CONCACAF GOLD CUP .... COSTA RICA - GUADELOUPE

Costa Rica have been very disappointing so far and are in danger of going home early. They have been beset by problems, prior to the tournament starting, they lost several key players.

If that was not bad enough, things have gone from bad to worse, with another leaving due to a family bereavement and a second involved in a "scandal", which has been widely promoted in the domestic press. Many others have unresolved contract disputes with their clubs and are unsure about their futures. Too many distractions to concentrate on football.

Guadeloupe have a team of players who ALL play in Europe, most, as you might expect, in France, the rest in Holland and England. They are ineligible to play in the World Cup, so are very motivated in events like this. Following a win over Canada and a draw with Haiti, where they looked the better team, Guadeloupe are in a very strong position to progress.

Think they are a fine price and there is little doubt that they will start the game in the better frame of mind.

4.5 points Guadeloupe +3/4 ball 2.06 asian line.

Good Luck.

ALLSVENSKAN .... HALMSTAD - HAMMARBY

I do not feel we will see many goals here. After two 1-0 losses Hammarby are keen to stop the rot and are likely to come and shut up shop, looking for the point.

The visitors are "under" in their last 4 starts and their away matches are averaging 1.5 goals.

Halmstad are "under" in 4 from 5 and their home fixtures are averaging exactly 2.0 per start.

Last two h2h meetings have been scoreless and this hardly looks a goal fest.

Early season games in Sweden tend to be low scoring, with the first half of the season some 10% below average.

4.5 points under 2.25 goals 1.92 asian line.

Good Luck.

VEIKKAUSLIGA .... VPS VAASA - OULU

The hosts are desperate for the win, which would take them off the foot of the table. They have sacked their coach, who had fallen out with many of the squad, as usual under such circumstances, we can expect an improved performance.

To be fair, their home form is not too bad, they have collect 3 points and only conceded 4 goals, it is on the road that they have been dire. It is a similar story for Oulu, who are also much happier at home, away, they have scored just once in 3 starts.

I do not see VPS losing today and have to back them with the level ball option.

4.5 points VPS level ball 1.88 asian line.

Good Luck.

MONDAY PLANS AND WEEKLY REVIEW .....

It was a shame that Panama twice let a lead slip AND missed a last minute penalty, we finished the week strongly and that would have been the icing on the cake. Still, we managed to record another winning week, that is the 10th from 12, full details of which are below and the 47th from 62 overall.

WEEK 62 .... 21 bets, 12 winners (57.14%) profit + 10.035pts ROI + 10.51% (95.5)
WEEK 61 ... 14 bets , 6 winners (42.86%) loss - 3.786 pts ROI -7.21 % (52.5)
WEEK 60 ...18 bets , 10 winners ( 55.55%) profit + 1.23 pts ROI 1.58 % ( 78)
WEEK 59... 13 bets, 9 winners (69.23%), profit + 23.06 points, ROI + 43.51 % (53)
WEEK 58 .... 22 bets , 10 winners ( 45.45%) profit + 0.825 pts ROI + 0.79% (104.5)
WEEK 57 .... 25 bets, 17 winners (68%), profit +54.308 pointsROI +48.06% (113)
WEEK 56 .... 29 bets 16 wins (55.17%) profit +1.195 pts ROI + 0.866 % (138)
WEEK 55 .... 32 bets , 22 winners (68.75 %) profit + 48.064 points ROI 33.26% (144.5)
WEEK 54 ..... 29 bets 16 winners ( 55.17%) profit + 24.407 pts ROI 20.68 % (118)
WEEK 53 ..... 31 bets 14 winners (45.16%) loss - 16.91 pts ROI -12.16% (139)
WEEK 52 ... 31 bets, 15 winners ( 48.39%) profit + 9.744 pts ROI + 7.438 % (131)
WEEK 51 .... 24 bets, 14 winners ( 58.33%), profit +20.0725 points, profit to stakes, or ROI 21.82 % (92)

Totals for these 12 weeks ...289 bets , 160 winners ( 55.36%) profit + 172.25 pts, ROI + 13.68 % (1259)

Plenty of choice today and I am looking at 2-4 bets, the grass court tennis season starts in earnest with the events at Queens Club and Halle, but it is the football which interests me most.

I will try to have my next post online by late morning, please check back.

