The World Cup has entered the knockout phase and we’re down to just 16 teams vying for a place in the quarter finals. We’ve got eight games to choose from here and are dishing up our usual acca feast of one long odds accumulator, one banker and something nestling in the middle so whatever level of risk you like we’ve got an acca to suit. We’re focussing on match results this time out with a few extras thrown in to really up the odds so here’s to some more winning accumulators…
Easy Winner – 2/1 (Bet365)
- Germany to beat Algeria (3/10) – Germany have stuttered at times this tournament but they will have too much power, pace and big-game experience for an Algerian side who could be overwhelmed by the occasion.
- Argentina to beat Switzerland (8/15) – A bit like Germany, Argentina are yet to really produce their best but three wins from three is what you get when Lionel Messi is on song and we can’t see the Swiss being able to stop him here.
- France to beat Nigeria (1/2) – Unlike the two sides above France have really looked good and have been scoring goals for fun. They rested players in their 0-0 draw last time out but with all their top stars back they should prove too hot for a very average Nigeria outfit.
Medium Risk – 7/1 (Coral)
- Brazil to beat Chile (4/7) – Brazil are growing into this tournament and given Phil Scolari knows how to win a World Cup and that Neymar is improving each game, that looks ominous. Chile have been impressive but Brazil beat them 3-0 at this stage four years ago and we think they will dispatch them once again.
- Colombia to beat Uruguay (21/20) – Uruguay are average without Luis Suarez and Colombia have confounded doubters by proving they are still formidable even without Radamel Falcao. Colombia’s pacy, incisive attacks will be too much for an aging and pedestrian Uruguay defence here.
- Costa Rica to beat Greece (6/4) – Greece just scraped through to the second round but showed little to suggest they can advance further. Costa Rica have already beaten two sides much better than Greece and so we tip them to march into the quarters here.
Long Shot – 54/1 (BetVictor)
- Netherlands and Mexico to draw (5/2) – The Dutch have been impressive thus far but Mexico are resolute, determined and tactically very astute. They play an unusual system and we think this will be a very tight affair with the draw worth a punt.
- Belgium and the USA to draw (13/5) – Belgium won each of their three group games by a solitary goal whilst there was not more than a goal in it for all three of the USA’s matches and we think another tight battle seems certain here.
- Karim Benzema to score first (17/5) – Benzema has looked excellent thus far with three goals but he could have had six. Great value to score first in a game we expect to feature plenty of goals.