StevieDay1983

We've seen in tournaments past that surprise outfits eventually run out of gas at the semi final hurdle: Bulgaria '94, Croatia '98, South Korea '02, Uruguay '10. The only real surprise package to win a major tournament was really Greece in 2004. They should have lost their semi to the Czechs who were really all over them early on.
 
I can't see past France here. They're experienced and offer more of an ability to breakdown this type of opposition than the Spaniards or Portuguese. Though I was in shock Portugal couldn't find a way past. To be fair they had some misfortune. With Giroud on form, the threat of Mbappe, the quality that Griezemann is offering, they should surely breach this Moroccan fortress. France's backline did look vulnerable at times vs England which is a worry but can Morocco put that kind of pressure on them aside from the odd counter. Also Roman Saiss the key central defender for Morocco suffered an injury vs Portugal. 
France to win to nil @2.10 
 

OK, so this World Cup is tearing a new one in quite a few of us! Croatia knocking out Brazil was a shock in its own right but Morocco eliminating Portugal was arguably one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition. Two semi-final matches coming up now. Argentina and France are the clear favourites to progress and what a final that would be but who will go through? Anything has happened and anything could happen in this tournament! Give us your predictions! 

OK, so this World Cup is tearing a new one in quite a few of us! Croatia knocking out Brazil was a shock in its own right but Morocco eliminating Portugal was arguably one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition. Two semi-final matches coming up now. Argentina and France are the clear favourites to progress and what a final that would be but who will go through? Anything has happened and anything could happen in this tournament! Give us your predictions! 

Oh well, 55 points means that the bets I considered pre-game were winners but only 4 cards so the in-play bet lands on the line.

On >4 cards at 29/10 Hills

The World Cup has been kicking my butt. This is one of the few bets I cashed. Thanks Harry.

7/4 for >45 booking points or a buy at 40 seem to be the best options for bookings. I think I'll look in running, hope it's not one of those games where the cards come too early. Maybe go in if the price drifts past 2/1.

Hills going 9/2 Fernandes anytime to a tenner; pushes him into value territory for me.

I was in tears with Netherlands last night (second favourite team) knocked out plus going into penalties is heartbreaking I think for any team to lose in that way.?? prepared to be in tears with England tonight too as much as I hope I'm wrong.
I think Morocco has a chance to draw at least. They've done so well and Portugal isn't stable at all even though they won by a huge margin last match. I think it will be a tight match especially in the first half. Went for 0-0 half time. Good luck with the draws and penalties!
 

Sort of! >2.5 shootouts is weighed in and already settled, 4-5 is currently in (on at 11/2 and 6/1) and 6 or more is looking more likely than the 28/1 and 33/1 I took.
4 or 5 would be the best outcome so I’m hoping for no more than one more but there’s not too much in it. Either way, it’s a decent profit from my antepost bets to offset the likely loss from the game by game bets!
I’m on the draw as usual in today’s games. Inclined to agree Portugal should be fresher and able to see off Morocco, will be looking at the bookings markets in that game. The other game is hard to call, anything could happen and it may be hard to find a price worth arguing with. I’ve had the tenner allowed on a Hill’s double up, 4/1 England qualify and Kane and Mbappe each to have a SoT. If England to qualify is slightly odds against that may just underestimate the chances of the two main men registering a SoT.

