Spain vs Netherlands
FreeToday’s featured game is the World Cup Final between Spain and Netherlands. I tipped both sides to do well pre-tournament so I can’t bear them grudges whoever wins. They’ve both done enough to be in the final so good luck to them both, although of course I will be siding with Spain because I tipped them to actually win the damn tournament!
Apologies for not writing longer previews but time really is against me at the moment!
Contrary to what most people expect, I think this will be a dull game if Spain have their way, which I presume that they will. I’d love to believe that Netherlands will attack them and do damage but I just can’t see it because Spain don’t give the ball away. You can’t beat a side without the ball and nobody comes close to keeping it better than Spain do – fact. If Netherlands somehow score the first goal here then it should be a good game but I can only envision Spain taking the sting out of the Dutch attack and knocking it around until they inevitably score. Netherlands aren’t as good as their results suggest although you can only admire their ruthlessness in front of goal. If Van Bommel gets booked early in this game then it’s game over for Netherlands as Xavi and Iniesta will destroy them through the middle. The only chance the Dutch really have, in my opinion, is getting the ball to Robben who should destroy an average Joan Capdevilla at left-back. Kuyt will have some joy against the ever-attacking Sergio Ramos but Spain will have so much of the ball that I can only see them winning this today. Normally I’d be able to list a few bets that interest me but I can only see one outcome for this game, which is a little bizarre – you could try your hand at under 2.5 goals, I daresay, but I prefer my selection.
Ultimately, this game hopefully won’t be but probably will turn out to be men against boys. I admire the Dutch but I think they’re going to get taught a lesson today by the best international football side in the world currently. Although Spain’s defence is dodgy, I’m banking on Spain not giving the ball away enough for it to do damage. Therefore, my selection is backing Spain to win to nil at generous odds of 2/1, risky though it unquestionably is.
Verdict: Spain to win to nil at 2/1.
Sunday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
FC Lahti vs TPS Turku – away win at 27/20.
FC Lahti still have problems in front of goal and that’s cost them a lot of points this season. Nothing has changed so going against them is always an option. TPS Turku haven’t had a great Veikkausliiga campaign as of yet but they are the better side and have just returned from a triumphant trip to Wales where they demolished Port Talbot Town for the second time and thus reached thenext round of the UEFA Europa League. TPS should be buoyant from that news and they have scored a lot of goals of late so I think they’ll edge this game today. I’d approach with caution because TPS are a funny side sometimes but the odds are good enough to take a chance on.
Verdict: TPS Turku to win at 21/20.
RoPS Rovaniemi vs KPV Kokkola – home win with -1.75 handicap at 8/5.
These odds are too good to ignore! Although KPV are one of the better Ykkonen sides, RoPS are the daddies in this division and I think I’ll eat mine and everyone else’s respective hats if they don’t get promoted because they’re a class above the rest. They’ve got so many talented players that they average scoring four goals per home game, which is frankly frightening. They do have the odd defensive lapse but if you consider that Finland tends to boast lowering scoring games, you have to consider that RoPS are very likely to win the majority of their games with such a record backing up their cause. KPV won’t make this easy for them but I genuinely believe RoPS can destroy anyone in this division at the moment, particularly with their strong momentum. They’ve won five out of six at home and drew the other so you’re a braver man than me if you go against them today. Hell, even the odds on the outright home win at 11/20 are a bargain – they should be much shorter than this. The odds of 8/5 on the handicap look particularly juicy, however!
Verdict: RoPS Rovaniemi to win with -1.75 goal handicap at 8/5.
Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk – home win at 3/4.
Dundalk have done a lot of unfamiliar travelling of late having ousted the giants of European football CS Grevenmacher of Luxembourg in painstakingly close fashion. They’re going to be tired from so many games – think this is now their fourth game in ten days – and they don’t have the strength in-depth to deal with it, in my opinion. Shamrock are the superior side despite their sluggish start and have played well lately so I’ve no problems backing them to win this one. They’re solid at home and odds of 3/4 are too long considering that they’re the better side and that their opponents have a disadvantage or two today so the home win looks good to me although I’d always endorse caution when betting on this league!
Verdict: Shamrock Rovers to win at 3/4
Accumulator fodder:
RoPS Rovaniemi, IFK Norrkoping
Recommended bets:
RoPS Rovaniemi and Spain to win to nil at 7/1.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below!
World Cup Final:
Spain vs Netherlands (6) 1-0
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
AC Oulu vs Jaro Pietarsaari (5) 1-1
VPS Vaasa vs MyPa Anjalankoski (6) 0-0
FC Lahti vs TPS Turku (7) 1-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
TPV Tampere vs MP Mikkeli (5)
KooTeePee Kotka vs PoPa Pori (6) under 2.5 goals
RoPS Rovaniemi vs KPV Kokkola (8) -1.75 handicap
PK-35 Helsinki vs PS Kemi Kings (5)
Irish Premier League:
Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk (7) 1-0
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Kongsvinger vs Stromsgodset (4) 1-2
Norwegian Divisjon 1:
Ranheim vs Lov-Ham Bergen (7)
Sandnes Ulf vs Bodo Glimt (7)
Mjondalen vs Strommen (5)
Follo vs Fredrikstad (6)
Bryne vs Sogndal (5)
Alta vs Moss (4)
Tromsdalen vs Nybergsund (6)
Swedish Superettan:
Assyriska Sodertalje vs GIF Sundsvall (5)
IFK Norrkoping vs Trollhattan (8) under 2.5 goals
Enjoy your free betting tips!