Japan bet is a winner already, they won 4-0

Friday's Results

Montenegro U21's 4 Andorra U21's 0
San Marino U21's 0 Belarus U21's 2
Tajikistan 0 Japan 4
Iraq 1 China 0
Columbia 1 Venezuela 0


Tomorrow's World Cup Qualifiers


North Korea v Japan. Tuesday, 7am.

I watched Japan on Friday, and though there was a 10 minute spell when Tajikistan caused them 1-2 problems,
Japan coped admirably with the conditions and their class came through. In the end they won in a canter.

Importantly Japan can't rest on their laurels as Uzbekistan are pushing them all the way, and the group is likely to be decided when the top two meet early next year.

However North Korea are out.
I actually read a match report (can't remember which website though) from their last home game, from the perspective of a Western journalist.
Which is odd because they don't let many people into the country, nevermind their football stadia.

Apparently it was another hapless display, in a group where they've scored one goal, at home to even more hapless Tajikistan.
That is their only goal in their last six games, but prior to that they beat Nepal and Afghanistan.
They're not the most credible of results, and it's when they're playing the elite nations of Asia they struggle, and Japan are the best in the region.

North Korea don't concede many, but I expect Japan to grind them down eventually and probably win 1-0 or 2-0.
Even a goalless draw wouldn't harm Japan, as victory in their last group game will see them into the next round.

Both teams to score - NO

1.73 Paddy Power
1.7 Bwin
1.67 Bet 365

In the same group

Uzbekistan v Tajikistan. Tuesday, 1pm

I've said plenty about this group in this thread and last Friday. Suffice to say Tajikistan are woeful.
So woeful that they've already been eliminated once from the World Cup.

Syria fielded an ineligible player in the previous round, so were disqualified.
That was the last time the Tajik's scored, and that was 500 minutes ago.

The Uzbek's have built their success on a sound defence. Only Japan have scored against them in the last six,
This has the makings of a low scoring game, possibly 1-0, 2-0.

Both teams to score - NO

Bwin 1.5
Hills 1.36

Not sure if any other firms will price this up for tomorrow.

Still in Asia, and Group 5.

Indonesia v Iran. Tuesday, noon.

It's very similar to the Japan group, this time it's Iran who are trying to fend off lesser nations.
They're level on points with Qatar, and 3 ahead of Bahrain, so they can't afford to slip up against thw whipping boys.

They got a last minute equaliser at the weekend in Bahrain, and though I'm no fan of their coach (Carlos Queiroz) surely they'll have enough to see off Indonesia.
Prior to Friday they had kept 10 clean sheets in their last 11 games (in 90 minutes) and they face a side who have failed to score in 5 of their last six.

Both teams to score - NO

1.67 Paddy Power
1.5 Hills

or

Iran clean sheet
1.73 Paddy Power

or

Iran to win to nil

1.91 Paddy Power


I'd expect more firms to bet on this as it's live on some bookies live streaming.


And for a small stake fun bet I'm doing correct scores in the three Asian games.

Japan 1-0, 2-0
Uzbekistan 1-0, 2-0
Iran 2-0, 3-0

8 Trebles.
Minimum odds - 233/1
Maximum odds - 531/1

Bookie - W Hill

A losing bet today but still profitable overall, both today and throughout the whole thread.

International football is closing down for a wee while now.
There is the Pan Arab games next month, and there should be a couple of one sided games.
Not sure if any bookies will be betting on it though.

January is the Cup of Nations, and with plenty of big nations failing to qualify it should be an interesting tournement.

I have one final bet for tonight/early hours of Wednesday.

It's a dead rubber but it's still a miss match.


Panama v Dominica, 1am, Wed

Panama have won all three group games, including a 5-0 away win in Dominica.
Dominica have lost all three and failed to score.
In fact they haven't scored in their last six games.

Julio Dely Valdes (remember him? La Liga & Serie A), the coach of Panama has said he want's to go out with a bang, though he is mixing up his team.
It will be a mix of senior players and a sprinkling of their U23 Olympic team.

A lot of these players play in decent South American leagues, where as the Dominca squad don't seem to play anywhere outside their own country.

Both teams to score - No

1.45 - Bwin

Or you can back a Panama clean sheet at 1.4 with VC Bet

A pleasing start to 2012.

Cote d'Ivoire v Sudan. 4pm

These are from opposite spectrums of African football, there's over 100 places between them in the FIFA rankings.