Good Luck.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP ..... PANAMA - CUBA

I have to stay with Panama. who did us a big favour in midweek, here, a win over the weakest team in the group, should be enough to see them into the knockout stage.

They will not want to go into the final match with Mexico, on paper the strongest team in the tournament, needing a result, especially with that match taking place in Texas, where Mexico will feel far more at home.

They look to have goals in them, especially Blas Perez and are very happy in these New Jersey surroundings.

4.5 points Panama -1/2 ball 2.11 asian line.

Good Luck.

USPGA GOLF ....ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP

If any of you took the 3.25 for David Toms to finish in the top ten , he is now down to 1.05 on the exchanges. He is just 3 shots off the lead held by Adam Scott in a tie for second place. Toms is a strong final round player, nearly always ranked inside the top 20 in that category every year.

He has improved his score every round and is -5 for his last 24 holes, this is fine scoring on a difficult course. I expect him to close the gap on Scott, who has a difficult lead to protect. It is hard to know how to play 3 strokes, obviously you should play your natural game, but that is easier said than done and at the end of the day, you get the same trophy and prize money, whether you win by six strokes, or a single shot.

4.5 points Toms to beat Scott 2.05 Pinnacle sports.

Good Luck.

SERIE B GENOA - NAPOLI

We have spent more time discussing these two, than any other teams this end of season. A draw today maybe enough to see both promoted, depending on what happens in the Piacenza game. I have been told that the two clubs are "close".

In which case, they should both be happy to draw the first half and review the situation at the break. Anything around evens looks an excellent price.

4 points half time draw circa 2.00 general quote.

Good Luck.

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS FINAL ... NADAL-FEDERER

Like the women's final yesterday, I see some value in the speciality markets and the "under" double faults here, where we win with 4 or less.

Rafa is averaging just 1.5 per match and has made just 3 in his last 4 starts. Federer is averaging just one per match.

In the last 14 sets they have played against each other on clay, there have been just 10 df's !

Think this will be under. I have taken the quote from Stan James, but something similar should be available elsewhere, so shop around.

5 points under 5 double faults 1.83 Stan James.

Good Luck.

GOOD MORNING !

I am going to start with the French Open final today and will have that post online inside the next hour.

It is funny ( sometimes not so funny), to read the posts in various forums and even in the chat box on here. I know that we are all different and no two people approach any given situation in the same way, but without a positive mental attitude it is hard to win anything.

Would you really want to back a sportsman coming onto the field of play, who did not expect to win ?

I believe the same is true of gambling, if you do not "know" that you will win, maybe not today but in the long run, what is the point in playing ?

Sometimes people back the "over" and when it is 0-0 after 10 minutes, the negative comments start, "I knew this was a bad bet" or words to that effect. Or a team is 1-0 down after 20 minutes and now they "can't win". This is plainly not true and more goals come in the 90th minute of the match, as we know to our cost recently, than in any other time during the game.

I know of a businessman in the UK, actually he runs the Eden Project amongst other things and he will not continue to employ anyone who demonstrates a negative attitude, dismissing them immediately. Arguing that one person with such an approach, will "infect" 20 in a matter of days. This might seem harsh, but he is right about the effects of negativity.

On the blog, I have had weeks where we have made 50+ points profit and are 150 pts up over 6-8 weeks, then the next week starts with two losers and I receive emails that start with "I hope the bad run ends soon". This mind set is so alien to me and the way I try to approach life.

Basically, what I am trying to say is that a positive attitude can take you a long way, in gambling, it is vital. Try it, it works !

Here ends the sermon.

Back shortly.

SPANISH LA LIGA ..... ZARAGOZA - REAL MADRID

Two wins will give Real their first title since 2003 and having come this far, I do not think they will slip up now. Barcelona look booked for three points today, so it has to be maximum points for Madrid.

They have won their last 6, scoring an amazing 19 goals. On paper this looks very tough with the hosts holding a 12-4-2 home record and looking to secure a UEFA cup spot. However, they have been very poor defensively in recent starts, conceding 8 in their last 3 matches and giving up a LOT of chances, including a total of 42 (!) against Seville and Valencia. In addition, they look set to be without at least two key players this evening.

The visitors have won 12 times on the road and despite most of their team being on International duty in midweek, have no real injury concerns, Beckham's knock seems unlikely to stop him from playing and he is desperate to win La Liga. Hard not to see goals, but I will take the away win.

