Tuesday, June 27, 2006
VC Bet 60/1 World Cup Specials
VC Bet's specials for Friday and Saturday's Quarter-Final games:
Germany v Argentina
60/1 Klose to score first & Germany win 2-1
60/1 Crespo to score first & Argentina win 2-1
Italy v Ukraine
60/1 Totti to score first & Italy win 2-1
Friday First Goalscorer Doubles
60/1 Klose & Toni to score first in their respective matches
60/1 Crespo & Gilardino to score first in their respective matches
One-Nil Correct Score Double
60/1 Italy & Germany to both win 1-0
60/1 Italy & Argentina to both win 1-0
Chelsea Boys
60/1 Crespo, Shevchenko & Joe Cole all to score at anytime in their quarter-final matches
England v Portugal
60/1 Gerrard to score first & England win 1-0
60/1 Lampard to score first & England win 2-1
60/1 Ronaldo to score first & Portugal win 1-0
Maximum stake £25 per person.
Germany v Argentina
60/1 Klose to score first & Germany win 2-1
60/1 Crespo to score first & Argentina win 2-1
Italy v Ukraine
60/1 Totti to score first & Italy win 2-1
Friday First Goalscorer Doubles
60/1 Klose & Toni to score first in their respective matches
60/1 Crespo & Gilardino to score first in their respective matches
One-Nil Correct Score Double
60/1 Italy & Germany to both win 1-0
60/1 Italy & Argentina to both win 1-0
Chelsea Boys
60/1 Crespo, Shevchenko & Joe Cole all to score at anytime in their quarter-final matches
England v Portugal
60/1 Gerrard to score first & England win 1-0
60/1 Lampard to score first & England win 2-1
60/1 Ronaldo to score first & Portugal win 1-0
Maximum stake £25 per person.
England v Portugal Preview
England haven't beaten Portugal since a friendly back in 1998, and the last competitive win was in 1966 - and we all know what happened then. If you're looking for a slightly different bet, check out the World Cup markets at Sporting Index. We've taken a look at some of their prices (see preview below) - new clients can claim a big free bet:
£200 World Cup Bet for New Clients
Open a Sporting Index account*, place five sports bets (each with the potential to win and lose £20) and claim a free £200 per goal bet on any live World Cup match.**
*Credit and suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with Sporting Index. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
For full details of these offers, and apply for your Sporting Index account, click
England v Portugal Preview
Although England don't have a good record against the Portuguese, Sporting Index have still got them as favourites to win by 0.3 to 0.5 goals on their "Supremacy" market. This is influenced by the fact that Portugal are missing both Deco and Costinha through suspension. However, Big Phil has proven to be Sven's nemesis twice before in the big competitions. He managed to beat England with 10 men in Shizuoka in 2002 when Ronaldinho was sent off. Two years later he successfully changed formation in Lisbon after Rooney was forced off through injury. With the influential Figo available, and Ronaldo looking likely to figure, Scolari could dash English hopes for a third successive tournament.
On top of this, Scolari has never lost a World Cup match. In fact, the 11 straight victories he has enjoyed with Brazil in 2002 and now Portugal is a record. His current team has also not lost a match (competitive or friendly) since the Euro 2004 final. On the other hand, England are still unbeaten in Germany. Although Sven's team have only scored five goals so far, Portugal have only managed six. On the back of this, and the other low-scoring matches in this round, Sporting Index predict a total of just 2.1 to 2.3 goals will be scored in 90 minutes.
So in this battle of wits between the Swedish iceman and Big Phil, formation will be key. In the Ecuador match, Carrick made more passes than any other England player, (66 in total, 57 successful). He also spent significantly longer on the ball (196.9 seconds) than anyone else - Ashley Cole is in second place with 156 seconds. However, Carrick didn't make a single tackle (Terry topped that list, with 5). In fact, England's three central midfielders only made one between them.
Although the boy wonder Rooney had the lowest possession of any England player at just 84.5 seconds, he looks ready to start scoring. With his Goal Minutes priced up at 14 to 17, you'd expect to see plenty of punters betting high at 17 minutes. Lampard may have missed an impressive 18 shots so far, but he's doing something right to have had so many goes and England's top scorer in the qualifiers has got to get lucky sooner or later; he is available at 11 to 14 minutes. Even though Pauleta has been quiet by his standards (many tipped him for the Golden Boot), his spread of 10 to 13 also looks tempting.
Bookings are likely to figure prominently in the betting as well. So far, there has been an average of 5.6 yellow cards per match across the tournament. England have been given seven cards over four matches, whereas Portugal have an impressive 18. Although this includes nine cards earned in their very negative match against Holland, a "grudge" match like this could get feisty. Sporting Index has a price of 68 to 72 points on their Bookings market (10 points for a yellow card, 25 for red). Having seen Portugal v Holland settle at 220 points (four red and 16 yellow cards), there won't be many punters betting low on Saturday.
Total Tournament Yellow Cards
At the start of this tournament, Sporting Index predicted the total number of yellow cards shown in all 64 matches was 270 to 280. As more and more have been dished out, this price has moved up and up, currently standing at 326 to 330 (276 cards shown after 54 matches). With 10 matches to go, there's still plenty of time to take an interest in this market.
Hopefully that's given you something to think about. For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click below:-
Sporting Index is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
All prices correct at time of writing. The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions.
£200 World Cup Bet for New Clients
Open a Sporting Index account*, place five sports bets (each with the potential to win and lose £20) and claim a free £200 per goal bet on any live World Cup match.**
*Credit and suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with Sporting Index. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
For full details of these offers, and apply for your Sporting Index account, click
England v Portugal Preview
Although England don't have a good record against the Portuguese, Sporting Index have still got them as favourites to win by 0.3 to 0.5 goals on their "Supremacy" market. This is influenced by the fact that Portugal are missing both Deco and Costinha through suspension. However, Big Phil has proven to be Sven's nemesis twice before in the big competitions. He managed to beat England with 10 men in Shizuoka in 2002 when Ronaldinho was sent off. Two years later he successfully changed formation in Lisbon after Rooney was forced off through injury. With the influential Figo available, and Ronaldo looking likely to figure, Scolari could dash English hopes for a third successive tournament.
On top of this, Scolari has never lost a World Cup match. In fact, the 11 straight victories he has enjoyed with Brazil in 2002 and now Portugal is a record. His current team has also not lost a match (competitive or friendly) since the Euro 2004 final. On the other hand, England are still unbeaten in Germany. Although Sven's team have only scored five goals so far, Portugal have only managed six. On the back of this, and the other low-scoring matches in this round, Sporting Index predict a total of just 2.1 to 2.3 goals will be scored in 90 minutes.
So in this battle of wits between the Swedish iceman and Big Phil, formation will be key. In the Ecuador match, Carrick made more passes than any other England player, (66 in total, 57 successful). He also spent significantly longer on the ball (196.9 seconds) than anyone else - Ashley Cole is in second place with 156 seconds. However, Carrick didn't make a single tackle (Terry topped that list, with 5). In fact, England's three central midfielders only made one between them.
Although the boy wonder Rooney had the lowest possession of any England player at just 84.5 seconds, he looks ready to start scoring. With his Goal Minutes priced up at 14 to 17, you'd expect to see plenty of punters betting high at 17 minutes. Lampard may have missed an impressive 18 shots so far, but he's doing something right to have had so many goes and England's top scorer in the qualifiers has got to get lucky sooner or later; he is available at 11 to 14 minutes. Even though Pauleta has been quiet by his standards (many tipped him for the Golden Boot), his spread of 10 to 13 also looks tempting.
Bookings are likely to figure prominently in the betting as well. So far, there has been an average of 5.6 yellow cards per match across the tournament. England have been given seven cards over four matches, whereas Portugal have an impressive 18. Although this includes nine cards earned in their very negative match against Holland, a "grudge" match like this could get feisty. Sporting Index has a price of 68 to 72 points on their Bookings market (10 points for a yellow card, 25 for red). Having seen Portugal v Holland settle at 220 points (four red and 16 yellow cards), there won't be many punters betting low on Saturday.
