World Cup 2nd Round Matches 30th Jun

HOLLAND v MEXICO, Sunday 29th June, 17:00, ITV 1

The third of the last 16 games takes place Sunday afternoon and is an intriguing battle between two sides who impressed in qualifying, the Netherlands and Mexico.

The Dutch are 21/20 favourites to progess having impressed in qualifying winning all three of their games. In addition no team scored more than the Oranje in the group stages as they netted an impressive ten times.

Mexico qualified for the last 16 as runners up in Group A though they did get the same point as Brazil having held the South Americans to a draw in the group stages before impressive performances in victories over Croatia and Cameroon. In fact if it was not for some controversial decision from officials then it would have been El Tri who topped the group and this would have been a battle between the Dutch and Brazil.

If you think Mexico can go win through in 90 minutes then you can back them at 3/1 while the draw is a 5/2 shot. A better way to play though is to take Mexico on the Asian Handicap with a 0.5 start which pays out on them winning the game or the match ending all square. El Tri are no fools and 5/6 looks a generous price.

If you look at the statistics Miguel Layun is averaging close to two shots per game in this World Cup and the Mexican is being overlooked in the scorer markets with bet365 suggesting his chances of scoring are 33/1 (first) and 14/1 (anytime). This has to be worth an interest on a player who plays as a wide wing-back in a 3-5-2 system.

RECOMMENDATION: Mexico on the Asian Handicap, 5/6 (bet365)
Miguel Layun to score v Holland, first 33/1, anytime 14/1 (bet365)

COSTA RICA v GREECE, Sunday 29th June, 21:00, ITV1

Perhaps not the most glamours of the last 16 games on paper though one that has a certain charm to it, in a Sunday League Football kind of way. Bookmakers are struggling to split the pair with Costa Rica the marginal 8/5 favourites with bet365. Los Ticos shocked everyone but themselves in topping a group featuring England, Italy and Uruguay and will have nothing to fear from Greece here. I could not put anyone off backing them at those prices to see off their European opponents who scraped through qualifying despite failing to net in their opening two games. If you think Greece can come out on top here then you can get odds of 21/10 which is the same price as the draw.

Bookmakers expect this match to be a low scoring affair with both these sides known for their cautious approach and their counter attacking style. You can get just 2/5 that the game has under 2.5 goals while it is 4/7 that both teams do not score.

Team news is a must before taking the recommended bets but be ready to move quickly if Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (not one to get on the back of your shirt) is selected for the Greeks. The player featured in an attacking midfield role last time out against the Ivory Coast and managed four shots on goal. If selected here he can make a mockery of the 16/1 that he nets first or 7/1 that he scores anytime.

If you want a player at even bigger prices then look at Oscar Duarte for Costa Rica who netted in the first game from a set piece and in a tight game looks value at 40/1 to score first or 20/1 to net at anytime.

RECOMMENDATION: Christodoulopoulos v Costa Rica 16/1 (first), 7/1 (any) bet365
Duarte to score v Greee, 40/1 (first), 20/1 (anytime) bet365

Go To bet365

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29/06/2014     © Frixo 2024