5 points Real Madrid -1/2 ball 1.77 general.

Good Luck.

SATURDAY UPDATE .....

Already had one email asking, so just to confirm, there was only one ace in the Henin-Ivanovic match and that came in the final game.

I am going to post at least one and maybe two further football selections, the first of which will be online shortly.

Back soon.

SPANISH SEGUNDA

VECINDARIO - REAL MURCIA

Very different seasons for these two, the home side have been relegated and the visitors will be plying their trade in Primera next season.

However, Vecindario are going out with a bang ! They have relaxed and are playing with a lot of flair, winning 3 in a row and scoring 13 in their last 6 starts.

Defensively, as you might expect, they are weak and have conceded a league high 77 goals, 14 more than any other team. The reverse fixture produced 7 goals (4-3) and it is difficult to see there not being at least 3 this evening.

5 points over 2.25 goals 1.75 general.

Good Luck.

HENIN - IVANOVIC .... PART 2

I have also found a value wager on the total aces in this match.

The line looks to have been set too high, Stan James have the odds in question, but several other bookmakers are likely to have something similar this morning so shop around.

Despite averaging 6 aces per game herself, Ivanovic has given up very few, conceding only 2, in 3 sets to Kuznetsova and none, in 5 sets against Medina and Sharapova.

Henin conceded 3 against Serena Williams, but few others and is averaging only 4 herself. I will be surprised if there were more than 6 in the match and we can back 8 or fewer.

4 points under 9 aces 1.91 Stan James.

Back later.

WOMEN'S FRENCH OPEN TENNIS FINAL .... JUSTINE HENIN - ANA IVANOVIC

We now know the finalists for the Women's French Open tennis, which will take place at Stadium Roland Garros, early this afternoon.

It is such an appealing prospect, that even the Parisians might limit their lunch to just two courses, in order to catch the real entree of the day.

Justine Henin is the overwhelming favourite and is looking for her third straight title, something only Monica Seles (1990-92) has done since the 1930's.

Henin has won an incredible 33 sets in a row at Roland Garros and has not even been taken to a tie break in any of those, only giving up five games, in four sets.

She is very much the darling of the crowd, who love her like one of their own, coming as she does from Walloon, in the French speaking region of Belgium.

Henin has had a very complex personal life. Losing her mother at age 12 and an older sister in a car accident. The strong willed Belgian spent years in conflict with her father and lived alone from her mid teens. The pair have only recently been reconciled, following the break up of her marriage. Add to the mix, five Grand Slam titles and you will understand that "JuJu" has packed a lot into her 25 (just) years. If she were American, the TV movie would already have been made.

Given all this turmoil, probably the only place that Henin feels truely comfortable, is on the tennis court. Where she exudes calm and tranquility and the odd "fist pump" aside, rarely shows too much emotion.

Blessed with a dream of a backhand, that all time great, John McEnroe, is in awe of and a big serve that belies her diminutive stature. Henin is the complete package and it will take a superhuman effort from someone, to prise the title from her grasp.

That task has been left to Ana Ivanovic, the 19 year old Serbian and last of 127 challengers for Queen JuJu's crown.

Ivanovic is at the forefront of the Serbian invasion, a group of young players led by her, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic, who have taken the tour(s) by storm this year and look set to challenge for titles, for many years to come.

She has had a wonderful Spring, taking a major title in Berlin and is on a roll of 12 straight wins on "red" clay.

Ivanovic breezed through her semi final in double quick time, taking just 65 minutes to defeat Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-1. The statuesque Russian was never "at the races", hitting far too many unforced errors and putting no pressure whatsoever on her young opponent. Who was making her Grand Slam final four debut and would surely have felt a little nervous, coming into the match.

It is unthinkable that Henin would ever put in such an inept performance and surely all the mental strain, which will build up over two days and more importantly, two long nights, will be on Ivanovic.

There is normally a progression to these things, with a losing final appearance, often preceding a Slam victory. They are special occasions, with a life of their own and experience is worth it's weight in gold, this is unkown territory for Ivanovic and maybe she must first, "serve her time".

The two have met just once before, two years ago on the clay in Warsaw, with Henin winning 4&5, but her opponent was just a baby then.