Total Tournament Yellow Cards
At the start of this tournament, Sporting Index predicted the total number of yellow cards shown in all 64 matches was 270 to 280. As more and more have been dished out, this price has moved up and up, currently standing at 326 to 330 (276 cards shown after 54 matches). With 10 matches to go, there's still plenty of time to take an interest in this market.
Hopefully that's given you something to think about. For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click below:-
Sporting Index is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
All prices correct at time of writing. The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions.
Wimbledon Preview
With the tennis season at the halfway mark, the top players in the world are descending upon London to participate in the most distinguished major tournament in tennis: The All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon. After a grueling clay court season, the players will need to adapt their games to the slick, clean-cut grass courts where power is king and a deft touch is very valuable.
The story of the men's draw will be Roger Federer’s quest for a fourth straight Wimbledon crown. Federer’s excellence on grass has been legendary, as he has vanquished all comers in dominating fashion. Can somebody step on to Centre Court and dethrone the grass court master?
On the women's side the question is: Can somebody not named Williams win the tournament? Venus Williams won her third Wimbledon crown last year, to go along with her titles in 2000 and 2001. Sister Serena beat Venus in the finals in 2002 and 2003, completing the Williams family's recent dominance of the Lawn Championships. With Serena out of the tournament due to injury and Venus just now returning from her own injuries, the women's championship is up for grabs.
Here is a closer look at the title contenders, sleepers and long shots.
* Overall records are as of 6/19/06
Men's Draw
Contenders
Roger Federer - Switzerland
Tournament Seed: #1
2006 overall record: 49-4
Wimbledon career record: 25-4 (21 in a row)
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner – 2005, 2004, 2003
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 2/5
Any discussion about grass court tennis must begin with world No. 1 Federer. He is the three-time defending Wimbledon champion, has won four straight Gerry Weber grass court titles, and has tied Bjorn Borg’s all-time winning streak on grass with his 41st in a row. In his three years of Wimbledon dominance, Federer has lost a total four sets: one in 2003, two in 2004 and one in 2005. Federer’s great court coverage, masterful passing shots and deft touch at the net are a perfect fit for the grass courts. Federer has been masterful again this year, and there is no reason to believe that his dominance on the Wimbledon lawns will end this year. There is never a sure bet in tennis, but Federer playing on grass at Wimbledon is as close to one as you’ll ever find.
Andy Roddick – United States
Tournament Seed: #3
2006 overall record: 24-11
Wimbledon career record: 21-5
Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2005, 2004
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 13/2
If you’re looking for somebody who can discuss Federer’s domination at Wimbledon first hand, look no further than Roddick. Federer has beaten Roddick in the past three Wimbledon championships: the finals in 2005 and 2004 and the semifinals in 2003. Roddick’s powerful serve and blistering groundstrokes serve him well on the fast grass courts, and his volleying has steadily improved. He has enjoyed success on grass courts, winning the Queen’s Club grass tournament three years in a row (2003, 2004, 2005) and losing in the semifinals of this year’s tournament. Roddick’s form in 2006 has been a bit shaky, as he has already suffered 11 losses. If Roddick is able to cut down on his unforced errors and play more consistently, he has the power to reach the Wimbledon finals once again.
Lleyton Hewitt – Australia
Tournament Seed: #6
2006 overall record: 22-9
Wimbledon career record: 21-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals - 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 15/1
Hewitt is an established grass court player, having won Wimbledon in 2002 as well as winning the Queen’s Club championship three years in a row (2000-2002). Hewitt is entering this year’s Wimbledon on a hot streak, as he won his fourth Queen’s Club title over James Blake in the finals. When Hewitt is playing with confidence and going for his shots, he can be very tough to beat, and he always has confidence when he steps onto the Wimbledon lawns. With this year’s Queen’s Club title under his belt, look for Hewitt to advance deep into the second week of the tournament.
Sleepers
David Nalbandian – Argentina
Tournament Seed: #4
2006 overall record: 29-9
Wimbledon career record: 13-3
Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2002 (lost to Hewitt)
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 16/1
One would expect a tennis player raised on the clay courts of South America to be averse to playing on grass, but such is not the case with Nalbandian, who showed his all-court versatility in 2002 when he reached the Wimbledon finals. His results in 2002 were not a fluke, as he reached the round of 16 in 2003 and the quarterfinals in 2004. Nalbandian had to retire from his last match at the French Open due to injury, so his health and fitness could be an issue. If Nalbandian is healthy, he is very dangerous and is a player who the top seeds will be looking to avoid in the main draw.
Mario Ancic – Croatia
Tournament Seed: #7
2006 overall record: 31-12
Wimbledon career record: 9-4
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals – 2004 (loss to Roddick)
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 13/1
Ancic has emerged in 2006 as a very solid player, as his 31-12 record indicates. His game works on every surface, as he reached the quarterfinals of this year’s French Open and the finals of hard court tournaments in Auckland and Marseilles. Ancic reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2004, where he lost to Roddick in four tough sets. With his all-court game hitting on all cylinders, Ancic could be a spoiler in this year’s championships.
James Blake – United States
Tournament Seed: #8
2006 overall record: 30-14
Wimbledon career record: 2-3
Best Wimbledon finish: Round of 64 – 2002, 2003
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 38/1
Why is Blake, who owns a career record of 2-3 at Wimbledon, on my list of sleeper players? Blake is entering this year’s tournament on a high after reaching the finals of the Queen’s Club warm-up tournament, losing to Hewitt in the finals. Blake is solid off the ground off both sides, has a solid serve and good foot speed, and showed that he can compete on grass. Given a favorable draw, Blake could make some serious noise.
Long Shots
Tim Henman – Great Britain
Tournament Seed: Unseeded
2006 overall record: 17-11
Wimbledon career record: 41-12
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998
Sportsbook odds to win the title: (Field) 5/1
One of England’s favorite sons, Henman has always played his best tennis at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals five times and the quarterfinals four times. Had it not been for a fellow named Pete Sampras, Henman could very easily be a Wimbledon champion already. Even though he’s past his prime, Henman thrives on the crowd support, and his serve-and-volley game is always a dangerous prospect for opponents. After losing a heartbreaking five-set match in last year’s round of 64, can Henman make one final run at glory?
Sebastien Grosjean - France
Tournament Seed: #15
2006 overall record: 16-11
Wimbledon career record: 21-7
Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 66/1
Grosjean is a very clever grass court player who will not overpower his opponents, but rather will out-think them. The past three years at Wimbledon have been very successful for Grosjean, as he reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and the semifinals in 2004 and 2003. He is deceptively quick, and is a grinder who can stay out on the court all day.
Gael Monfils - France
Tournament Seed: #22
2006 overall record: 17-13
Wimbledon career record: 2-1
Best Wimbledon finish: Round of 32 - 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: (Field) 5/1
Monfils is quickly establishing a reputation as one of the most athletic players on tour. He’s incredibly fast on court, which will serve him well on the Wimbledon grass, and has the stamina to wear out many opponents. Monfils won the Junior Wimbledon Championships in 2004, so he definitely feels comfortable on the grass. Monfils was forced to retire from the Queen’s Club grass court tournament, so his health heading into the tournament is questionable. With his athleticism and enthusiasm, Monfils is a lot of fun to watch and could surprise some people early on in the tournament.
Players to Watch
Wayne Arthurs (Australia), Ivo Karlovic (Croatia), Mark Philippoussis (Australia) – Three very tall players with very huge serves, each of them can do a lot of damage on the fast grass courts of Wimbledon. Philippoussis reached the Wimbledon finals in 2003 and the quarterfinals three other times, but has been plagued by injuries in recent years. Karlovic took out Hewitt in the first round in 2003 when Hewitt was the defending Wimbledon champion. Arthurs is a 6-foot-3 left-hander who can serve up aces in bunches.
Players to Avoid
Andre Agassi (United States) – The 1992 Wimbledon champion is coming back from a hip injury, and crashed out in the first round of the Queen’s Club warm-up tournament. Agassi has too much rust to be a major factor in the tournament, even though it will be his final Wimbledon.
Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) – Ljubicic has a career 2-6 Wimbledon record, which includes first-round losses in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Until he proves he can adapt his game to the grass, don’t waste your money on him.
Rafael Nadal (Spain) – The world’s best clay court player has been making some strides on the grass courts, losing in the quarterfinals of this year’s Queen’s Club tournament to Hewitt. The match was tied at one set when Nadal had to retire with a shoulder injury. After the grueling clay court schedule Nadal played, it is not surprising that his shoulder is dinged up. Nadal has a hard enough time playing on grass courts when he’s healthy, never mind when he is injured.
Thomas Johansson (Sweden) – The No.12 seed, Johansson lost in the first round of the Nottingham grass court warm-up tournament, where he was seeded No. 1. You want to enter your first match at Wimbledon on a high note, and losing in the first round of a warm-up grass court tournament doesn’t speak well for Johansson.
Women's Draw
Contenders
Amelie Mauresmo - France
Tournament Seed: #1
2006 overall record: 30-7
Wimbledon career record: 18-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2005, 2004, 2002
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 15/2
World No. 1 Mauresmo has all the skills needed to win major tournaments, as she proved at this year’s Australian Open. However, her mental state can often be the defining part of her game. When Mauresmo is relaxed and comfortable, she can play fantastic tennis. When she is stressed out and tentative, her game suffers, as was seen once again in this year’s French Open, where she crashed out in the round of 16. Mauresmo also recorded a disappointing result at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Eastbourne, where she was bounced in the second round by Nathalie Dechy of France. Mauresmo has produced very solid results at Wimbledon in the past few years, but her result at Eastbourne indicates that she may not have mentally overcome her collapse at the French. I would be very leery of putting any money down on Mauresmo.
Justine Henin-Hardenne - Belgium
Tournament Seed: #3
2006 overall record: 34-5
Wimbledon career record: 16-5
Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2001
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 7/2
Henin-Hardenne is coming into Wimbledon on a roll, having won her second consecutive French Open. She is playing with a lot of confidence, and has always been able to transition her game from the slow clay courts to the quick grass courts in London. Henin-Hardenne reached the Wimbledon finals in 2001 and the semifinals in 2002 and 2003, so she has proven her ability to win on grass. A stunning first-round loss to Eleni Danilidou in the 2005 Wimbledon championships was an aberration for Henin-Hardenne, who could be the front-runner to win the championships this year.
Kim Clijsters - Belgium
Tournament Seed: #2
2006 overall record: 20-6
Wimbledon career record: 17-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2003
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 9/2
Now that Clijsters appears to be healthy again, she is a threat to win any tournament she enters. She produced a great result in the French Open, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Henin-Hardenne. Her stamina and form have improved steadily during the year, and her past trips to the Wimbledon semifinals in 2003 and the fourth round in 2005 show she is a dangerous grass court player. As is said when every major rolls around, if Clijsters can stay healthy throughout the tournament, she must be considered a threat to win it.
Maria Sharapova - Russia
Tournament Seed: #4
2006 overall record: 27-6
Wimbledon career record: 15-2
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 2004
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 9/4
Sharapova vaulted onto the world tennis scene with her demolition of two-time defending champion Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon finals, and has served notice that her Wimbledon title was no fluke, as she lost to Venus Williams in the 2005 semifinals. Sharapova’s powerful groundstrokes and underrated serve carried her to the 2004 title, and could easily carry her to another title. Sharapova’s form might not be as clean and crisp as she would like coming into this year’s tournament, as she lost to unheralded American Jamea Jackson in the semifinals of the Birmingham grass court tournament. Sharapova always seems to save her best tennis for the big tournaments, and there is no bigger tournament than Wimbledon.
Sleepers
Nadia Petrova - Russia
Tournament Seed: #5
2006 overall record: 33-8
Wimbledon career record: 14-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 18/1
Going into this year’s French Open, Petrova was the hottest player on the WTA tour, having won three straight clay court tournaments (Amelia Island, Charleston, Berlin), and was considered by many to be the prohibitive favorite. However, Petrova suffered an injury prior to the French and lost in the first round. Petrova has shown she is comfortable on the grass courts, having reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2005. If Petrova has fully recovered from her injury and is able to return to her recent clay court form, don’t be surprised to see her advance far into the tournament.
Martina Hingis - Switzerland
Tournament Seed: #13
2006 overall record: 35-11
Wimbledon career record: 19-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 1997
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 8/1
It is official – the Swiss Miss is back. Hingis, the 1997 Wimbledon champion, completed a stellar clay court season by reaching the semifinals in Berlin, winning the tournament in Rome, and losing a tough quarterfinal match in the French Open. With every passing match, Hingis’ fitness level increases, and her confidence grows. Hingis’ smooth groundstrokes, deft passing shots and crisp volleys allow her to negate the powerful strokes of her opponents. Hingis faces an uphill battle as the 13th seed, but with her growing confidence and past Wimbledon experiences to draw upon, Hingis is very dangerous.
Venus Williams – United States
Tournament Seed: #7
2006 overall record: 10-4
Wimbledon career record: 42-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 2005, 2001, 2000
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 6/1
You might be asking right now – how can Venus, a three time Wimbledon champion, not be listed in my group of tournament favorites? Williams has only played 14 matches this year due to injury, and is still trying to shake off the rust and improve her match fitness. Williams made the quarterfinals of the French Open before running out of gas, and showed some flashes of brilliance during the tournament. Williams’ power game is amplified even further on the slick grass courts, and she has the ability to dominate any opponent on this surface. Even with her match rust and questionable fitness levels, do not underestimate Williams’ chances to win this tournament.
Long Shots
Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia
Tournament Seed: #6
2006 overall record: 35-10
Wimbledon career record: 8-3
Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2003, 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 10/1
Kuznetsova has shown good form at Wimbledon the past couple of years, reaching the quarterfinals in 2003 and 2005. She has already registered a tournament win this year in Miami, where she beat Hingis, Mauresmo and Sharapova, and she lost in the finals at the French Open to Henin-Hardenne. She has the game to reach the quarterfinals once again.
Elena Dementieva - Russia
Tournament Seed: #8
2006 overall record: 23-10
Wimbledon career record: 11-7
Best Wimbledon finish: 4th round – 2004, 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 52/1
Dementieva’s history at Wimbledon is a tale of two players – the Dementieva who reached the fourth round in 2005, 2003 and 2002, and the Dementieva who lost in the first round in 1999, 2000 and 2004. If the Dementieva who won the Tokyo tournament in January shows up, she could have a nice run. If the Dementieva shows up who lost in the first round of the Australian Open to no-name Julia Schruff of Germany, Dementieva could be the first seeded player to lose.
Players to Watch
Dinara Safina (Russia) – Seeded No. 15, Safina has a career record of 2-3 at Wimbledon, advancing to the third round in 2005. With a 28-12 in 2006, Safina could pose some problems for the higher-seeded players in her draw.
Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) – Hantuchova reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2002. Her 2006 match record is a less-than-impressive 18-12. Given a good draw, Hantuchova could advance to the second week of play.
Jamea Jackson (United States) – The young American defeated Sharapova in straight sets on her way to her first career WTA tour final at Birmingham, where she lost to Vera Zvonareva in the finals 7-6, 7-6. A hot playing coming into Wimbledon is always dangerous.
Vera Zvonareva (Russia) – Zvonareva won the grass court warm-up tournament at Birmingham last week. She has advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon twice, in 2003 and 2004.
By Rich Carlson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer
The story of the men's draw will be Roger Federer’s quest for a fourth straight Wimbledon crown. Federer’s excellence on grass has been legendary, as he has vanquished all comers in dominating fashion. Can somebody step on to Centre Court and dethrone the grass court master?
