Semi Finals

[step]

To close to call this game. 0-0 half time @ 5/4, lousy odds but all i can think of. Possibly settled by a single goal in normal time, Italy to win to nil @ 4/1.

The biggest factor for me is the referee. Plenty of players in this game that like a dive. If the ref sends someone off early it'll change the whole game.

1st card received, Ballack @ 16/1
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Bad is never good until worse happens.

[olivergt]

RussBradley2004, you say Germany only had one shot on Target? The stats from the FIFA Web Site show the following:


GER
Shots on Goal 5
Shots 10
ARG
Shots on Goal 5
Shots 12


And against Sweden

GER
Shots on Goal 11
Shots 26
SWE
Shots on Goal 2
Shots 5

And these are Italiy's Stats against Ukraine and Australia

ITA
Shots on Goal 7
Shots 10
UKR
Shots on Goal 7
Shots 13

ITA
Shots on Goal 6
Shots 11
AUS
Shots on Goal 4
Shots 8

Agree that Italy are very Strong in defence though, hence my 1-0 prediction. I have gone for Germany/Draw in the OLBG comp.

Anyway, keep the comments coming the more information we all have the better the decisions we can make.

Oliver.

[Stirlo]

The bet of the night has to be DRAW/DRAW afta 90mins as both team's defences have been outstanding in the last two matches. If Italy do happen to score first then Germany will go all out attack to level up so either way 0-0 or 1-1 for me on the HT/FT Double.

If it goes past 90 minutes then the Germany crowd will see them home, particularly if goes to penalties again. Lehman in superb form at the back and will thrive on the penalty shootout challenge should it present itself again.

Expect a low-scoring match with Germany to swallow it up on penalties. Will be a gripping match for sure.

[fairfranco]

chillin_dude, i see you've taken up posting on the Betfair forum, spotted you there with your post on the world cup man of the matches!

some occasionly worthwhile posts appear on there but you've really got to work your way through lots of mindless rubbish sometimes. especially after big news or matches as everyone decides to start about 20 threads saying the same thing.

good to see a new face posting worthile threads though!

[topnotch]

this is my first ever post so the pressure is on lol, but ive had a successful world cup so far so maybe my luck will rub off. i agree with most others, goals will be at a premium today but i expect the onus is on the germans to do most of the attacking and can see italy defending alot, the italian counter attack lacks pace and invention although zambrotta is on fire (good MOMshout). germany to win one nil or low/no score draw for me today with a fair confidence level, klose first goalscorer.
with regards france and portugal, i expect zidane to orchestrate again and france to win inside the 90, the portugese havent impressed at all really, especially against the 10 lions of england, however i could do with pauletta to get 5 goals as i backed him to be topscorer lol. with the portugese attacking talent theyve disappointed upfront and still dont appear to me a potent threat although deco could pull one out of the hat. i feel that if portugal come under pressure from ribery and co they will wilt or freeze whereas france seem to be enjoying a renaissance (sic??), thus germany v france final with SkyBet @ 13/10 is my pick.
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top rugby tipster april 2007

[fairfranco]

welcome topnotch a good first post and hopefully you'll want to stay and post many more!

in welcoming you i'd also like to suggest you join the olbg lottery syndicate, not quite the skill of picking a winner but were running an 8 numbered perm that will hopefully net us a few million or so at some point.

http://www.online-betting-guide.co.uk/forum/topic20_8770.html

[KanKeano]

My pick tonight is Italy (+0.25). I think the Italians are the best equipped team left in the competition. One of the best Goalkeepers in the world, strong defence (only conceded one goal which was an own goal), strong midfield (Gattuso, Pirlo, Perrotta) and top attack in Totti, Toni & Gilardino. germany have never beaten Italy in 4 previous WC Finals meetings and have not beaten Ithem at all since 1995 and were soundly beaten 4-1 earlier this year. Gerrmany have only been beaten once at home in 2 seasons and have a record of 13 wins and 1 draw in Dortmund.

It looks a draw all over this game but if anyone was to win my bet would be the Italians.
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"The biggest regret of my whole football career was leaving White Hart Lane in 1970.....I was heartbroken" - Jimmy Greaves. Greatest ever English striker, bar none [464 goals in 657 matches for club & country]

[STUBBLE]

I'm with you on the 'Germany on penalties' shout, jimny - this one could definitely go all the way and if so, very likely there would be only one winner.

However, my inclination within 90 minutes is to go with Italy, as i actually think they stack up quite well against Germany.

In all the fuss, it seems to have been forgotten that Germany were dominated for long periods by Argentina in the quarter final, and it was only some negative tactics from the manager and a lack of height at the back that allowed Germany back into the game.

I agree that we have learned very little about this Italian side from the knockout stages so far, and this represents a significant step up in class from Australia and Ukraine. Italy do have the ability to dominate possession in much the way Argentina did and are better at the back - I expect Gattuso to be a major presence in midfield, and should Italy take the lead, it is unlikely either the players or Lippi will make the same mistakes as Argentina.

My only real concern is whether they have the mental strength to beat Germany in their own backyard on such an important occasion. At the prices, it is worth the risk:

Italy to win in 90 minutes @ 3.4 (Bet365)
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Confidence in tips ranges from the most confident which is 5 stars to least which is 1.

If you fire enough arrows, one or two are bound to hit the target

[king pete]

Scorecast:

Germany 3-1 Italy

First scorer:Klose

Good Luck People

[coopsy02]

Germany Team

Jens Lehmann, Arne Friedrich, Christoph Metzelder, Per Mertesacker, Philip Lahm, Tim Borowski, Michael Ballack, Sebastian Kehl, Bernd Schneider, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski

Subs: Marcell Jansen, Robert Huth, Jens Nowotny, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mike Hanke, Oliver Neuville, Oliver Kahn, Gerald Asamoah, Thomas Hitzlsperger, David Odonkor, Timo Hildebrand

Italy Team

Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Fabio Grosso, Mauro German Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, Luca Toni

Subs: Cristian Zaccardo, Andrea Barzagli, Alessandro Del Piero, Alberto Gilardino, Angelo Peruzzi, Alessandro Nesta, Marco Amelia, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Simone Barone, Filippo Inzaghi, Massimo Oddo
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Challenge Winners for Season

Scottish Premier: Beernutz
English Scorecast: Dj Peem
Premiership: Man o Bong

[topnotch]

thanks for the welcome guys, there seems to be a fair split of opinion tonight, i guess thats due to the tightness of the game, good luck and fingers crossed the game opens up
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top rugby tipster april 2007

[TempletonPeck]

i have put a few different bets on

i took italy 1 - 0 @ 15/2 on Bet365 this morning, italians defence is spot on i think it will be a tight match

i had a feeling cannavaro would score first so backed him at 66/1 on VC this morning, hes now available at 50/1.

also with VC Bet klose 2 - 1 at 60/1 (at the request of my knowledgable girlfriend!)

and toni 60/1 on 2 - 1 VC Bet also.

Extremely good odds, higher than others bookies i had a look on so a few quid on each.

I think italy will squeeze this 1 0 thats my main bet due to reasons above but mainly the tight defence