This looks a year too soon for Ivanovic, who is a sponsor's dream, with her attractive looks, sunny disposition and newly slimmed down figure. Her agent will be the busiest man, or woman, in Paris this weekend, regardless of the result.

I expect Henin to win in two sets and add to her mightily impressive clay court record of
78 wins and just 6 losses.

4 points Henin to win 2-0 circa 1.62.

I have one more bet for the final, which I will post shortly, after which, it will be football all the way.

Good Luck.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP .... HONDURAS - PANAMA

I feel this match will be very close and the draw would be my selection. Neither will want to lose with region giants Mexico still to play and will be happy to take their chances against Cuba, especially with two 3rd placed teams qualifying for the next stage.

However, I am going to play safe and take Panama with the handicap start. They have made a lot of progress in recent seasons and have a proven goalscorer in Blas Perez, who has taken the Copa Libertadores by storm this season and is on his way to Spain. He missed the Copa semi final at Boca Juniors last night, a sure sign that Panama are taking this tournament very seriously.

They have plenty of experience of this stadium (New Jersey) from 2005, when they eventually made the final, losing to the host nation.

4.5 points Panama +1/2 ball 1.98 asian line.

Good Luck.

FRIDAY PLANS .......

I have just one football bet for the blog today, which will be posted online, late this afternoon.

Tomorrow will be far busier and I will have my first selection posted early, along with details of what is to follow.

Please check back.

SOUTH AMERICAN SUPER CUP .... INTERNACIONAL - PACHUCA

Pachuca come holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg and are looking to keep things tight, with as many men as possible, behind the ball.

However, they have conceded in their last 7 starts and do not look ideally suited to those tactics. Especially against a strong home side, that are used to winning trophies and have finally found a little winning form.

Only Fernandao is a doubt for the hosts, who will have a massive, passionate crowd cheering them on and I like the quote.

5 points Internacional -3/4 ball 2.205 asian line.

Good Luck.

NORWAY ADECCOLIGAEN ..... HONEFOSS-MOSS

Moss arrive on the back of two wins, which have ignited their season, Honefoss after a heavy loss to Sogndal.

The visitors look the stronger team and a win this evening will take them up to 3rd place, with an easy looking home game at the weekend, this could leave them in a very strong position.

Moss have a fine 2-2-0 record here in recent seasons and have only lost to Honefoss once, in 9 starts. Reports have been good and I do not see them losing.

4.5 points Moss +1/4 ball asian line 1.85.

Back later.

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS SEMI-FINALS

HENIN-JANKOVIC
SHARAPOVA-IVANOVIC

Henin leads the h2h 5-0 , with all matches going to a 3rd set. Justine is an amazing 77-6 on clay and has won 31 sets in a row at RG, incredible.

Jankovic is no slouch herself, is 66-29 on clay and is in wonderful form. This could be a classic, but hard to see beyond Henin as the eventual winner. I take her in 3 sets.

Ivanovic (33-10) is on a fine run of form and pretty much at the top of her game. Sharapova (37-10) is slowly returning to her best form, she has been suffering with a shoulder injury, but that looked a thing of the past in her qf win over Chakvetadze, where she was hitting the ball with her old power.

The Russian looks to have tidied up her serve a little and has eliminated some of the basic errors. I feel she matches up well with Ivanovic, who has a similar game to her last opponent. The Serbian is bound to be nervous today, this is new ground for her and I think she may crack.

3 points Henin 2-1 sets 3.65 general.
4 points Sharapova 1.87 to beat Ivanovic.

Good Luck.

EURO 2008 .... GROUP 6

SWEDEN-ICELAND
LATVIA - DENMARK

After the events of last weekend, this is the last chance for Denmark and there can be no excuses. Latvia have failed to score in 4 of their 5 starts and have been giving up a lot of chances including 20 in the home game with Spain at the weekend. Very offensive line up for the Danes and I expect a comfortable win.

Sweden are scoring for fun at present, with 11 in their last 5, they have also conceded in 4 of those, so plenty of goals.

Iceland have really gone backwards and were dismal in the 1-1 home draw with Liechtenstein on Saturday. They even conceded 4 goals to Latvia, who failed to score in their other 4 starts.

Last 3 h2h meetings have all been "over, with both sides scoring. Goals for me.