On the women's side the question is: Can somebody not named Williams win the tournament? Venus Williams won her third Wimbledon crown last year, to go along with her titles in 2000 and 2001. Sister Serena beat Venus in the finals in 2002 and 2003, completing the Williams family's recent dominance of the Lawn Championships. With Serena out of the tournament due to injury and Venus just now returning from her own injuries, the women's championship is up for grabs.
Here is a closer look at the title contenders, sleepers and long shots.
* Overall records are as of 6/19/06
Men's Draw
Contenders
Roger Federer - Switzerland
Tournament Seed: #1
2006 overall record: 49-4
Wimbledon career record: 25-4 (21 in a row)
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner – 2005, 2004, 2003
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 2/5
Any discussion about grass court tennis must begin with world No. 1 Federer. He is the three-time defending Wimbledon champion, has won four straight Gerry Weber grass court titles, and has tied Bjorn Borg’s all-time winning streak on grass with his 41st in a row. In his three years of Wimbledon dominance, Federer has lost a total four sets: one in 2003, two in 2004 and one in 2005. Federer’s great court coverage, masterful passing shots and deft touch at the net are a perfect fit for the grass courts. Federer has been masterful again this year, and there is no reason to believe that his dominance on the Wimbledon lawns will end this year. There is never a sure bet in tennis, but Federer playing on grass at Wimbledon is as close to one as you’ll ever find.
Andy Roddick – United States
Tournament Seed: #3
2006 overall record: 24-11
Wimbledon career record: 21-5
Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2005, 2004
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 13/2
If you’re looking for somebody who can discuss Federer’s domination at Wimbledon first hand, look no further than Roddick. Federer has beaten Roddick in the past three Wimbledon championships: the finals in 2005 and 2004 and the semifinals in 2003. Roddick’s powerful serve and blistering groundstrokes serve him well on the fast grass courts, and his volleying has steadily improved. He has enjoyed success on grass courts, winning the Queen’s Club grass tournament three years in a row (2003, 2004, 2005) and losing in the semifinals of this year’s tournament. Roddick’s form in 2006 has been a bit shaky, as he has already suffered 11 losses. If Roddick is able to cut down on his unforced errors and play more consistently, he has the power to reach the Wimbledon finals once again.
Lleyton Hewitt – Australia
Tournament Seed: #6
2006 overall record: 22-9
Wimbledon career record: 21-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals - 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 15/1
Hewitt is an established grass court player, having won Wimbledon in 2002 as well as winning the Queen’s Club championship three years in a row (2000-2002). Hewitt is entering this year’s Wimbledon on a hot streak, as he won his fourth Queen’s Club title over James Blake in the finals. When Hewitt is playing with confidence and going for his shots, he can be very tough to beat, and he always has confidence when he steps onto the Wimbledon lawns. With this year’s Queen’s Club title under his belt, look for Hewitt to advance deep into the second week of the tournament.
Sleepers
David Nalbandian – Argentina
Tournament Seed: #4
2006 overall record: 29-9
Wimbledon career record: 13-3
Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2002 (lost to Hewitt)
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 16/1
One would expect a tennis player raised on the clay courts of South America to be averse to playing on grass, but such is not the case with Nalbandian, who showed his all-court versatility in 2002 when he reached the Wimbledon finals. His results in 2002 were not a fluke, as he reached the round of 16 in 2003 and the quarterfinals in 2004. Nalbandian had to retire from his last match at the French Open due to injury, so his health and fitness could be an issue. If Nalbandian is healthy, he is very dangerous and is a player who the top seeds will be looking to avoid in the main draw.
Mario Ancic – Croatia
Tournament Seed: #7
2006 overall record: 31-12
Wimbledon career record: 9-4
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals – 2004 (loss to Roddick)
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 13/1
Ancic has emerged in 2006 as a very solid player, as his 31-12 record indicates. His game works on every surface, as he reached the quarterfinals of this year’s French Open and the finals of hard court tournaments in Auckland and Marseilles. Ancic reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2004, where he lost to Roddick in four tough sets. With his all-court game hitting on all cylinders, Ancic could be a spoiler in this year’s championships.
James Blake – United States
Tournament Seed: #8
2006 overall record: 30-14
Wimbledon career record: 2-3
Best Wimbledon finish: Round of 64 – 2002, 2003
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 38/1
Why is Blake, who owns a career record of 2-3 at Wimbledon, on my list of sleeper players? Blake is entering this year’s tournament on a high after reaching the finals of the Queen’s Club warm-up tournament, losing to Hewitt in the finals. Blake is solid off the ground off both sides, has a solid serve and good foot speed, and showed that he can compete on grass. Given a favorable draw, Blake could make some serious noise.
Long Shots
Tim Henman – Great Britain
Tournament Seed: Unseeded
2006 overall record: 17-11
Wimbledon career record: 41-12
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998
Sportsbook odds to win the title: (Field) 5/1
One of England’s favorite sons, Henman has always played his best tennis at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals five times and the quarterfinals four times. Had it not been for a fellow named Pete Sampras, Henman could very easily be a Wimbledon champion already. Even though he’s past his prime, Henman thrives on the crowd support, and his serve-and-volley game is always a dangerous prospect for opponents. After losing a heartbreaking five-set match in last year’s round of 64, can Henman make one final run at glory?
Sebastien Grosjean - France
Tournament Seed: #15
2006 overall record: 16-11
Wimbledon career record: 21-7
Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 66/1
Grosjean is a very clever grass court player who will not overpower his opponents, but rather will out-think them. The past three years at Wimbledon have been very successful for Grosjean, as he reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and the semifinals in 2004 and 2003. He is deceptively quick, and is a grinder who can stay out on the court all day.
Gael Monfils - France
Tournament Seed: #22
2006 overall record: 17-13
Wimbledon career record: 2-1
Best Wimbledon finish: Round of 32 - 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: (Field) 5/1
Monfils is quickly establishing a reputation as one of the most athletic players on tour. He’s incredibly fast on court, which will serve him well on the Wimbledon grass, and has the stamina to wear out many opponents. Monfils won the Junior Wimbledon Championships in 2004, so he definitely feels comfortable on the grass. Monfils was forced to retire from the Queen’s Club grass court tournament, so his health heading into the tournament is questionable. With his athleticism and enthusiasm, Monfils is a lot of fun to watch and could surprise some people early on in the tournament.
Players to Watch
Wayne Arthurs (Australia), Ivo Karlovic (Croatia), Mark Philippoussis (Australia) – Three very tall players with very huge serves, each of them can do a lot of damage on the fast grass courts of Wimbledon. Philippoussis reached the Wimbledon finals in 2003 and the quarterfinals three other times, but has been plagued by injuries in recent years. Karlovic took out Hewitt in the first round in 2003 when Hewitt was the defending Wimbledon champion. Arthurs is a 6-foot-3 left-hander who can serve up aces in bunches.
Players to Avoid
Andre Agassi (United States) – The 1992 Wimbledon champion is coming back from a hip injury, and crashed out in the first round of the Queen’s Club warm-up tournament. Agassi has too much rust to be a major factor in the tournament, even though it will be his final Wimbledon.
Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) – Ljubicic has a career 2-6 Wimbledon record, which includes first-round losses in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Until he proves he can adapt his game to the grass, don’t waste your money on him.
Rafael Nadal (Spain) – The world’s best clay court player has been making some strides on the grass courts, losing in the quarterfinals of this year’s Queen’s Club tournament to Hewitt. The match was tied at one set when Nadal had to retire with a shoulder injury. After the grueling clay court schedule Nadal played, it is not surprising that his shoulder is dinged up. Nadal has a hard enough time playing on grass courts when he’s healthy, never mind when he is injured.
Thomas Johansson (Sweden) – The No.12 seed, Johansson lost in the first round of the Nottingham grass court warm-up tournament, where he was seeded No. 1. You want to enter your first match at Wimbledon on a high note, and losing in the first round of a warm-up grass court tournament doesn’t speak well for Johansson.