It was an interesting first couple of Quarter-Final matches on Friday with the shock exit of Brazil on penalties to Croatia and then the ill-tempered affair between Netherlands and Argentina that saw the South American side progress on penalties. Does anyone (I'm looking at you @harry_rag!) have a wager on all four winners being decided by penalties? It's not entirely beyond the realms of possibility now. First up today we have surprise package Morocco and Portugal. My immediate feeling here is asking how much that win over Spain took out of Morocco both physically and mentally. Portugal barely broke jogging pace against South Korea in the last round so they will undoubtedly be fresher. I'm anticipating a cagey affair to begin with but I think Morocco's fatigue could see them slowly unravel as the game progresses. A Portugal clean sheet win could be on the cards. Morocco's best hope is trying to hold out for extra-time and penalties again but I'm not sure this hard-working defensive set up can keep going for much longer. They also face a Portuguese side that have seen 8 different scorers bag their 12 goals in the competition so far.
In the second game, it's a cracker between England and France. Crazy to think that these two sides have never met in the knockout phase of a major international tournament before. I've seen some people suggest the winner of this tournament will come from this game but we'll see. France have surprised me at how well they have done in this tournament so far. I thought their central midfield would be an issue but they've used their attacking strengths and defensive solidity to their fullest. Kylian Mbappe has stepped up big time with 5 goals in 3 matches. I wouldn't be surprised if Olivier Giroud scores though with so much attention being on his team mate. It's a hard one to call. The big problem for England is that they are yet to show they can defeat the "big teams" at a World Cup under Gareth Southgate. This is a massive test for him and, as harsh as it may sound, you feel that if they lose this game it could be his last in charge of the national team. Still, this is a very talented England side and even their suggested weakness of defence is performing well up until now. This has the potential to be a classic and if England win it then there's no reason they can't go all the way. I think France will still sneak it though. Just! Don't be surprised if this goes all the way to penalties!
Morocco vs Portugal (Saturday, 3pm GMT)
Portugal to Win to Nil @ 8/5 with Betfred
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 8/13 with Bet365
England vs France (Saturday, 7pm GMT)
Draw @ 9/4 with Betfair
Anytime Scorer: Olivier Giroud @ 11/4 with Bet365

Managed not to get matched on the draw in the last game so wanted to see it over in 90 minutes or go to penalties for my antepost bets. For that reason I was cheering on Croatia and was pleased to see them equalise. On the draw at 3.3 in the next game. Might leave it at that unless anything leaps out from a quick look round.
 

Boosted to 5/2 with Uni Bet (stake limits may apply)!

OK, it's time for the Quarter-Finals and we're down to the real business of the 2022 World Cup now. It's been two days without any World Cup action and I've honestly started suffering withdrawal symptoms. Cold sweats, hallucinations, and rage. It's all been going off. At 3pm GMT, I get my hit again as Croatia play Brazil in the first game of this stage. I tipped Brazil to go all the way before the tournament started and I'm sticking to that theory. Tite's side are looking so strong and I really can't see them slipping up here. They have found the perfect blend of attack and defence that it's frightening. Are they the most fully-rounded team in World Cup history? That was even before Richarlison decided to turn into beast mode!
The second game of the day is the 7pm GMT kick-off between Netherlands and Argentina. Both teams had moments of concern in their last 16 games against the USA and Australia respectively but they did enough to progress and that's what matters. It's a battle between the conservative pragmatism of Louis Van Gaal's orange army and Lionel Scaloni's attacking might that includes the likes of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, and Alexis Mac Allister. They didn't even start Lautaro Martinez or Paulo Dybala in the last match! I can understand why Van Gaal has adopted a more cautious philosophy in this tournament and I think it does provide them with their best chance of beating this Argentina side but I just think Argentina are destined for a semi-final date with Brazil and they'll sneak through. I wouldn't be surprised to see it go all the way to penalties though.
Croatia vs Brazil (Friday, 3pm GMT)
Brazil to Win to Nil @ 23/20 with Unibet
Anytime Scorer: Richarlison @ 15/8 with Bet365
Netherlands vs Argentina (Friday, 7pm GMT)
Draw @ 9/4 with SpreadEx
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 8/13 with SpreadEx

