The Sports Thread, Aussie Sports, World Sports and All Sports, let's talk Sports !!

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Originally Posted by frous

Good to see a fellow tennis buff on here :)

Who's your pick to lift the trophy? My gut feel is that Rafa is going to get knocked out by Delpo or Thiem. He looks jittery this year, not sure why. My money is on Thiem if he plays Rafa or Delpo if he gets through.

Halep vs Stephens is going to be interesting also. Halep should pull through but feels too close to put money on.

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:) Hard to pick against Rafa though. I mean Delpo isn't the same after all those years of wrist surgeries. His backhand is much softer. Need to see how is he gonna handle Rafa's wicked forehands. Hard or Grass delpo has good chances but clay?

Thiem can rip it with his backhanders like a Stan. But Rafa meted out a hiding for both of them last year. Let's see.. hope they can make it tough for Rafa

I hope Halep wins. She really deserves it. She is the most consistent amongst the women (excluding Serena of course)

Yup. Either brave or dumb to bet against Nadal at RG but he can't win them all. I still think he looks vulnerable this year so maybe half a chance for someone else.

I'm rooting for Halep too. I think she is in a class of her own on clay when her game is on. She's blitzed through Mertens, Kerber and Muguruza and it would be a great shame if she falls in the final. Odds are pretty close tho ($1.4 vs $2.8) so not sure if I'll punt.

Very happy with Halep's win.
Rafa pummeled them both. Could have got a good payout from handicaps! Delpo by 11 games and Thiem by 9 games. Shame, I was a bit hesitant to bet.
Poor Thiem, it was a classic case of a single hander vs Rafa on clay. They can't ever beat him in RG. Roger's had enough after all those semis and finals.
In future, if Rafa was to lose a RG match it'll have to be from Novak or Sasha or any other two handers.

What's everyone's world cup tips?

Australia under 1.5 group points seems like free money. We shouldn't win a game really.

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Originally Posted by punterthon

What's everyone's world cup tips?

Australia under 1.5 group points seems like free money. We shouldn't win a game really.

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I think the values are in the early group matches - on a multi !

If you pick say, Russia, France, Uruguay, Argentina, Germany and Brazil all to win their opening match , you will get $7.00+

I don't know about France beating Aus. We might get a draw on this one. I just have a feeling that we will park the bus and counter. But again if France can score one early BvM might change the tactic. Will Cahill score again in his final world cup?

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Originally Posted by freshjive

I don't know about France beating Aus. We might get a draw on this one. I just have a feeling that we will park the bus and counter. But again if France can score one early BvM might change the tactic. Will Cahill score again in his final world cup?

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Have anyone see that goal from young Daniel ?? If he can score one like that in Russia, plus a Timmy Cahill header and perhaps a bit of a Mooy Magic, we might get to the next round .

I just think that if we can score 3-5 goals in the group stage, that might be enough to get us through, a win and a draw for 4 points !!

Multis are the devil. Prefer to do singles and minimise risk. Agree all should win their opening game though, but would avoid France.

Other bet that appeals at odds is Lukaku top goal scorer at $17. Belgium will depend on him to score goals and in the early stages they should score plenty (their team total goals is Set at 8.5, 2nd only to Germany on 9.5). Belgium shold go deep too.

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Originally Posted by AHLUNGOR

Have anyone see that goal from young Daniel ?? If he can score one like that in Russia, plus a Timmy Cahill header and perhaps a bit of a Mooy Magic, we might get to the next round .

I just think that if we can score 3-5 goals in the group stage, that might be enough to get us through, a win and a draw for 4 points !!

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Who do we beat? I can't see a win on the cards. A draw, yes, maybe.

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Originally Posted by punterthon

Who do we beat? I can't see a win on the cards. A draw, yes, maybe.

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Just have to avoid getting thrashed by France in the first game.
We don't want a repeat of the 4-0 loss to Germany in the first game in 2010 World Cup which effectively ended our chances.
As long as we can get away with a 2-0 or 3-1 loss against France; then we if can guts out a 0-0 or 1-1 draw with Denmark, and then beat Peru 2-1, that could be enough to go through

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Originally Posted by punterthon

Who do we beat? I can't see a win on the cards. A draw, yes, maybe.

