Women World Cup

[chriscol]

After the kids have finished today starting a thread here for the Women WC starting tomorrow.
Everybody welcome sharing thoughts.

I am starting with

Germany- Argentina: Germany -2.5,3 @ 1.95

I dont know much about Argentina, but Germany is one of the strong favs to win it all and title defender. They beat Argentina 6-1 in last WC. From what i heart Argentina struggled to make it to the tourney, so i am looking for Germany getting off to a solid start.

BOL to all

 

[hm2.0]

I will prob. just watch this one. This tourney is gonna screw up my sleeping pattern, just like the U17 WC and last year's men's WC. Plenty o' lattes for me.

Germany is a prohibitive fave - ranked no. 2 in the world, after all - and the prices are too high for my liking.

All I know about Argentina is that they beat Bra-nil in qualifiers.

gl on yer play, chris.

 

[rolltide]

looking at Japan +1/4 against England. Japan are the higher ranked team and one of the most experience sides in the tourney (think they have the 3rd most players with WC exper). England had nice prep matches vs USA and Germany but meaningless matches and WC are quite different. The climate also heavily favors Japan

 

[hm2.0]

Germany 5-0 at the half. :lolBIG:

I've missed most of the 1st H. but according to the commentators the Argentine keeper has had a bad match. There was no stopping the last goal, though.

German team looks a lot bigger but Argentine had majority of poss. in last 15 min.

German keeper is awkward to look at. :lol:Attractive face on the body of Brian Urlacher...if you can envision that...built like a brick house. :missingte

 

[hm2.0]

looking at Japan +1/4 against England. Japan are the higher ranked team and one of the most experience sides in the tourney (think they have the 3rd most players with WC exper). England had nice prep matches vs USA and Germany but meaningless matches and WC are quite different. The climate also heavily favors Japan

You make some good pts. rolltide. This is one of the more even matches of the group rounds.

As I type Germany is pressing and scored 6-0. Keeper for Argentina is a sitting duck. Germans dominating in the air.

 

[hm2.0]

Germany is a machine, a real killer instinct. It is now 8-0 65' in. Argentina has shaky def. and can't poss. the ball in the 2nd, but Germany is finishing every opportunity.

The tourney will come down to US and Germany, no doubt.

 

[chriscol]

8-0 after 60 min..it s getting ugly

 

[rolltide]

one big issue is Japan's size though. They are the smallest teams in the tourney with an avg of just 5"4' per player. Won't be a big factor vs England since they are not tall either, but will kill them against Germany.

I think Japan will advance with Germany in this group but then will face the USA and go home

 

[chriscol]

here we go...TD+FG with 10 min to go...10-0 not even Manning could get a comeback now

 

[hm2.0]

great call, chris. Germany outscored the Atlanta Falcons.

Germany 11-0. Total domination. 2nd H. was played in the Argentine side.

Hard to assess Argentina as it was like a match b/w a women's team and a men's team...and I mean that in a respectful way, as Germany just too physical and focused and organized. Every mistake by a spotty def. and shaky goalkeeping, Germany finished.

 

[chriscol]

1-0 +0.95 units

tough day tomorrow

USA line moved just to -1.75. my first lean was to USA, but Korea seems a decent team, which can keep it close. i dont think they will get a point, but no blow out. USA could be inspired by germanys win (which was definetely a statement for the other teams) to win also impressively, but looking at their recent results in big tourneys (olympics and WC), they rarely blow teams out..not sure why as they should be capable, but they just dont do it. i am talking decent teams here and Korea is decent IMO...so no play. if i can get under 3.5, i ll think about that.

Sweden should dominate and win vs Nigeria, but then again they never won an opening match. Beating nigeria 2-1 in last WC. Nigeria got destroyed in last WC by bigger teams, which losses of 0-5,0-3,0-3, but even that would only barely cover the -2.5 and Nigeria is improved since last WC..olympics were already better.
Again here thinking about the under 3.75..looking for line move..maybe it moves up to 4.

Japan- England: Japan pk,+0.5 @ 2.0

i agree with what you guys saying. that should be a very open match. it s tough to cap with so little info around, but it seems like Japan is at least on same level as England. Therefore the value is with the little girls from Japan in a game that could very well end in a draw.

BOL to all

 

[Costanza]

With you on these chris, win or lose thanks for handicapping these matches.
should turn out to be some fun

Good luck

 

[rolltide]

For 1st round I've taken:
1u Japan @3.25
- there is little separating these two sides and Japan with clear experience and climate advantage. English girls largely play together on Arsenal club team but 3.25 are huge odds for the better team (or at least equal team)

1u parlay USA/SWE/BRA/AUS @2.40
1u parlay USA/SWE/BRA/NOR @2.46
- USA playing 5th ranked team in world but there is basically USA/GER then big gap to SWE/NOR then another gap to BRA/NKOR/CHINA/DEN. Similarly at the bottom there is ARG/NIG/GHANA/NZ separated from the rest. Sweden and Brazil play their "easy" matches of 1st round and are clear bankers ... USA have beaten No Korea 3-1 in WC last two times. That leaves Australia over Ghana and Norway to defeat Canada. Australia are in that middle tier with ENG/CAN/JAP and should not have trouble with poor Ghana while Norway are a clear top 4 team in the tourney facing a decent Canada team. They're 7-1-0 against Canada and beat them in the WC two previous times...badly.

a few notes:
Nigeria were 0-0-3 0/11 last tourney
Arg were 0-0-3 1/15 last tourney (not looking much better this year)
USA are 11-1-0 44/8 in group stage of previous World Cups
Ger are 10-1-1 41/9 in group stage of previous World Cups
Nor are 9-0-3 45/13 "" "" ""
African teams are 3-2-13 13/54 in group stage, advancing to QF just one time and never beyond

 

[hm2.0]

You guys def. have me rethinking my play on England...may have wagered on them half-cocked. :lolBIG:

 

[chriscol]

big line move on USA in last 2 hours from -2 @ 2.0 to -1.25 @ 1.9
What s going on????

Also Japan from +0.25 @ 1.90 to +0.5 @ 2.0 ???

 

[hm2.0]

I know there are questions about Abby Wambach's toe injury suffered in friendly v. Finland. Wambach is US' top scorer. I believe it was a sprain. I don't think she will be 100% for the tournament...just how fit...maybe some have a better idea.

 

[soccerbob]

This USA team is a shell of some of their past World Cup teams which were really solid. They are being outplayed by Korea and will be lucky to get a draw in this match. Germay would run this USA team right off the field.

 

[hm2.0]

wild game in the rain...US up 1-0 Wambach scoring. Wambach goes down prob. needed stitches and is out for 10min. North Korea scores two goals...one a cheapie off Solo's hands w/ US down 1 man...or woman.

 

[hm2.0]

This USA team is a shell of some of their past World Cup teams which were really solid. They are being outplayed by Korea and will be lucky to get a draw in this match. Germay would run this USA team right off the field.

midfield has not played well and def. was shaky on that second goal for sure. It seemed like N. kkorea had the ball in the penalty area forever.

I think they've only played one squad of substance in matches leadingup tothe WC - Norway...which they won 1-0

As I type O'reilly ties it.arty:

 

[hm2.0]

If the score stands at 2-2 you can question Ryan's choice not to sub Wambach, of course she's your best player. Also, no subs in this game at the 81"