Soccer World Cup Play 06/22: Portugal vs. USA

Soccer World Cup Play: Portugal vs. USA

I have a small lean w/ the Portuguese team in this contest, but there is no way we are getting value @ currents odds, so I’m passing sides.

I expect this contest to be a tight contest with few opportunities to score.

USA will come for this contest with a natural conservative mindset… they defeated Ghana in the first game, and a potential draw in here would put them in a fantastic position for the qualification.

They will be focused in shutting down the Portuguese winger players Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.  Note that this is usually what teams do against Portugal, but this time around it could be successful because without Fabio Coentrao (he got injured and is OUT for the tournament) moving forward from the left side, Portugal doesn’t have much width on their game. Also, the Portuguese midfield unit is struggling a bit in terms of moving forward and supply help to forwards, so we are dealing w/ a Portuguese team potentially struggling vs. a packed USA defensive line.

On my write up of Portugal’s first game vs. Germany:

“For those who follow these major tournaments, particularly the last EURO2012, I can say that you will watch basically the same Portuguese team on the field: they are extremely well organized, their tactical discipline and work-rate is outstanding – one of the best in the world and this fact alone, makes them a very tough team to beat! Their losses at this level have been all by one goal max and even @ penalty shootout vs. Spain in EURO2012. The problem for Portugal relies on the front… they don’t have many depth and versatility on the front, their strikers are more focused in working for the team and don't have the proper scoring abilities but, fortunately for them, they have Cristiano Ronaldo – the world’s best player and really an incredible goal scoring machine!”

Yes, they got smashed 0-4 by the Germans and looked lost on the field, but it was a strange game: Germany scored an early goal, Pepe was sent off, and the game basically ended right there. Portugal’s defense is well organized and w/ USA’s Altidore being OUT in here and Dempsey banged up, I expect Portugal to do a good job on the defensive end vs. USA team that won’t put many men on the front in their build-up plays.

I’m taking the Under in here as my Single Dime Play.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on Under 2.75 Goals @ -122 / 1.82 on Pinnacle Sports  (OR -140 / 1.71 on Betonline)