Cote d'Ivoire qualified winning all six group games, while Sudan only got in as one of the best runners up.


They haven't scored in their last five, albeit the last three were agains decent opposition (all friendlies)
But they played competitve football last month in the Pan Arab Game where they finished 3rd (of 4) in a group containing Palestine and Jordan.

Their squad is made up of players playing domestically, while Ivory Coast can pick players from the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal & Stuttgart.

Ivory Coast won their two warm up games withou conceding, and whilst I don't trust them (especially at the price) to win the tournement, this should be a formality.

Both teams to score - NO 1.5 Corals

Or at a bigger price, and just as likely,

Ivory Coast to win to nil 1.67 Bet365, Skybet, Blue Sq, Paddy Power, Coral.

The Iran U21's won 4-0 last week.

One clean sheet bet for today, and another "obscure" league.

Aris Limassol v Anorthosis. Cypriot League. 4pm

The top four are way ahead in this league and Anorthosis have conceded just 7 goals all season in 18 games, with just two conceded on their travels.

They have kept 8 clean sheets in their last ten games, including their last six.
They drew last week, but before that won six on the spin, and 8 from 9.

Aris average less than a goal a game, 14 in 18. Admittedly it's at home where they get the majority of them. 11 in 9 games.
That is a slight concern, but they have failed to score in their last three games, one of those a cup game, and have one goal in five.

As I said, a slight concern, but with Anorthosis's excellent defensive record this has to be worth a bet.

Not many firms bet on Cypriot football, but I have found three that do.

Both teams to score - NO 1.53 Paddy Power

It's 1.45 with Bwin & 1.4 with Bet365, but they give you 1.53 on an Anorthosis clean sheet.

Hope you got on Zambia. Easy win. Did your selection no goals h.t ?

AZ to win to nil @ 1.73 Bet365
Both teams to score - NO @ 1.73 S James

Another winner yeserday, but I posted it very close to kick off.

I have a tentative bet for today.

Istanbul BB v Ankaragucu. Turkish League, 11am


Ankaragucu have failed to score in 11 of their last 12 League games.
The manin concern is Istanbul's fraility at the back, and their lack of clean sheets.
None in their last 11, and just one in 15, but they are decent goal scoring form.

If they're ever going to keep a clean sheet, surely it has to be today against the side 9 points adrift at the bottom.

Not big stakes, but worh an interest to hopefully kick start Sunday's betting


Both teams to score - NO
1.67 generally available, or 1.79 on here

Or the bet I've plumped for

Istanbul BB to win to nil

Evens with Paddy Power

It's still up on here, and on Futbol24. Paddy's took my bet, and Istanbul BB's official site is advertising the game.

They play at the Ataturk, which has held a CL Final, so I'd imagine it can cope with all sorts of problems.

was on the 2-2 match they had earlier this week, and it was covered in snow. The players evidently weren't able to cope with the conditions (not used to it at all), and the ball kept slipping from their feet.
O1.5 for me just for interest

Istanbul have scored 13 in their last five. but have conceded 11.

Ankaragucu have conceded 15 in their last six, and before that shipped 6 at home to a Div 2 side.

Yes, Kasimpasa, who to be fair, are decent, and should bounce straight back up.

that is still dreadful tho... I'm going for goals here. Remember how home side banished fener 2 weeks back

I wont curse my luck but surely there should have been more goals for instanbul... normally clinical finsihers...just terrible seeing 10 shots on goal only for 1-0

Lay Man City?

I gave out an Even money winner, why didn't you just back that?
Have you read his thread? It is littered with good value winning bets.

Olympiakos v Panionios. Greece, 3.15pm

Both teams to score - NO

1.44 VC Be or slightly bigger on Betfair

I think it's worth mentioning last week's Turkish bet.

Ankaragacu failed to score again yesterday.
I did look at backing this, but they were at home to the second bottom team so I erred on the side of caution and left it alone.
They lost 3-0. That's nine League games without a goal, and they've failed to score in 13 of their last 14.

Definitely one for the notebook.

They travel to third bottom side, Karabukspor next week, who to be fair don't keep many clean sheets (But neither did Istanbul BB prior to last weeks bet). Only three all season, but they are in decent form and are scoring goals. They've socred two goals in 8 of their last 9, and scored one goal in the other game.