is through the roof and now, failure to reach the final will be seen as a bit of a disaster and if Peru can hang on in there early, they can use that to their advantage. Peru have looked very well organised at these championships and were comfortable quarter final winners over Bolivia, ahead of which I wrote ......Peru have looked very solid keeping Colombia and Venuezuela scoreless and Brazil at 1-1 (after two early goals) for 87 minutes. They do not have any real weaknesses, look good in defence and midfield and have three veteran forwards in Paolo Guerrero, Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro who are all the wrong side of thirty and playing in what might be their last major championship, the trio have all played at the top level in Europe and have 60 international goals between them and can find a goal and one might be enough, to edge this. Peru feel they are improving and have more to offer and I would have been very keen on them for this if they were not without captain Carlos Labatón and defensive midfielder Josepmir Ballón, who are both suspended. That kind of tempers enthusiasm, but they are in their 7th straight Copa quarter final and will be looking to at least equal their 2011 3rd place finish. They were not adventurous enough in the semi final against Uruguay that year and I feel they will have learned from that. They were 2-0 up inside the first quarter of the game, had a whopping 27 attempts on goal (hitting the woodwork twice) and Paolo Guerrero scored a hat trick, before Bolivia made the scoreline respectable with a late consolation goal, it was an impressive victory and this is a team on the up and improving game upon game. Chilean centre back Gonzalo Jara is suspended after putting his finger where it should not be put (!) and the hosts conceded two goals at home to the US in the only start he has missed in 2015. Mexico are the only team who have really taken the game to Chile in this competition and they scored three without the cream of their offensive talent and if Peru are prepared to have a go, I can definitely see a goal or maybe two for them and I am very keen on the "away" team with the handicap start. Peru use both flanks well and could create havoc in the box, with a big aerial advantage over Chile and I have to take ..............1 Peru +1 ball 2.03 asian line/Sportmarket. Gary Medel and David Pizzaro ended the Bolivia game in the middle of the backline for Chile, they are each 1.71m tall, Guerrero and Claudio Pizzaro are both 1.84m + and this could be a real route to goal for Peru, who are a very tempting 6.5-7.0 general quote to score twice ("over" 1.5 goals) , how about something small on that.....

Copa America: Bolivia- Peru Bolivia have conceded seven goals in their last three halves of football at the Copa and whilst they one won of those games, it might be that they are reverting to type and have remembered just how poor they are and are supposed to be away from home ! We spoke about this ahead of their opener with Mexico......... "I mentioned yesterday how El Tri are seemingly prioritising their Gold Cup campaign, which begins in less that four weeks time, they are honouring their CONCACAF obligations and the fact that their opening game is in Chicago, which houses the second largest population of Mexican-born immigrants in the US, is probably also a deciding factor. They have left a host of key players, including Chicharito, Guardado, Giovani dos Santos, Carlos Vela. plus several others at home and this is very much a B team, despite anything to the contrary that controversial coach Miguel Herrera might say. He is very stubborn and seems certian to stick with his preferred formation (basically a 5-3-2) without the players he needs to do it justice ! If they were playing anyone else today apart from Bolivia, I would like to oppose them, but their opponents are not very good away from their high altitude homeland and have not won an away game in over eight years and the one before that was four years earlier, so a defeat of South Africa in a friendly , where they were gifted a winning goal and opponents were denied an equaliser when the referee blew his whistle for half time with the ball en route to the net, to show for 12 years and some 50 away/neutral starts ! Mexico are below strength, have other priorities and will play a formation that will not suit personnel, Bolivia are not very good and cannot win outside their own country ! If we had to bet, I would have to suggest the draw @ circa 4.33 and I might take a (very) little on that just to keep me awake !" They played out a 0-0 draw there and were then 3-0 up at the break against an Ecuador team who simply did not show up at these championships until it was time to go home ! They won that 3-2, but Ecuador missed a penalty and hit the woodwork and I doubt that Bolivia would have progressed from any other group. Peru have looked very solid keeping Colombia and Venuezuela scoreless and Brazil at 1-1 (after two early goals) for 87 minutes. They do not have any real weaknesses, look good in defence and midfield and have three veteran forwards on Paolo Guerro, Jefferson Farfan and Claudion Pizarro who are all the wrong side of thirty and playing in what might be their last major championship, the trio have all played at the top level in Europe and have 60 international goals between them and can find a goal and one might be enough, to edge this. Peru feel they are improving and have more to offer and I would have been very keen on them for this if they were not without captain Carlos Labatón and defensive midfielder Josepmir Ballón, who are both suspended. That kind of tempers enthusiasm, but they are in their 7th straight Copa quarter final and will be looking to at least equal their 2011 3rd place finish. They were not adventurous enough in the semi final against Uruguay and I feel they will have learned from that. Peru -0.5 ball 1.93 asian line/Sportmarket.