4 points Denmark -1/2 ball 1.53 exchanges.
5 points "over" 2.5 goals 1.70 exchanges Sweden-Iceland.

Back later.

CROATIA - RUSSIA

These two are unbeaten in qualification and I expect this to be very close. Croatia never lose at home, but visably tired late in the game at Estonia. This is the last game of a very long season for most of their players and at the end of the day, although they desperately want the win, a point is not a disaster.

Gus Hiddink will no doubt have come up with some tactics to kill the game, his side have only conceded once in 6 starts so far and, as we are only 10 games into their domestic season, most of his squad should be at their peak.

This should be "under" , but I favour the visitors to get something from this and keep their 4,000 travelling supporters happy.

3 points Russia +1/2 ball 1.78
2 points Croatia-Russia draw 3.20 general.

Back Later.

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS .... NADAL- MOYA

Moya is very much Rafa's mentor and knows his game exceptionally well. They have met 5 times with Moya winning two and taking at least a set on 4 occasions.

I do not see Nadal wanting to humiliate his good friend and doubles partner and he plays with such intensity, it is not so easy to just ease off a little. Moya is still an excellent server and I expect him to keep at least one set very close and maybe snatch one.

3.5 points over 31.5 games 2.06 Pinnacle
2.5 points Nadal not to win 3-0 2.85 Pinnacle ... or a lay on Betfair of 3-0 sets.

Good Luck.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES ......

TURKEY - BRAZIL

Turkey look set to make wholesale changes after the weekend loss to Bosnia, but I do not think they will abandon their gung-ho approach, especially in a friendly. The match is being played in Germany, which is as good as a home game for Turkey.

This should be entertaining and I will be amazed if we do not see goals. Turkey's last 3 matches have all produced 4 or more goals and they seem incapable of keeping a clean sheet. At times in the first half against England, Ronaldinho and Kaka seemed to have an almost telepathic understanding and wll be looking to say goodbye to their team mates, the two are not playing in the Copa America, with a win.

4 points over 2.5 goals 1.78 asian line

MEXICO - PARAGUAY

I cannot believe the schedules some of the FA's organise for their teams, after playing in Austria on saturday night, Paraguay are in Mexico 3 days later ! That is tough.

Hugo Sanchez has got his team playing an adventurous style and scoring a few goals, they have two tournaments coming up in the next few weeks and are definitely looking for a morale boosting win. These two met just two months ago, with the hosts winning 2-1, I expect something similar this evening .

4 points Mexico -3/4 ball asian line 1.86.

Good Luck.

KIRIN CUP .... JAPAN - COLOMBIA

Both of these two have beaten Montenegro, by 2-0 and 1-0 respectively, so the hosts can take the trophy with a draw or better. However, having hit form, with 4 straight wins and 10 goals, I am sure that they will want to keep the run going. They will be fielding a stronger team today, looking to give several key players an outing ahead of their Asian Cup campaign.

They played on Friday, so two extra days recovery time, when also taking into account a little less travelling time, the tournament has been played across three venues, I feel it is very much, advantage Japan.

The odds have increased for Japan this morning, which always makes you take a back step, but I can really see no reason for this and it is a crazy practice to bet less, when the prices are bigger, when you should be betting more.

4 points Japan level ball 1.73 asian line.

Good Luck.

BRAZIL .... INTERNACIONAL - NAUTICO

The hosts are bottom of the table after 3 matches, without a point. They completely dedicated their pre season campaign to success in the Copa Libertadores, that tournament was a failure and they suffered a bit of a hangover in the opening matches.Time to put that behind them and the league is now, their major priority.

They have two home games in the coming week and are determined to win both and start their season. Inter are VERY motivated to win tonight, the visitors were promoted last season and are much happier at home, last year in Serie B, they only won 2 of 19 away starts.

Inter have been runners up the last two seasons and anything less than 3 points tonight will be a disaster. They have been at a training camp all weekend and look fully committed.

The current FIFA Club World Cup and Copa Libertadores champions to begin their climb up the table .

4 points Internacional -1 ball 1.98 asian line.

Good Luck.

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS .... HEWITT - NADAL

These two met in Hamburg just a couple of weeks ago and it was very close, Nadal eventually winning in 3 sets.The Aussie played really well and despite only serving at 52%, gave his opponent only 5 break points. Rafa was 76%, yet Hewitt had 12 chances to break.