Women's Draw
Contenders
Amelie Mauresmo - France
Tournament Seed: #1
2006 overall record: 30-7
Wimbledon career record: 18-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2005, 2004, 2002
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 15/2
World No. 1 Mauresmo has all the skills needed to win major tournaments, as she proved at this year’s Australian Open. However, her mental state can often be the defining part of her game. When Mauresmo is relaxed and comfortable, she can play fantastic tennis. When she is stressed out and tentative, her game suffers, as was seen once again in this year’s French Open, where she crashed out in the round of 16. Mauresmo also recorded a disappointing result at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Eastbourne, where she was bounced in the second round by Nathalie Dechy of France. Mauresmo has produced very solid results at Wimbledon in the past few years, but her result at Eastbourne indicates that she may not have mentally overcome her collapse at the French. I would be very leery of putting any money down on Mauresmo.
Justine Henin-Hardenne - Belgium
Tournament Seed: #3
2006 overall record: 34-5
Wimbledon career record: 16-5
Best Wimbledon finish: Finalist 2001
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 7/2
Henin-Hardenne is coming into Wimbledon on a roll, having won her second consecutive French Open. She is playing with a lot of confidence, and has always been able to transition her game from the slow clay courts to the quick grass courts in London. Henin-Hardenne reached the Wimbledon finals in 2001 and the semifinals in 2002 and 2003, so she has proven her ability to win on grass. A stunning first-round loss to Eleni Danilidou in the 2005 Wimbledon championships was an aberration for Henin-Hardenne, who could be the front-runner to win the championships this year.
Kim Clijsters - Belgium
Tournament Seed: #2
2006 overall record: 20-6
Wimbledon career record: 17-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Semifinals 2003
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 9/2
Now that Clijsters appears to be healthy again, she is a threat to win any tournament she enters. She produced a great result in the French Open, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Henin-Hardenne. Her stamina and form have improved steadily during the year, and her past trips to the Wimbledon semifinals in 2003 and the fourth round in 2005 show she is a dangerous grass court player. As is said when every major rolls around, if Clijsters can stay healthy throughout the tournament, she must be considered a threat to win it.
Maria Sharapova - Russia
Tournament Seed: #4
2006 overall record: 27-6
Wimbledon career record: 15-2
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 2004
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 9/4
Sharapova vaulted onto the world tennis scene with her demolition of two-time defending champion Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon finals, and has served notice that her Wimbledon title was no fluke, as she lost to Venus Williams in the 2005 semifinals. Sharapova’s powerful groundstrokes and underrated serve carried her to the 2004 title, and could easily carry her to another title. Sharapova’s form might not be as clean and crisp as she would like coming into this year’s tournament, as she lost to unheralded American Jamea Jackson in the semifinals of the Birmingham grass court tournament. Sharapova always seems to save her best tennis for the big tournaments, and there is no bigger tournament than Wimbledon.
Sleepers
Nadia Petrova - Russia
Tournament Seed: #5
2006 overall record: 33-8
Wimbledon career record: 14-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 18/1
Going into this year’s French Open, Petrova was the hottest player on the WTA tour, having won three straight clay court tournaments (Amelia Island, Charleston, Berlin), and was considered by many to be the prohibitive favorite. However, Petrova suffered an injury prior to the French and lost in the first round. Petrova has shown she is comfortable on the grass courts, having reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2005. If Petrova has fully recovered from her injury and is able to return to her recent clay court form, don’t be surprised to see her advance far into the tournament.
Martina Hingis - Switzerland
Tournament Seed: #13
2006 overall record: 35-11
Wimbledon career record: 19-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 1997
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 8/1
It is official – the Swiss Miss is back. Hingis, the 1997 Wimbledon champion, completed a stellar clay court season by reaching the semifinals in Berlin, winning the tournament in Rome, and losing a tough quarterfinal match in the French Open. With every passing match, Hingis’ fitness level increases, and her confidence grows. Hingis’ smooth groundstrokes, deft passing shots and crisp volleys allow her to negate the powerful strokes of her opponents. Hingis faces an uphill battle as the 13th seed, but with her growing confidence and past Wimbledon experiences to draw upon, Hingis is very dangerous.
Venus Williams – United States
Tournament Seed: #7
2006 overall record: 10-4
Wimbledon career record: 42-6
Best Wimbledon finish: Winner 2005, 2001, 2000
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 6/1
You might be asking right now – how can Venus, a three time Wimbledon champion, not be listed in my group of tournament favorites? Williams has only played 14 matches this year due to injury, and is still trying to shake off the rust and improve her match fitness. Williams made the quarterfinals of the French Open before running out of gas, and showed some flashes of brilliance during the tournament. Williams’ power game is amplified even further on the slick grass courts, and she has the ability to dominate any opponent on this surface. Even with her match rust and questionable fitness levels, do not underestimate Williams’ chances to win this tournament.
Long Shots
Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia
Tournament Seed: #6
2006 overall record: 35-10
Wimbledon career record: 8-3
Best Wimbledon finish: Quarterfinals 2003, 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 10/1
Kuznetsova has shown good form at Wimbledon the past couple of years, reaching the quarterfinals in 2003 and 2005. She has already registered a tournament win this year in Miami, where she beat Hingis, Mauresmo and Sharapova, and she lost in the finals at the French Open to Henin-Hardenne. She has the game to reach the quarterfinals once again.
Elena Dementieva - Russia
Tournament Seed: #8
2006 overall record: 23-10
Wimbledon career record: 11-7
Best Wimbledon finish: 4th round – 2004, 2005
Sportsbook odds to win the title: 52/1
Dementieva’s history at Wimbledon is a tale of two players – the Dementieva who reached the fourth round in 2005, 2003 and 2002, and the Dementieva who lost in the first round in 1999, 2000 and 2004. If the Dementieva who won the Tokyo tournament in January shows up, she could have a nice run. If the Dementieva shows up who lost in the first round of the Australian Open to no-name Julia Schruff of Germany, Dementieva could be the first seeded player to lose.
Players to Watch
Dinara Safina (Russia) – Seeded No. 15, Safina has a career record of 2-3 at Wimbledon, advancing to the third round in 2005. With a 28-12 in 2006, Safina could pose some problems for the higher-seeded players in her draw.
Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) – Hantuchova reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2002. Her 2006 match record is a less-than-impressive 18-12. Given a good draw, Hantuchova could advance to the second week of play.
Jamea Jackson (United States) – The young American defeated Sharapova in straight sets on her way to her first career WTA tour final at Birmingham, where she lost to Vera Zvonareva in the finals 7-6, 7-6. A hot playing coming into Wimbledon is always dangerous.
Vera Zvonareva (Russia) – Zvonareva won the grass court warm-up tournament at Birmingham last week. She has advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon twice, in 2003 and 2004.
By Rich Carlson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer
Monday, June 26, 2006
VC Bet 60/1 World Cup Specials
VC Bet's offers for tomorrow's (Tuesday) World Cup games:
60/1 Ronaldo to score first &
60/1 Kaka & Torres to score first in their respective games
Maximum stake £25 per person.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Everyday is Bingo Day!
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Friday, June 23, 2006
VC Bet's 60/1 specials for the weekend:
Saturday
Germany v Sweden
60/1 Klose to score first & Germany win 3-1
Argentina v Mexico
60/1 Riquelme to score first & Argentina win 3-0
Germany v Sweden & Argentina v Mexico
60/1 Klose & Saviola to score first in their respective games
60/1 Ballack & Crespo to score first in their respective games
Sunday
England v Ecuador
60/1 Beckham to score first & England win 2-1
60/1 Joe Cole to score first & England win 1-0
60/1 Lampard to score first & England win 3-0
Portugal v Holland
60/1 van Persie to score first and Holland win 2-1
England v Ecuador & Portugal v Holland
60/1 Gerrard & van Nistelrooy to score first in their respective games
60/1 Rooney & Ronaldo to score first in their respective games
All are maximum stake £25 per person.