Wednesday WTA Eastbourne 24.06: Sloane Stephens- Heather Watson Heather Watson leads the h2h 4-1, but there have only been two recent meetings and Sloane Stephens took the last of those just a few weeks ago, winning 2&4 at Roland Garros and even that scoreline doesn't do justice to the superiority of the American player in that match, she dominated all stats and the defeat could have been even more emphatic. I spoke about Stephens and how she looked a lot happier ahead of her meeting at RG with Serena Williams ......Sloane Stephens is a complex individual and often seems unhappy on court and has been accused of "giving up" in minor events, she has the all round game and athleticism to be a top ten player at least and most tennis watchers cited her as the next big thing when she burst onto the scene as a teenager, the new "Serena" tag was a bit of a curse she had to live with and her game has not quite kicked on as all would have hoped, she is top 30 instead of top 10 right now, which is where she should be. There have been signs that she is starting to get things back on track, she took Serena close in Indian Wells and has not been troubled at Roland Garros, where she had a lot of success as a junior, through three rounds. She seems a little happier off court, both with her love life and with coach Nick Saviano who looks a better fit for her, she was with him as a teenager and it has been a bit of a return to basics over the last six months and I feel we are starting to see the fruition of this and also perhaps a return to 100% fitness, SS has had a few issues in recent years and was troubled especially by a left wrist injury for some time, this is the first year since her breakthrough that she has really be able to work flat out ahead of the big summer slams . This is the fourth straight year she has made R4 in Paris and after sticking close to Stosur, Sharapova and Halep in each, she can perhaps take it up a notch and run Serena even closer, Williams has not been as formidable on serve through the first week, making a lot of df's and at the very least, I see Stephens taking seven games. That was all over in terms of the handicap early , with Stephens winning the first set 6-1 , before Serena took it in the third, but she was mighty close to going out in straight sets, but as we know, Serena likes to live on the edge ! Stephens has won two matches here already and looked very solid against Carla Suarez Navarro yesterday, who is always a tough opponent. SS was again fast out of the blocks ( taking the first set 6-1) and her second serve was in very fine shape. Watson admitted to being nervous in her three opening matches on grass, saying that she felt real pressure in front of her home crowd and more anxious than at any time in her career, she has managed to win two, but lost the opening set in two and the other went to a tie break and with Stephens making a very nice habit of starting quickly, this could get away from Watson almost before it has begun. The British player has already given up 23 break points here and I am strongly in the Stephens side of the court. I will suggest Sloane Stephens to win 2-0 in sets @ circa 2.30 general quote........2.40 with Pinnacle Sports/Sportmarket Pro, -3 games is an alternative .

Sagan Tosu- FC Tokyo I guess the international break has come at the right time for Sagan who have conceded a whopping 14 goals in their last three league games, shipping three to Frontale was bad, six to leaders Urawa worse, but five to Velgalta , who had scored just three in their previous four starts was a bit of a low point and you can view the break as a chance to put things right, or as a very long 13 days to reflect and feel sorry for themselves ! They are starting matches quite well and incredibly, are unbeaten before the break all season ( 4-11-0) but losing their way afterwards and they have conceded 24 of 28 goals ( 86%) in the second half, next highest through that period is the 18 conceded by the bottom two clubs, Albirex Niigata and Shimizu S-Pulse and highlights just how poorly they are ending matches. FCT are a better team and are very tough to beat when leading (6-0-0 this season), so difficult to see them dropping this to a team leaking after the break, if they can edge ahead. But those Sagan stats offer hope should they fall behind and FCT have taken points from two of the four games in which they have trailed at the half. The visitors have won on their last two visits here and we backed them to win the last of those back in August and those notes are reproduced at the foot of this email. They are unbeaten in four and will be looking to break into the top three in the overall championship this season, they are a team we discuss a lot and there are a mountain of notes on them in the database and I have also reproduced a preview from earlier this season, their trip to Montedio Yamagata, which is particularly pertinent as I am going to finish these notes with the newly promoted club's trip to Hiroshima. Anyway, they all provide background information and after their last match, a 2-1 win at Matsumoto Yamaga, where they raced into a two goal lead and then had to fight hard to hold on, they will have enjoyed the hard earned break. Coach Massimo Ficcadenti (see below) is very meticulous and will have used the two weeks wisely, his team came back after the World Cup break last summer on fire and were unbeaten in eight in all competions with an incredible 21-1 goal difference. They can edge this.............. FC Tokyo -0.25 ball 2.19 asian line/Sportsmarket.