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Haha, you could be right there !

Just have another quick check in the current FIFA world ranking , the three teams we are facing in our group are ranking 7, 11 and 12 respectively - and good old Aussie down somewhere in 36!

So really, realistically we have no chance, right ?

But can we punch above our weights ? Like when Japan beat Sourh Africa in the Rugby World Cup and North Korea best Italy, in 66 ? !! Yeap, let’s not forget that ......... haha.

You guys are far too patriotic haha. We are OK when we play Asian or Middle Eastern countries in qualifiers (no offense to them) but on a world stage we lack a lot. I'll be taking the under 1.5 group points.

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Originally Posted by punterthon

You guys are far too patriotic haha. We are OK when we play Asian or Middle Eastern countries in qualifiers (no offense to them) but on a world stage we lack a lot. I'll be taking the under 1.5 group points.

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We did draw with Croatia in 2006 to go through to the round of 16 and they didn’t !!

England beat us overnight in the first ODI. I think we are doing it really tough without our top 2 batsman and none of our fast Test bowlers were there, no Starc, Cumming and Hazelwood ! All injured or being Rested ?

But what I don’t understand was why our test spinner Gary was also sitting on the bench when England was playing their two full time spinners and took 5 wickets between them ?

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Originally Posted by AHLUNGOR

England beat us overnight in the first ODI. I think we are doing it really tough without our top 2 batsman and none of our fast Test bowlers were there, no Starc, Cumming and Hazelwood ! All injured or being Rested ?

But what I don’t understand was why our test spinner Gary was also sitting on the bench when England was playing their two full time spinners and took 5 wickets between them ?

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I have to agree here. Match previews suggested the pitch would be ideal for spin. My only guess is Australia wanted to give their pace attack a warm up.

England's win was also pretty unconvincing. Considering Australia have quite a few new additions, to only win by a slender margin is pretty terrible. I expect Australia to start longer next match, and they are probably value at the $2.70 and above

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Originally Posted by punterthon

I have to agree here. Match previews suggested the pitch would be ideal for spin. My only guess is Australia wanted to give their pace attack a warm up.

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I only watched the Aussie batted, went to sleep after they were all out for 200 and not much more on a 300+ pitch.

Maxwell was showing a bit of a fight back in the middle order, after he got out, there wasn’t much resistance in the tail .

Finch was doing well enough at the top before edging a loose ball off Ali’s first over and then bang bang Ali took out Marsh and the Captain and we never recovered !

And I don’t think the pace will be that effective England anyway. Broad and Anderson were never that fast but they bowl consistently on the length and line and have been very successful and effective for the host nation .

If only Smith were there and put a ton on the spinners !!

The 2 lowest ranked nations of the qualified 32 are going head to head. Any predictions/wagers?

Russia off to a good start but if you betting on this trash game, GL to you

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Originally Posted by punterthon

Russia off to a good start but if you betting on this trash game, GL to you

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Why? The goal handicaps would have paid handsomely!! If only I had known Saudis were this poor!

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Originally Posted by Prashvj

Why? The goal handicaps would have paid handsomely!! If only I had known Saudis were this poor!

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It's a long tournament. No way you could know Russia were going to win by plenty. Hindsight is a beautiful thing.

Big names in the Portugual v Spain match will probably fool a few to expect a few goals. I see 2 goals as a max being scored here. Both teams to score - no is a OK price

Other one I like tonight is Egypt and Uruguay both to score at $2.50

What a last second free kick from Russia. Pretty impressive. Though KSR seemed a little slack.

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Originally Posted by punterthon

It's a long tournament. No way you could know Russia were going to win by plenty. Hindsight is a beautiful thing.

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I definitely agree.
I was watching the match and realised in the 1st half how terrible the Saudis were. I put money for the number of corners to be less than 4 in the 2nd half (@ 2.7) and won! I knew Saudis won't trouble that count and would let a goal than a corner, lol!
It's a gamble anyways. Can't predict anything. I never put on soccer before but just was excited yesterday.