Germany v Sweden
60/1 Klose to score first & Germany win 3-1
Argentina v Mexico
60/1 Riquelme to score first & Argentina win 3-0
Germany v Sweden & Argentina v Mexico
60/1 Klose & Saviola to score first in their respective games
60/1 Ballack & Crespo to score first in their respective games
Sunday
England v Ecuador
60/1 Beckham to score first & England win 2-1
60/1 Joe Cole to score first & England win 1-0
60/1 Lampard to score first & England win 3-0
Portugal v Holland
60/1 van Persie to score first and Holland win 2-1
England v Ecuador & Portugal v Holland
60/1 Gerrard & van Nistelrooy to score first in their respective games
60/1 Rooney & Ronaldo to score first in their respective games
All are maximum stake £25 per person.
VC Bet Royal Ascot Special
Here is VC Bet's offer for the final day of Royal Ascot (Saturday):
Have a bet of £20 or more on the Golden Jubilee Stakes and if your horse finishes second to Australian raider TAKEOVER TARGET we'll give you a free £20 bet to use on the Australia v Italy World Cup match on Monday.
Applies to win bets only, max free bet £20 per customer. Available to internet and telephone customers only.
Have a bet of £20 or more on the Golden Jubilee Stakes and if your horse finishes second to Australian raider TAKEOVER TARGET we'll give you a free £20 bet to use on the Australia v Italy World Cup match on Monday.
Applies to win bets only, max free bet £20 per customer. Available to internet and telephone customers only.
World Cup Spread Betting
Have you worked out who's going to win the World Cup yet? Argentina have overtaken Brazil as favourites with Sporting Index, and pushed England in to third place. If you're looking for a slightly different bet, check out the World Cup markets at Sporting Index. We've taken a look at some of their prices (see preview below) - new clients can claim a big free bet:
£200 World Cup Bet for New Clients
Open a Sporting Index account*, place five sports bets (each with the potential to win and lose £20) and claim a free £200 per goal bet on any live World Cup match.**
*Credit and suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with Sporting Index. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
For full details of these offers, and apply for your Sporting Index account, click below
World Cup - Outright Winner
Unlike a fixed-odds Outright Winner bet, with Sporting Index you can still make money even if a team fails to progress beyond the last sixteen. At the time of writing, their prices for some of the top teams are:
Argentina 50 - 53
Brazil 47 - 50
England 38 - 41
Germany 36 - 39
Spain 34 - 37
Italy 29 - 32
Holland 28 - 31
Portugal 23 - 26
Ukraine 18 - 21
Sweden 17 - 19
France 18 - 21
Points are awarded for how far a team progresses:
Winner = 100pts, Runner-Up = 75pts, Losing Semi-Finalists = 50pts, Losing Quarter-Finalists = 25pts, Last 16 = 10pts, All Others = 0pts.
To bet on this market, you bet high or low depending on whether you think a team will do well or badly.
How it all works
For example, let's say you want to bet on England's chances in the World Cup. You have a choice to make:
Will England get more than 41 points (ie reach the semi-finals),
OR
Will England get less than 38 points (ie no further than the quarter-finals)
Let's assume you think that we've not seen England's full potential yet, and you want to back them to progress. In this case, you would bet high at 41 points, for a stake of eg £2 per point.
If you're right, and England lose in the final, they would be awarded 75 points. As you bet high at 41 points, you would win (75 ? 41) x £2 = 34 x £2 = £68.
Clearly, you would win even more if England earn 100 points by lifting the trophy: (100 ? 41) x £2 = 59 x £2 = £118.
If England just make it to the semi-finals, then you're still in the money as they would earn 50 points on this market. You would therefore win (50 ? 41) x £2 = 9 x £2 = £18.
However, it can go the other way. Another key injury, or some bad decisions by Sven, and the team could be flying home early. If England fail to get past the quarter-finals, they would only earn 25 points. As you bet high at 41 points, you would lose (41 ? 25) x £2 = 16 x £2 = £32.
Yellow Fever ? how many more cards?
This tournament has seen a record number of yellow cards, as FIFA clamps down on a raft of measures. You can bet on bookings in a couple of ways with Sporting ? either on a match, or the total for the whole tournament.
Match Bookings
So far, there's been an average of approx 5.4 yellow cards per match. Interestingly, although the sample size is small, the matches involving Eastern European or African teams are averaging higher, at around 6 yellow cards per game.
Sporting Index award 10 points for a yellow card, and 25 points for a red card (max 35 points per player). So 5 yellow and 1 red card would be worth 75 points. This means that if there's a match with plenty at stake and you think that both teams will really get stuck in, you would bet high on Sporting's Bookings market.
E.g. Sporting Index quote 58 to 62 points, which is to say they think there will be 6 bookings. If you think it will be a 'physical' match, then you would 'bet high' at 62. Alternatively, anyone predicting a quiet day for the ref would 'bet low' at 58. How much you win or lose depends on how right or wrong you are, as per the previous examples above.
So for Sunday's match between England and Ecuador, bear in mind their form. England have picked up just 4 yellows in 3 matches, and Ecuador 6 so far. This would suggest a low number of bookings when they meet, compared to Portugal v Holland that evening. Both of these have picked up 9 cards each in their group matches, which suggests an average of 6 per match. With more at stake in the knock-out rounds, anyone betting high will hope for a repeat of the Ivory Coast v Serbia match ? 7 yellows and 2 reds meant the bookings were worth 120 points!
Total Tournament Yellow Cards
At the start of this tournament, Sporting Index predicted the total number of yellow cards shown in all 64 matches was 270 to 280. As more and more have been dished out, this price has moved up and up, currently standing at 320 to 324 (205 cards shown after 40 matches). With 24 matches to go, there?s still plenty of time to take an interest in this market.
Hopefully that's given you something to think about. For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click below
Sporting Index is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
All prices correct at time of writing. The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions.
£200 World Cup Bet for New Clients
Open a Sporting Index account*, place five sports bets (each with the potential to win and lose £20) and claim a free £200 per goal bet on any live World Cup match.**
*Credit and suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with Sporting Index. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
For full details of these offers, and apply for your Sporting Index account, click below
World Cup - Outright Winner
Unlike a fixed-odds Outright Winner bet, with Sporting Index you can still make money even if a team fails to progress beyond the last sixteen. At the time of writing, their prices for some of the top teams are:
Argentina 50 - 53
Brazil 47 - 50
England 38 - 41
Germany 36 - 39
Spain 34 - 37
Italy 29 - 32
Holland 28 - 31
Portugal 23 - 26
Ukraine 18 - 21
Sweden 17 - 19
France 18 - 21
Points are awarded for how far a team progresses:
Winner = 100pts, Runner-Up = 75pts, Losing Semi-Finalists = 50pts, Losing Quarter-Finalists = 25pts, Last 16 = 10pts, All Others = 0pts.
To bet on this market, you bet high or low depending on whether you think a team will do well or badly.
How it all works
For example, let's say you want to bet on England's chances in the World Cup. You have a choice to make:
Will England get more than 41 points (ie reach the semi-finals),
OR
Will England get less than 38 points (ie no further than the quarter-finals)
Let's assume you think that we've not seen England's full potential yet, and you want to back them to progress. In this case, you would bet high at 41 points, for a stake of eg £2 per point.
If you're right, and England lose in the final, they would be awarded 75 points. As you bet high at 41 points, you would win (75 ? 41) x £2 = 34 x £2 = £68.
Clearly, you would win even more if England earn 100 points by lifting the trophy: (100 ? 41) x £2 = 59 x £2 = £118.
If England just make it to the semi-finals, then you're still in the money as they would earn 50 points on this market. You would therefore win (50 ? 41) x £2 = 9 x £2 = £18.
However, it can go the other way. Another key injury, or some bad decisions by Sven, and the team could be flying home early. If England fail to get past the quarter-finals, they would only earn 25 points. As you bet high at 41 points, you would lose (41 ? 25) x £2 = 16 x £2 = £32.
Yellow Fever ? how many more cards?
This tournament has seen a record number of yellow cards, as FIFA clamps down on a raft of measures. You can bet on bookings in a couple of ways with Sporting ? either on a match, or the total for the whole tournament.
Match Bookings
So far, there's been an average of approx 5.4 yellow cards per match. Interestingly, although the sample size is small, the matches involving Eastern European or African teams are averaging higher, at around 6 yellow cards per game.
