Quarter Finals Preview
With the round of 16 matches all going to the wire and the weaker teams being slowly weeded out I expect the Quarter Finals to be very tight. 2 of the 8 round of 16 matches went to penalties. But the bookies are only giving 4/1 for France and Germany to be decided by a penalty shootout, 5/1 for Argentina/Belgium and Brazil/Colombia and 13/2 for Costa Rica/Netherlands. I am thinking that penalty shootouts, extra time and last minute goals will once again be the order of the day.
Interestingly two of the weekends fixtures are exact repeats of the 1986 semi finals.
Costa Rica vs Netherlands
This is the first time ever that these two countries meet. PaddyPower.com is calling this very one sided. Costa Rica are 1/200 to score less than 2.5 goals. Netherlands 1/5 to qualify for the next round. Costa Rica are 7/2.
Brazil vs Colombia
These two teams know eachother well having played 25 times before. Brazil have won 15 times and only lost twice. This match also features the battle for the golden boot with Neymar and Rodriguez. Neymar is 18/1 to score a hat-trick with Rodriguez at 125/1. The other contender, Messi, is 18/1 to score a hat trick too in the next round. Van Persie or Robben could upset the favourites here they are 10/1 and 12/1 respectively.
In this one Brazil are 2/5 to qualify. Colombia are 15/8
Argentina vs Belgium
This fixture had been played only 4 times with Argentina won three times and Belgium won the other. The last time was in the semi finals in the 1986 world cup. Argentina are 8/15 to qualify. Belgium are 6/4.
France vs Germany
Surprisingly France have the upper hand when it comes to past meetings. They have met 10 times before and France won 5 and drew 2. Three of these meetings were in past World Cup - France winning out twice. However the most recent World Cup head to head went to Germany. This is also a repeat of the other 1986 world cup semi final.
Paddypower.com has Germany qualifying from this one at 8/11, France are 11/10.
Interestingly two of the weekends fixtures are exact repeats of the 1986 semi finals.
Costa Rica vs Netherlands
This is the first time ever that these two countries meet. PaddyPower.com is calling this very one sided. Costa Rica are 1/200 to score less than 2.5 goals. Netherlands 1/5 to qualify for the next round. Costa Rica are 7/2.
Brazil vs Colombia
These two teams know eachother well having played 25 times before. Brazil have won 15 times and only lost twice. This match also features the battle for the golden boot with Neymar and Rodriguez. Neymar is 18/1 to score a hat-trick with Rodriguez at 125/1. The other contender, Messi, is 18/1 to score a hat trick too in the next round. Van Persie or Robben could upset the favourites here they are 10/1 and 12/1 respectively.
In this one Brazil are 2/5 to qualify. Colombia are 15/8
Argentina vs Belgium
This fixture had been played only 4 times with Argentina won three times and Belgium won the other. The last time was in the semi finals in the 1986 world cup. Argentina are 8/15 to qualify. Belgium are 6/4.
France vs Germany
Surprisingly France have the upper hand when it comes to past meetings. They have met 10 times before and France won 5 and drew 2. Three of these meetings were in past World Cup - France winning out twice. However the most recent World Cup head to head went to Germany. This is also a repeat of the other 1986 world cup semi final.
Paddypower.com has Germany qualifying from this one at 8/11, France are 11/10.
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