Copa America: Chile- Bolivia We have spoken already this week about how close almost every match at the Copa America has been , eight matches have been decided by a single goal, three have been draws and there has been a single two goal win and even that should have been a closer result. It is hard to see that suddenly changing in this game with so much at stake and with the better and home team mindful of much bigger games ahead, a long tournament and able to get what they desire from the game without "wasting" too much energy. A win would see Chile top the group, but a point would be enough , unless Mexico record at least a two goal win. Bolivia have the same criteria more or less, they will win the group with all three points, but probably know that is beyond them, a point would ensure second and mean avoiding Argentina in the last eight , also, with four points in the bag, a one goal defeat would mean they would look solid for one of the two third places and that is their fail safe and means if they do fall behind, they will be keen not to concede a second and there would be no reason for Chile to push for it either. Bolivia +1.25 ball 2.20 asian line/Sportmarket. Incredibly, this match is played after the Mex-Ec ( see below) so the situation could change if one of the teams in the earlier game won big, but I am happy with the handicap start regardless.

Copa America: Chile- Bolivia We have spoken already this week about how close almost every match at the Copa America has been , eight matches have been decided by a single goal, three have been draws and there has been a single two goal win and even that should have been a closer result. It is hard to see that suddenly changing in this game with so much at stake and with the better and home team mindful of much bigger games ahead, a long tournament and able to get what they desire from the game without "wasting" too much energy. A win would see Chile top the group, but a point would be enough , unless Mexico record at least a two goal win. Bolivia have the same criteria more or less, they will win the group with all three points, but probably know that is beyond them, a point would ensure second and mean avoiding Argentina in the last eight , also, with four points in the bag, a one goal defeat would mean they would look solid for one of the two third places and that is their fail safe and means if they do fall behind, they will be keen not to concede a second and there would be no reason for Chile to push for it either. Bolivia +1.25 ball 2.20 asian line/Sportmarket. Incredibly, this match is played after the Mex-Ec ( see below) so the situation could change if one of the teams in the earlier game won big, but I am happy with the handicap start regardless.

ATP Tour: Queen's Club Thanasi Kokkinakis- Jeremy Chardy Many of you might have seen one or pehaps even both of these two play at Roland Garros, both did well, Jeremy Chardy rode that tidal wave of French success at the championships to the last 16 where he took Andy Murray to four sets, if I tell you that he hit 4 aces, 10 double faults and 49 winners and 56 unforced errors, that will kind of tell you where we are with MonsieurChardy, he is great fun to watch, hits the ball very hard, but it is all black and white with few grey areas in his game. Thanasi Kokkinakis is the identikit young Australian player so, a massive serve, bags of confidence and fearful of no one. He has been working a bit with Lleyton Hewitt and was practicing with him yesterday morning, having only turned 19 in April, Kokkinakis already has a solid run at Roland Garros to his name and made the last 32 where he lost 4,4 &4 to Novak Djokovic, he hit 8 aces and won 73% of points on first serve and 56% on second, against one of the greatest returners of serve of all time. Those numbers were better than Murray and Rafa managed against Novak and on a par with whatFrench Open champion Stan Wawrinka managed in the final. Oo course, the Aussies return is not of the same level, nowhere near , at least not yet, but Hewitt will probably have given him a few tips in that regard and would make most top 5-10 lists of best returns ever in the mens' game. Chardy is very comeptent on grass, but lost in three tie breaks to Sam Querrrey last year at Queens and the transition from clay to grass is never easy and I doubt he has done as much in build up as TK. Chardy played Djokovic at Roland Garros last year ( 3 aces,58%/32%) to give the Kokkinakis stats some context. Chardy is 5-7 against taller players ranked inside the top 100 this year and dropped a set in the last two of those that he won. The youngster is said to be really looking forward to this, to thrive on the big stage and he proved that at RG. Hard to see too many breaks here, I will suggest........ "over" 23.5 games 2.0 general quote. Thanasi Kokkinalis to beat Jeremy Chardy 2.75 general quote........2.969 Pinnacle