Netherlands vs Argentina
The Netherlands never looked like losing their last Round of 16 match against the USA, taking the lead after 10 minutes through Depay. Blind scored a rare goal in first-half stoppage-time to make van Gaal's half-time team talk that much easier. Although the US pulled a goal back through Wright, the Netherlands responded really well and sealed their passage into the quarter-finals with an 81st-minute goal from Dumfries that made the final scoreline 3-1. Oranje didn't have much trouble reaching this stage so far, but the toughest challenge is ahead of them. Nevertheless, Louis van Gaal's side will try to overcome that one, too.                                                                                
Argentina dominated the first half against Australia but did find it hard to break the underdogs down until the 35th minute when who else, but Lionel Messi fired the South Americans in front. Alvarez added a second goal in the 57th minute, and Argentina looked like they were going to cruise to victory. However, an own goal from Fernandez in the 77th minute gave Australia hope. With virtually the last kick of the game, Australia almost equalized and had goalkeeper Martinez to thank for keeping the scoreline at 2-1. Argentina needs to be much more confident against a more serious opponent like the Netherlands in order to continue their road to the finals.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
It is going to be a close game, and Argentina will have a pretty tough job. The Netherlands has been quite disciplined so far, and we wouldn't be surprised if this match goes to extra time. Therefore, the European team shouldn't lose in regulation time.
Goals Market Prediction
We shouldn't speak too much about Argentina's attacking area, but the Netherlands also has many talented offensive players. Therefore, we don't see either team keeping the clean sheet in this encounter.
Netherlands AH +0.5 @ 1.75
BTTS Yes @ 2.10
Correct score 1:1 @ 6.30

Croatia vs Brazil 
We didn't see the best of Croatia in their last Round of 16 match against Japan, perhaps because their midfield was kept quiet. Modric, 37, hardly made any impact on the game before he was substituted. However, despite being a goal down at the break, Croatia responded well in the second half and got level through a lovely curling header from Perisic in the 55th minute and came close to winning the game in regulation time. The match finished in a 1-1 draw, and the teams couldn't be separated in extra time, so the quarter-final place was settled on penalties. This shoot-out lacked drama, much like the match itself, as Japan missed three of their opening four spot-kicks and Croatia converted three of theirs, and the tie was decided before either team had to take the fifth penalty. However, the World Cup 2018 runners-up will have a tough challenge this time as they take on Brazil.
Brazil put on one of the best first-half shows in World Cup history as they scored four times without reply against an unorganized South Korea side. Vinicius Junior got the ball rolling in the 7th minute with the opening goal, and a Neymar penalty 6 minutes later made it 2-0. Richarlison scored a wonderful team goal in the 29th minute, and Paqueta scored a fourth in the 38th minute. South Korea was far too open and played right into the South Americans' hands. The second forty-five saw Brazil take their foot off the accelerator, and South Korea managed to pull a goal back through a deflected effort from Paik Seung-Ho, but it had no bearing on the outcome as Brazil ran out 4-1 winners. Brazil wants to go through the semis after missing that stage in the previous tournament, and they look pretty confident.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Croatia hasn't impressed in the World Cup so far, as they booked just one win, followed by three draws. Brazil is a firm favorite in this encounter, and we believe the South American side will meet expectations.
Goals Market Prediction
Both teams can provide damage to the opponent's defense, and we expect to see an entertaining game. This one should go over a 2.5 margin on Friday evening. 
Brazil AH +1 @ 1.67
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.85
Correct score 1:3 @ 12.00

The 2022 World Cup Quarter-Finals have been confirmed now. It's been a tournament of shock results but only one team is a surprise package in the last 8 of the competition after Morocco knocked out Spain on penalties in the last 16. Can they now knock out Spain's neighbours Portugal? Croatia were a team looking dead on their legs in the group stage but seem to be growing into the tournament. Will they stun pre-tournament favourites Brazil who dismantled South Korea in the last round? Netherlands take on Argentina in a game that will evoke memories of the 1998 World Cup Quarter-Final epic that saw Dennis Bergkamp score that iconic goal in the dying embers of the game. Then it's England versus France. Some are saying that is the game that will produce the eventual winner of the tournament. Others will say the other 6 teams also left in the competition will have something to say about that! It's set to be a cracking closing stages of this tournament. Hit us with your predictions down below! 

