SOCCER - World Cup Future Play
(Odds to win the group via @Pinnaclesports)
France -134 | 1.75
Switzerland +266 | 3.66
Ecuador +377 | 4.77
Honduras +2000 | 21.0
I understand that France has been a major disappointment in the last few years, and their performance in South Africa 4 years ago was laughable w/ some bizarre off-the- field stuff, just read this two articles: (http://www.theguardian.com/
However, this is a new team and more importantly, they have a good coach in Didier Deschamps that simply doesn’t allow any sign of indiscipline. In a controversial decision, Deschamps left out Manchester City’s star Samir Nasri because he believes team spirit is key to winning. In the playoffs, France was almost humiliated @Ukraine by losing 0-2, but they bounced back in France and won 3-0 and secured the qualification. Nasri started in the first game and had a terrible performance, while he didn’t play in the second game at home, so the correlation is pretty clear for me.
I was about to send this play earlier and being a Triple Dime Play, but the injury and absence of Franck Ribery was indeed a major blow for them. Nevertheless, I still think that we have some value in them to win the group as my fair line in here is France having 60% of chances to be #1 in the group @ -150 odds.
I really love France’s midfield trio on the center of the field w/ Matuidi, Pogba and Cabaye. These three players can defend and attack with great quality, and they impose a great tempo to the game – something pivotal in today’s preferred style of play. Ribery is gone, but it looks like Benzema “connects” pretty well with Olivier Giroud on the front as both players are great passers despite being strikers.
Regarding their opponents…
Switzerland is a well organized team that will be tough to score against them but they don’t have a plan “B” if things don’t go well for them. Besides Shaqiri, they don’t have the proper talent on the front to create chances to score in “open plays”. I wouldn’t be surprised if they can get a quality outcome vs. France, but I expect them to struggle against Honduras and Ecuador as they will have the “onus” to be the favorite team and is “forced” to win the game– something that doesn’t fit well in their overall mindset and game plan.
Honduras is by far the weakest team in the group, and probably of the whole tournament…
Ecuador is the “wild card” of the group. They have qualified in 3 of the 4 last WC’s, so they have some experience in this superior level. They are a great “home team” that benefits from the fact that they play in altitude to crush their opponents. The good news for them is that the first game of the group against the Swiss’s will be played @Brasilia - Altitude: 1,172m (3,845ft), so they might have some physical edge in that first game. Ecuador plays an exciting style of football using their wingers quite often (their best player Valencia plays in Man Utd), but in my opinion they are vulnerable on the back. In 2014 (all friendly games), they have allowed 3, 1, 3 and 2 goals!
Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on France to win Group E @ -128 / 1.79 on Bookmaker
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