Sporting Index award 10 points for a yellow card, and 25 points for a red card (max 35 points per player). So 5 yellow and 1 red card would be worth 75 points. This means that if there's a match with plenty at stake and you think that both teams will really get stuck in, you would bet high on Sporting's Bookings market.
E.g. Sporting Index quote 58 to 62 points, which is to say they think there will be 6 bookings. If you think it will be a 'physical' match, then you would 'bet high' at 62. Alternatively, anyone predicting a quiet day for the ref would 'bet low' at 58. How much you win or lose depends on how right or wrong you are, as per the previous examples above.
So for Sunday's match between England and Ecuador, bear in mind their form. England have picked up just 4 yellows in 3 matches, and Ecuador 6 so far. This would suggest a low number of bookings when they meet, compared to Portugal v Holland that evening. Both of these have picked up 9 cards each in their group matches, which suggests an average of 6 per match. With more at stake in the knock-out rounds, anyone betting high will hope for a repeat of the Ivory Coast v Serbia match ? 7 yellows and 2 reds meant the bookings were worth 120 points!
Total Tournament Yellow Cards
At the start of this tournament, Sporting Index predicted the total number of yellow cards shown in all 64 matches was 270 to 280. As more and more have been dished out, this price has moved up and up, currently standing at 320 to 324 (205 cards shown after 40 matches). With 24 matches to go, there?s still plenty of time to take an interest in this market.
Hopefully that's given you something to think about. For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click below
Sporting Index is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
All prices correct at time of writing. The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions.
Wimbledon Betting Specials
Wimbledon
The first round draw took place this morning (Friday) and Henman, Murray and Rusedski all face difficult first round matches.
Ladrokes Sportbook will be offering a number of specials throughout the tournament, some of which are listed below:
Place a bet on the result of any Wimbledon Woman's Singles match, and if your selection wins 6-0 6-0, they will double your winnings to a max stake of £1,000
Place a bet on the result of any Wimbledon Men's Singles match, and if your selection wins 6-0 6-0 6-0, they will Treble your winnings to a max stake of £1,000.
Place a bet on the result of any Wimbledon Men's Singles match, and if your selection leads two sets to love and goes on to lose the match, they will refund 50% of your loses up to £250.
The first round draw took place this morning (Friday) and Henman, Murray and Rusedski all face difficult first round matches.
Ladrokes Sportbook will be offering a number of specials throughout the tournament, some of which are listed below:
Place a bet on the result of any Wimbledon Woman's Singles match, and if your selection wins 6-0 6-0, they will double your winnings to a max stake of £1,000
Place a bet on the result of any Wimbledon Men's Singles match, and if your selection wins 6-0 6-0 6-0, they will Treble your winnings to a max stake of £1,000.
Place a bet on the result of any Wimbledon Men's Singles match, and if your selection leads two sets to love and goes on to lose the match, they will refund 50% of your loses up to £250.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
VC Bet's 60/1 offers
For Friday 23rd June.
Saudi Arabia v Spain
60/1 Joaquin to score first & Spain win 3-0
Ukraine v Tunisia
60/1 Shevchenko to score first & Ukraine win 3-1
Switzerland v South Korea
60/1 Barnetta to score first & Switzerland win 2-1
Togo v France
60/1 Ribery to score first & France win 3-0
Maximum stake £25 per person.
Royal Ascot Specials
VC Bets Ropyal Ascott Special for Friday.
ENHANCED PLACE TERMS…
Coronation Stakes, 3.50 Royal Ascot
EACH WAY 1/3 ODDS 1,2,3
Applies to internet and telephone bets only.
ENHANCED PLACE TERMS…
Coronation Stakes, 3.50 Royal Ascot
EACH WAY 1/3 ODDS 1,2,3
Applies to internet and telephone bets only.
Win A Free WSOP Seat
Get Your Share Of Over $70 Million In Prize Money
Win A Free WSOP Seat – Find Out How!
This is your last chance to get a FREE SEAT at the 2006 WSOP Main Event. If you’ve been wondering if you could be the next Chris MoneyMaker, Greg Raymer, or Steve Dannemann – THIS OFFER IS FOR YOU!
Pacific Poker and Texas Calculatem have teamed up to give you ONE LAST CHANCE to go to Vegas for the 2006 WSOP Main Event for free.
Forget about all of the other WSOP qualifiers you’ve lost, and ignore your friends who don’t think you have what it takes to win the bracelet. Your chances of winning just got better.
Claim Your FREE Seat Now! Click Here:
Pacific Poker will be hosting their last WSOP Qualifier on July 8th. After that there will be no more free seats.
But you can still get into that Qualifier for free through this EXCLUSIVE OFFER.
Texas Calculatem is hosting a free “Last Chance For Vegas” Private WSOP Satellite
Tournament for any player who opens a new real money account with Pacific Poker through the link on the Texas Calculatem website.
When you open a new account, you will be registered for a seat in this private WSOP satellite – that means not just anyone can get in. This is an exclusive tournament!
PLUS, when you open a new real money account, you will get a full one-year Texas Calculatem license ABSOLUTLEY FREE!
What’s Texas Calculatem? Well if you don’t know listen up – this is important if you want to win more money playing poker.
Texas Calculatem is the hottest selling poker odds calculator on the market.
Texas Calculatem calculates your odds of winning every hand while you play poker online. It uses Auto-Read technology so there are no manual inputs like the odds calculators you see hosted on some websites.
All you have to do is Drag and Drop Calculatem onto your poker game. Then in real-time it will read your cards, calculate your odds of winning, and provide ultra-precise betting advice to help you win more money! (That means it will tell you exactly when to bet and when to fold!)
There are over 25,000 players using Texas Calculatem every single time they play. These players are making a killing at the tables, and you could be too.
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Now you can get Texas Calculatem and your shot at poker immortality (a free seat at the 2006 WSOP Main Event) for FREE!
Don’t wait another year for your chance to be on ESPN playing at the final table. Over $70 Million are up for grabs. It could be yours!
In 2003, Chris Moneymaker won a satellite tournament just like this one. From there he went on to win the WSOP Main Event and millions of dollars.
Now it’s your turn!
Claim Your Seat Now! Click Here:
Stop sitting on the sidelines. Step up and show the world how good you really are.
This is completely risk free. It doesn’t cost you a thing!
Your first deposit at Pacific Poker is yours to keep (of course!). You’ll win a FREE SEAT in this private WSOP Satellite Tournament. And you’ll get your own free copy of Texas Calculatem – which if you haven’t figured it out yet could help you build your bankroll and win your way to Las Vegas!
Here’s the catch -
This exclusive offer is available for a very limited time.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT! You have to act now or miss out on this opportunity forever. Over 10,000 players will be playing in the world’s most prestigious tournament in just a few short weeks…..DON’T BE LEFT OUT!
Stop wasting time. Go sign up now. It only takes a few minutes to open a new account.
Once you get your new Pacific Poker account, you’ll INSTANTLY get your copy of Texas
Calculatem. Then you can start practicing for your chance at poker greatness and a free seat to the WSOP Main Event.
Go to the 2006 WSOP Main Event for free and become a POKER GOD!
Claim Your Seat Now! Click Here:
Win A Free WSOP Seat – Find Out How!
This is your last chance to get a FREE SEAT at the 2006 WSOP Main Event. If you’ve been wondering if you could be the next Chris MoneyMaker, Greg Raymer, or Steve Dannemann – THIS OFFER IS FOR YOU!
Pacific Poker and Texas Calculatem have teamed up to give you ONE LAST CHANCE to go to Vegas for the 2006 WSOP Main Event for free.
Forget about all of the other WSOP qualifiers you’ve lost, and ignore your friends who don’t think you have what it takes to win the bracelet. Your chances of winning just got better.
Claim Your FREE Seat Now! Click Here:
Pacific Poker will be hosting their last WSOP Qualifier on July 8th. After that there will be no more free seats.