The 2022 World Cup Quarter-Finals have been confirmed now. It's been a tournament of shock results but only one team is a surprise package in the last 8 of the competition after Morocco knocked out Spain on penalties in the last 16. Can they now knock out Spain's neighbours Portugal? Croatia were a team looking dead on their legs in the group stage but seem to be growing into the tournament. Will they stun pre-tournament favourites Brazil who dismantled South Korea in the last round? Netherlands take on Argentina in a game that will evoke memories of the 1998 World Cup Quarter-Final epic that saw Dennis Bergkamp score that iconic goal in the dying embers of the game. Then it's England versus France. Some are saying that is the game that will produce the eventual winner of the tournament. Others will say the other 6 teams also left in the competition will have something to say about that! It's set to be a cracking closing stages of this tournament. Hit us with your predictions down below! 

It was so close to a total sweep yesterday. I'm still not sure why Japan's players were repeatedly taking the same awful types of penalties! Anyway, we go again! It's the final two games from the last 16 on Tuesday when Morocco play Spain and Portugal take on Switzerland. Walid Regragui's men must be thinking how harsh the World Cup is given they topped their group yet still have to face one of the favourites in the next round in the shape of La Roja. I'm anticipating this to be a very closely fought and tight encounter. Spain head coach Luis Enrique clearly feels there is a chance this could go all the way because he's stated in the media about how he has set his players the task of practicing penalties since their elimination against eventual winners Italy from the 2020 European Championship last summer via penalties. I think Spain could maybe sneak it within the 90 minutes. The loss to Japan in the final group stage game was probably a well-timed reality check.
The second and final game of the last 16 will see two experienced tournament sides in Portugal and Switzerland go toe-to-toe. I can't see either team going all the way but they both know how to go deep into tournaments. Neither team has really set the world alight but have enough quality to ensure they are tough to beat. I wouldn't be surprised if they cancelled each other out in this one and it went all the way to penalties. If I had to pick a winner then I'd say Portugal but even they are suffering from Cristiano Ronaldo's ego with head coach Fernando Santos stating he is unimpressed with the team captain's attitude. So all is not well in that camp and that can be a death knell for even the best of teams. Interestingly, they two nations have already met twice this year in the UEFA Nations League with a win apiece. Ronaldo himself has failed to score a goal in the knockout phase of a World Cup as well.
Morocco vs Spain (Tuesday, 3pm GMT)
Spain to Win to Nil @ 13/10 with BetUK
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 4/5 with Bet365
Portugal vs Switzerland (Tuesday, 7pm GMT)
Draw @ 5/2 with Betfred
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 8/11 with Unibet

Don't apologise. All about opinions. Croatia are favourites for a reason. I just feel that given Japan have already upset the odds twice this tournament they are worth the risk. What a story it would be!

The penultimate day of games in the last 16 is coming up on Monday and it's a couple of games that have contradicting vibes about them. Japan versus Croatia is a match that might've looked a given for Croatia going into the tournament but this is a Japanese team that has already beaten both Germany and Spain. The resolve shown by Hajime Moriyasu during that final game to seal top spot in their group was unreal and makes me feel they could be worth backing here. Zlatko Dalic's men looked very under-cooked in their group games against Morocco and Belgium but those impotent displays sandwiched a 4-1 demolition of Canada. I can see why Croatia are the favourites to progress but I think they'll need extra-time or even penalties to do it. Japan are certainly worth the value though and, as a football romantic, I can't resist that. I've been very impressed by them this tournament especially when they are written off. Unfortunately, my boy Takefusa Kubo is a doubt after missing training so I won't be able to place an anytime scorer bet on him! Kubo! Kubo! Kubo! 
It's Brazil taking on South Korea in the second game and you have to say it seems obvious to back Tite's side. They remain my favourites to win the competition and they are boosted by the news that Neymar is fit to return. Even without Neymar, I feel Brazil have a strong enough squad to get past this South Korean side who have been inconsistent at best. Paulo Bento's men are only at this stage thanks to Hwang Hee-chan's injury-time winner over an apathetic Portugal in their final group match that saw Uruguay eliminated. I think we'll see a similar outcome to the France and England victories here with Brazil getting the job done with minimal fuss.
Japan vs Croatia (Monday, 3pm GMT)
Japan to Qualify @ 17/10 with Sporting Index
BTTS @ Evens with Unibet
Brazil vs South Korea (Thursday, 7pm GMT)
Brazil HT/FT @ 10/11 with Bet365
Brazil -1 @ 10/13 with BetUK

Yes, I certainly think backing this game to go into extra-time is worthwhile so maybe the draw after 90 minutes at 12/5 with Betfred is another sound pick.

