Germany vs. Costa Rica

[JohnGalt]

I know it is early, but we have a strong lean towards Costa Rica +1 1/2 balls at this point in the opening match. At 2.05, this is already good value. However, most likely it will get even better as we get closer to kick-off of the World Cup.

[KevinBeane]

I'll be pulling for Costa Rica (you gotta pull for CONCACAF teams, except Mexico, to do well so FIFA gives us more berths - currently 3.5). And I agree that if they lose it will likely be by only one goal. Wanchope is the difference maker for CRC. You know how good he is if you watched their qualifying matches against the US.

[HibachiDG]

Costa Rica and Trinidad are both underrated teams heading into World Cup.

I'm more surprised that Kevin didn't get all over this guy. I see one post in his total and a post all about how he/they are setting lines for the game and how the pick would be a good value, with his signature being a link to a soccer handicapping web-site.

[#99]

Costa Rica definitely has a chance of stealing the second spot in group A. Trinidad is going to finish last in the tournament. They are not a good team.

And I agree, Doug. "JohnGalt's" post is highly dubious.

[KevinBeane]

I'm more surprised that Kevin didn't get all over this guy. I see one post in his total and a post all about how he/they are setting lines for the game and how the pick would be a good value, with his signature being a link to a soccer handicapping web-site.

I did send him a PM, but although he walked a fine line, he obeyed the letter, if not the spirit, of the SMBC law. Just like ProInfoSports used to, remember him? He was allowed to stay on for hundreds of posts before he just got too spammy. If they keep their links confined to their signature, and they don't make threads that are simply about their service, they can give us as many free picks as they want.

As a side note, I know you (Doug) don't personally care for the gambling side of sports, but I enjoy it (even though I'm beyond small-time....I might make a $5 wager once a month) and would like to see more discussions about sports wagering around here.

[HibachiDG]

I don't think I would say that Trinidad will advance to the knockout round, but the sentiment that they'll be the worst in World Cup is why I'd consider them under-rated. They'll get thumped by England, but I think they'll compete against Sweden and Paraguay and if either of those teams overlook them, I think Stern John is the kind of finisher that could make them pay.

[#99]

I guess you didn't watch them in the home and away playoff with Bahrain...

[HibachiDG]

I'm pretty sure I haven't seen any Trinidad outside of games with the US. I guess you didn't notice their win over Mexico, though.

You think they're the worst team in the field? Without a doubt worse than Angola? Togo? Ivory Coast? Switzerland? Saudi Arabia? I'm not putting Trinidad up as the top team in the Tournament. Just an underrated team. They're in a group where they are going to be given no chance and may surprise people and finish 3rd there.

[KevinBeane]

You think they're the worst team in the field? Without a doubt worse than Angola? Togo? Ivory Coast? Switzerland? Saudi Arabia?

I'm gonna nitpick. Switzerland's pretty good. They advanced, along with France, out of one of the strongest UEFA qualifying groups, edging out Ireland and a surprising Israel team (Isreal can't play Asian or African qualifying because Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia refuse to play them).

That said, I'm leaning more towards Doug's argument. However sketcky they looked against Bahrain in the tiebreaker, they did win it, beat Mexico, and although I don't think the US is 4th (or 5th) in the world, I think CONCACAF on a whole is slightly underrated.

[#99]

I'm pretty sure I haven't seen any Trinidad outside of games with the US. I guess you didn't notice their win over Mexico, though.

You think they're the worst team in the field? Without a doubt worse than Angola? Togo? Ivory Coast? Switzerland? Saudi Arabia? I'm not putting Trinidad up as the top team in the Tournament. Just an underrated team. They're in a group where they are going to be given no chance and may surprise people and finish 3rd there.

Angola, Togo, and perhaps Saudi are T&T's only real threats to last place in the whole tournemant. I'm going with T&T, though, because they play in a tougher group than those others.

[MountaineerDave]

The Saudis were remarkably bad four years ago. I'm not hallucinating when I think I recall that they finished pointless, am I?
I learned that Miroslav Klose was a star waiting to have his light lit during the Germany-SA match, only to be kind of disappointed that Klose was merely taking total advantage of the Saudis lack of size, speed, and less specifically, any soccer ability at all.