Women's World Cup: Group A: Canada- Netherlands China- New Zealand Canada have created plenty of chances, but only have a single goal to show for it and are still not certain of even a top 2 finish. Christine Sinclair is the focus of so much of what they do offensively and this resulted in a very one dimensional offence. They switch from Edmonton to Montreal today, but are going to get huge support once again, maybe even bigger than for opening day and certainly in the 45,000 -55,000 range. The playing surface there is a little different too, Xtreme as opposed to FieldTurf, so conditions and surroundings will be a little alien to both teams.The hosts would secure first place in the group with a win and they are desperate for that as it would mean playing their Round of 16 and then last eight game in Vancouver, this is the home of the national team in more ways than one and as TSN described: "Vancouver is not just some ordinary training camp base, it is way more valuable than that. "Vancouver is the ancestral and spiritual home of the WNT and contains all those familiar patterns and surroundings - a soccer sanctuary like nothing else in the history of competitive soccer in Canada. "Vancouver dispenses refuge and reward in equal measures." Of course, wanting and doing are very different things and the Netherlands come into the match knowing that they probably need a point to clinch a place in the knockout round , they are ranked just four places below Canada in world rankings and have proved very difficult to score against in their two opening games. Canada have to qualify, but want to finish top, Netherlands would be incredibly pleased with a point, both could achieve those aims if China do not win the other match being played simultaneously in Winnipeg and I feel that match could have a huge bearing on how the game in Montreal plays out. I am quite taken with the Chinese and ahead of their win over the Dutch my preview went a lot like this..... The Canada- China game played out pretty much as I thought it might, ahead of which I wrote .............I am very interested in the Women's World Cup as a tournament, but am not going to get involved betting wise until Monday, today's matches should be very informative and I am keen to see China in action, they arrive with an extremely young squad, all aged between 19 and 26, Canada, whom they meet today, for example, have nine players aged 31+. The Chinese are building long term, looked very comfortable on the ball in the little I have seen of them and despite their youth, have played together as a group for some time. There is a lot of pressure on the Canadians as hosts and there will be a big crowd at the game, but this is also a concern for me with the Chinese, who started a recent friendly match against England very nervously, before settling into the game and impressing, all in all, I prefer to sit this one out. I think the Chinese were again nervous at the beginning, but grew into the game, were denied by the woodwork, but were very disciplined and clearly came for a point, which they were within a minute or two of achieving. The youngsters are on a very steep learning curve and will come on a lot for that and will not face the same level of massed support against them this evening. Coach Hao Wei said we will see a far more attacking approach from his players this evening and that might be the case, but I do not think that a point would be a disaster for either and it is hard to see with four third placed teams making it through and China's "easiest" game to come, that four points and no heavy defeat that four points would not be enough. The coach felt he had spotted some "flaws" in the Dutch defence and was confident his team would be able to exploit them. There was certainly encouragement for the Chinese from the Netherlands opener, with New Zealand coming on very strong through the second period, creating the better chances and being denied what they felt was a strong penalty appeal. I think the conditions and playing surfaces here will take a big toll and opening day temperatures of circa 23 degrees, where said to be way, WAY higher "on field" with the the artificial turf holding and reflecting the heat and really having an effect on players and this is something I am sure we will be returning to later this week, with some teams sure to hold up better, or certainly be more used to playing conditions that the surface will generate. If there is any advantage in that regard today it will surely be with the Chinese, which is a bonus. They edged that 1-0, with this time a late goal in their favour. A win today could see them take first place in the group, a point should be enough for second place, however, New Zealand can only progress with all three points and sooner or later they will have to throw caution to the wind and take the game to the Chinese and then they will be vulnerable. They are a very physical side and dangerous from set pieces and have an edge in this department against the Chinese, but they will leave themselves vulnerable once they push forward and at the end of the day, the Ferns have never won in 11 World Cup appareances and only once in seven starts at the Olympics and they do not get too many chances to test themselves at this level in competitive games. The two teams met in China early last year, with the hosts winning 1-0 , it was a close encounter, but I would argue that the Chinese are much improved since then and they would have learned a lot from that game, with ten of the New Zealand side who played that day featuring against Canada last week. I expect both games to be cautious early, that has been the MO of this group, with only one goal coming inside 90 minutes in the four games so far. I favour China to win narrowly once the Ferns are forced forward and out of their comfort zone....... China -0.5 ball 2.10 general quote....2.14 asian line/Sportmarket. Canada, under coach John Herdman are 17-3-2 against non top 7 teams ( nations ranked below them) and I think a change of enviroment for them might re-invigorate the team, they desperately want to win the group and unless NZ race into an early and decisive looking lead in the other game, which seems unlikely, the easiest and least fraught way to do so, would be by winning this. They have given little away defensively and I feel they can edge this, I will suggest Canada -0.75 ball 1.95 asian line/Sportmarket, but if you are watching this match "in running", a better option might be to wait for the -0.5 ball line to reach the same 1.95 quote.