Hewitt is serving much better this week and is averaging 12 aces per match. The two met here last year at exactly the same stage and although he was in much worse form at the time, his 3 wins in RG being his only on red clay for the year, he already has 11 this time round, he took a set off the Spanish superstar.

The underdog will not be scared of Rafa and will look forward to the battle. Think he will take a set and that the games will be "over". Pinnacle have set these at 33.5 games, which could go over in even 3 close sets.

4 points Nadal-Hewitt over 33.5 games 1.787 Pinnacle.
2.5 points Nadal NOT to win 3-0 sets 2.02 + Pinnacle / exchanges .

FOR VALUE SEEKERS

I have just seen that blog sponsors Sunderlands ,have a stand out 3.0 quote on Federer outright.

Which, I understand, they are trying to "hold" until the Nadal match starts, this can be laid at 2.88 on Betfair, so a chance to earn some money if you wish. Or simple to back the second favourite at a big price.

Good Luck.

SPANISH SEGUNDA ..... ALMERIA - MALAGA

I really like the "over" here, in what is a virtual friendly.

Almeira are "over" in the last 6, with a 3.3 average in their last 10. Malaga are "over" in their last 4 , with the last 10 averaging 2.60.

This league has produced 10% more goals this season than for the last two years and over the last two weeks, with little to play for, 15 of 22 have provided 3 or more.

5.5 points "over" 2.5 goals 1.80 Expekt/ similar on the exchanges.

Back later.

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS ....

ATP

Federer leads Youzhny 8-0 in the h2h, 17-2 in sets, with only 2 going to tie breaks.

Robredo (87-37 clay)- Volandri (150-75) h2h 3-3 all on dirt, Volandri has won the last 3, no bet for me, but could be very close.

Canas (73-25... 15-5 this season) plays Monaco (100-63 and 20-5 in 2007), Canas should be too strong, he leads h2h 2-0, 4-1 in sets, amazingly 4 of those were 6-0 ! I think he has the measure of his opponent, who cannot be looking forward to this.

Davydenko (101-53) meets Nalbandian (60-25) , h2h 2-5, Nalbandian leads 3-1 on clay and has won the last 4, including all 3 last year, which was the Russian's best ever year on tour, he is not yet in the same shape this time round.

I liked Nalbandian's post match interview after his last game, "my condition was good" and "I wanted to win at any price".... key words for a player who has not always looked the most motivated. In what looks a coinflip, he is a very nice price.

WTA

Safarova (43-20) beat Chakvetadze (25-17) fairly comfortably in Berlin just 3 weeks ago and should follow up.

Kuznetsova (57-21) is looking for revenge over Peer (34-14), the Israeli girl leads the h2h 2-0, both coming this year. Kuzzie feels that Peer is not a clay courter and is very confident of winning. Federer said that she looks in good shape, that should be good enough for anyone. Cannot see Kuznetsova losing today.

Jankovic (64-29) looks in fantastic form and put up some incredible serving stats in the win over Williams, late in the opener, her first serve percentage was 93%. No one can play at that sort of level consistently and we may see a dip today. She meets Bartoli, who will be cheered by her home crowd, the Frenchwoman is improving and took a set from Jankovic here last year. This could easily go to a decider once again and we have a fantastic price.

3.5 points Nalbandian to win 2.42 exchanges

2 points Jankovic NOT to win 2-0 sets 3.66 Pinnacle ... exchanges

3 points double Canas - Kuznetsova circa 1.47- 1.40

Good Luck.

SUNDAY PLANS ........

I have a lot to pass on for the French Open tennis this morning and will post something in 30-45 minutes, no bets for the 11.00 cet matches.

Please check back.

EURO 2008 ....

DENMARK - SWEDEN

Must win game for the hosts, who look the much stronger side to me, at least on paper. One thing is for sure, there will be no "friendly" result this time.

Sweden have gone backwards, both internationally and domestically and they will struggle to hold the very motivated hosts. Denmark have a recent win in Germany and a very unlucky loss in Spain, where they were reduced to 10 men, to their name.

4.5 points Denmark -1/2 ball 2.0 general.

GREECE- HUNGARY

The hosts will be desperate to make amends for the shame of the 4-1 defeat at home to Turkey, which was almost too much for their supporters to bear. No major concerns for Greece.