Don't apologise. All about opinions. Croatia are favourites for a reason. I just feel that given Japan have already upset the odds twice this tournament they are worth the risk. What a story it would be!

The penultimate day of games in the last 16 is coming up on Monday and it's a couple of games that have contradicting vibes about them. Japan versus Croatia is a match that might've looked a given for Croatia going into the tournament but this is a Japanese team that has already beaten both Germany and Spain. The resolve shown by Hajime Moriyasu during that final game to seal top spot in their group was unreal and makes me feel they could be worth backing here. Zlatko Dalic's men looked very under-cooked in their group games against Morocco and Belgium but those impotent displays sandwiched a 4-1 demolition of Canada. I can see why Croatia are the favourites to progress but I think they'll need extra-time or even penalties to do it. Japan are certainly worth the value though and, as a football romantic, I can't resist that. I've been very impressed by them this tournament especially when they are written off. Unfortunately, my boy Takefusa Kubo is a doubt after missing training so I won't be able to place an anytime scorer bet on him! Kubo! Kubo! Kubo! 
It's Brazil taking on South Korea in the second game and you have to say it seems obvious to back Tite's side. They remain my favourites to win the competition and they are boosted by the news that Neymar is fit to return. Even without Neymar, I feel Brazil have a strong enough squad to get past this South Korean side who have been inconsistent at best. Paulo Bento's men are only at this stage thanks to Hwang Hee-chan's injury-time winner over an apathetic Portugal in their final group match that saw Uruguay eliminated. I think we'll see a similar outcome to the France and England victories here with Brazil getting the job done with minimal fuss.
Japan vs Croatia (Monday, 3pm GMT)
Japan to Qualify @ 17/10 with Sporting Index
BTTS @ Evens with Unibet
Brazil vs South Korea (Thursday, 7pm GMT)
Brazil HT/FT @ 10/11 with Bet365
Brazil -1 @ 10/13 with BetUK

Brazil vs South Korea
Brazil won't want a repeat of their last result here after a 1-0 WC22 loss in their previous game against Cameroon. They have been impressive in the final third in each of their three group games, and their winning margin could have been wide if not for some brilliant saves from the opposition goalkeepers. Richarlison, Vinicius, and Raphinha were a constant threat in the final third in the first two games before resting in the 1-0 defeat to Cameroon. They should be ready for the upcoming match, and we won't be surprised if one of them scores at Stadium 974 on Monday evening. Now, Brazil should forget about their latest defeat and start a pursuit of the World Cup trophy.
Korea Republic comes into this clash following a 2-1 WC22 win against Portugal in their previous game. The South Korean unit was on the brink of elimination. Still, a miraculous ending to their game against Portugal extended their stay in Qatar, creating one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history. Hee-Chan Hwan entered the pitch in the 66th minute and scored in the injury time to deliver euphoria back home. This was a reward for Korean brave football displayed a this World Cup. They've scored four goals, allowing the same number. They now face one of the toughest rivals in the tournament, and we will see if they are capable of stunning Brazil.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            
Brazil is a firm favorite in this match, and we don't believe the South American team will allow a surprise. They should beat South Korea by at least two goals.
Goals Market Prediction
Interestingly, all three of Brazil's matches stayed under a 2.5 margin so far, but they could have been much more efficient. That shouldn't happen this time, and we expect to see at least three goals in this encounter.
Brazil AH -1.5 @ 1.90
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.85
Correct score 3:0 @ 7.00