All is not well in the visitors camp, where star striker Hustzi walked out, after falling out with the coach and I understand that he is not the only one.

4.5 points Greece -1 ball 1.87 asian line.


Good Luck.

SATURDAY PLANS ..........

The French Open Tennis start times were changed this morning, which has thrown my plans off schedule.

So it will be football all the way.

WALES- CZECH REPUBLIC

"Over" for me here, Wales have a weakened defence and a VERY inexperienced young goalkeeper, who , as far as I can see, has played only 3 matches above Division 2 level, but don't quote me on that. They conceded two at home to New Zealand last week and face a far more potent attack here. The hosts have to look for the win and that will leave a lot of space for the visitors to exploit.

In the earlier group defeat 5-1 at home to Slovakia, Wales were lucky to only concede 5, comprehensively outplayed, the scoreline could have been anything. This is a poor Welsh team, led by a coach with outdated ideas.

5.5 points "over" 2.25 goals 1.78 asian line.

Back later.

IRISH PREMIER LEAGUE ...... CORK - DERRY

Derry are very lack lustre at present and are probably looking forward to their mid season break. They have drawn 5 from 6, scoring just 4 goals. In the 1-1 home draw with Waterford in midweek, they created almost nothing in a very poor second half showing.

Cork are strong at home, unbeaten since forever, this season they are 3-2-0, with a 5-1 goal difference, it is hard to see the visitors getting much success in front of goal.

H2h shows that Derry are win less in 9 visits with Cork winning 6, the hosts look sound with the -1/4 ball option.

4 points Cork -1/4 1.82 asian line.

Good Luck.

ENGLAND - BRAZIL ....

England will want to win their first full International at the new Wembley stadium, but have a key Euro 2008 qualifier in midweek and will have to adopt a safety first attitude and may field 5 midfielders.

Goals are always a problem for the hosts, I think there is a good chance of a draw here, but if there is to be a winner, it can only be the visitors for me, who have a host of players eager to impress their coach.

Kaka, Ronaldinho and Robinho may enjoy the setting and turn it on.

4 points Brazil level ball 1.90 asian line.

Good Luck.

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS ....

WTA .... JELENA JANKOVIC - VENUS WILLIAMS

These two met recently on a US clay court, Venus took the opener, with Jelena eventually winning in a 3rd set tie break. That has been par for the course for the American recently, start fast and then lose concentration.

Williams says that this is because she gets over confident and it is a problem that she is addressing. In an interview on Wednesday, she says that her game has improved a lot since that match in Charleston. Going on to add that she prefers the truer bounce at RG and that she can raise her game another level.

The h2h is tied at 2-2, but Venus won their only previous meeting on red clay, in Rome.

Wonderful year for Jankovic, who is great fun to watch, she is a lifetime 63-29 on clay, but only 5-4 in Paris.

Williams is widely considered as a fast corter, but is 57-15 on clay and a very nice 33-10 at RG, where VERY interstingly, 6 of the 10 losses have been in 3 sets, so in 43 matches here only 4 have been straight set losses.

I feel the US player has been under valued and that this match should be priced up MUCH closer.

1.5 points Williams to win circa 3.35 Betfair.
LAY 3 points Jankovic 2-0 sets circa 2.26 exchanges// or bet 3.5 points NOT to win 2-0 1.775 Pinnacle.

ATP TOUR .... FERRERO- YOUZHNY

Very briefly, I do not fully understand the odds here. Youzhny is really a fast court player, with some fair recent results on clay, he is 39-32 lifetime and has never gone beyond the 3rd round here.

Ferrero is 95-37 on clay and an amazing 30-6 at RG, some good early season progress was sidetracked by a hand injury, which he has now recovered from and I have to make him quite a strong favourite.

3 points Ferrero to win 1.95 + .

Good Luck.

FRIDAY PLANS .......

I will have a post online in about 45 minutes covering the French Open Tennis.

Quite a busy day today, with at least a couple of football bets to follow later.

Not very happy about the Mickelson saga, he withdrew after 11 holes with a wrist injury, which he now claims he did on Monday, but did not tell anyone. Phil is, or at least was, a massive gambler, wonder how he would feel backing a football team, where the quarterback and the whole defensive line were injured and they didn't tell anyone ?

Back shortly.