But you can still get into that Qualifier for free through this EXCLUSIVE OFFER.
Texas Calculatem is hosting a free “Last Chance For Vegas” Private WSOP Satellite
Tournament for any player who opens a new real money account with Pacific Poker through the link on the Texas Calculatem website.
When you open a new account, you will be registered for a seat in this private WSOP satellite – that means not just anyone can get in. This is an exclusive tournament!
PLUS, when you open a new real money account, you will get a full one-year Texas Calculatem license ABSOLUTLEY FREE!
What’s Texas Calculatem? Well if you don’t know listen up – this is important if you want to win more money playing poker.
Texas Calculatem is the hottest selling poker odds calculator on the market.
Texas Calculatem calculates your odds of winning every hand while you play poker online. It uses Auto-Read technology so there are no manual inputs like the odds calculators you see hosted on some websites.
All you have to do is Drag and Drop Calculatem onto your poker game. Then in real-time it will read your cards, calculate your odds of winning, and provide ultra-precise betting advice to help you win more money! (That means it will tell you exactly when to bet and when to fold!)
There are over 25,000 players using Texas Calculatem every single time they play. These players are making a killing at the tables, and you could be too.
Click here now to learn more about Texas Calculatem:
Now you can get Texas Calculatem and your shot at poker immortality (a free seat at the 2006 WSOP Main Event) for FREE!
Don’t wait another year for your chance to be on ESPN playing at the final table. Over $70 Million are up for grabs. It could be yours!
In 2003, Chris Moneymaker won a satellite tournament just like this one. From there he went on to win the WSOP Main Event and millions of dollars.
Now it’s your turn!
Claim Your Seat Now! Click Here:
Stop sitting on the sidelines. Step up and show the world how good you really are.
This is completely risk free. It doesn’t cost you a thing!
Your first deposit at Pacific Poker is yours to keep (of course!). You’ll win a FREE SEAT in this private WSOP Satellite Tournament. And you’ll get your own free copy of Texas Calculatem – which if you haven’t figured it out yet could help you build your bankroll and win your way to Las Vegas!
Here’s the catch -
This exclusive offer is available for a very limited time.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT! You have to act now or miss out on this opportunity forever. Over 10,000 players will be playing in the world’s most prestigious tournament in just a few short weeks…..DON’T BE LEFT OUT!
Stop wasting time. Go sign up now. It only takes a few minutes to open a new account.
Once you get your new Pacific Poker account, you’ll INSTANTLY get your copy of Texas
Calculatem. Then you can start practicing for your chance at poker greatness and a free seat to the WSOP Main Event.
Go to the 2006 WSOP Main Event for free and become a POKER GOD!
Claim Your Seat Now! Click Here:
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Air Miles from Virgin Poker
A new poker room at The Betting Directory from Virgin.
Virgin Poker is an online poker room wholly owned by Virgin.com Ltd. Quite simply they believe that gaming should be fun and entertaining.
It should be rewarding whether you win or lose. They hope that Virgin Poker isn't about losing the shirt off your back.
They like to think that they're something you can turn to whenever you have a bit of free time and you're looking for a challenge, a bit of fun or some serious action on the poker tables. Furthermore, their revolutionary player’s loyalty scheme is proving popular with members and a strong draw for new players. V-points give Virgin Poker players a chance to earn a range of Virgin rewards including Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles, at a rate far in excess of leading schemes such as Nectar, and matched only by the very best high street loyalty programmes such as Boots.
V-points are unique amongst poker loyalty schemes in that the rewards offered are genuinely achievable for everyday players, not just high-earning professionals. However, if you are a regular high stake player, you could earn at least a flight to Vegas every couple of months!
Monday, June 19, 2006
England v Sweden Spread Betting Preview
Although England haven't beaten Sweden since 1968, Sven has stated his desire to end this run as part of his legacy to the team. Sporting Index fancy his chances of doing it, with England priced up as favourites to win by 0.3 to 0.5 goals. The Total Goals spread of 2.3 to 2.5 is quite low though, probably in anticipation of a draw; all England need to top the group.
Sweden need a point to guarantee their place in the last 16, and except for Ibrahimovic (injured) they've got a full strength team. Four of their players are on one yellow card, including both strikers (Allback and Larsson). Elsewhere, Wilhelmsson and attacking midfielder Kim Kallstrom provide Sweden with further threats.
England will start Rooney and Owen together, with Crouch rested and Gerrard replaced by Hargreaves. This will give Lampard the freedom to do what he does best, and he'll be worth watching as he tries to give himself a birthday present - he's 28 on the day.
Finally, ref Massimo Busacco is a well-regarded Swiss official but has already shown a red card in this tournament. He produced two yellows and a straight red against Ukraine when they were routed by Spain. He was also the ref that sent Rooney off in England's 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in the qualifiers. Sporting expect at least five cards, which sounds high but there have been a lot shown so far...
Hopefully that's given you something to think about. For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click below:-
Sweden need a point to guarantee their place in the last 16, and except for Ibrahimovic (injured) they've got a full strength team. Four of their players are on one yellow card, including both strikers (Allback and Larsson). Elsewhere, Wilhelmsson and attacking midfielder Kim Kallstrom provide Sweden with further threats.
England will start Rooney and Owen together, with Crouch rested and Gerrard replaced by Hargreaves. This will give Lampard the freedom to do what he does best, and he'll be worth watching as he tries to give himself a birthday present - he's 28 on the day.
Finally, ref Massimo Busacco is a well-regarded Swiss official but has already shown a red card in this tournament. He produced two yellows and a straight red against Ukraine when they were routed by Spain. He was also the ref that sent Rooney off in England's 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in the qualifiers. Sporting expect at least five cards, which sounds high but there have been a lot shown so far...
Hopefully that's given you something to think about. For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click below:-
VC Bet's 60/1 offers
Tuesdays VC Bets World Cup Specials
60/1 Ballack to score first & Germany win 3-1
60/1 Klose to score first & Germany win 4-0
60/1 Beckham to score first & England win 1-0
60/1 Lampard to score first & England win 2-0
60/1 Ballack to score first & Germany win 3-1
60/1 Klose to score first & Germany win 4-0
60/1 Beckham to score first & England win 1-0
60/1 Lampard to score first & England win 2-0
Royal Ascot Specials
40% win bonus for totejackpot all week!
As well as offering a £40 free bet to all new customers* we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the totejackpot by extending a 40% win bonus for any lucky customer who is the sole jackpot winner during the festival.**
Best Odds Guaranteed - totewin v sp!
Bet totewin and if the SP is greater, we'll pay you at SP - available on at least 2 races every day of the festival.
Enhanced odds from 12.30 to first show!
We'll be betting to 1% per runner from 12.30 until first show on selected races every day of the festival for even better value.
totesport mobile text betting!
And if that's not enough, our brand new text betting service means that you can now place bets on your favourite sporting events wherever you are - on your sofa, on the bus or in the pub!
As well as offering a £40 free bet to all new customers* we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the totejackpot by extending a 40% win bonus for any lucky customer who is the sole jackpot winner during the festival.**
Best Odds Guaranteed - totewin v sp!
Bet totewin and if the SP is greater, we'll pay you at SP - available on at least 2 races every day of the festival.
Enhanced odds from 12.30 to first show!
We'll be betting to 1% per runner from 12.30 until first show on selected races every day of the festival for even better value.
totesport mobile text betting!
And if that's not enough, our brand new text betting service means that you can now place bets on your favourite sporting events wherever you are - on your sofa, on the bus or in the pub!
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Earn Virgin Flying Club miles
New at the Betting Directory!
Virgin Casino - want to put as much entertainment and value into playing casino online as possible and as a result they focus heavily on running generous customer offers and promotions.
The promotions include a first deposit match from £5 to £50, regular chances to win trips to Las Vegas, free £20 Virgin Wines Vouchers and exclusive games like their Virgin Prize Vault which gives players the chance to win a trip to Necker Island, Richard Branson’s private island.
The casino also offers extra value to players through the market leading High Flyer loyalty scheme which gives players the chance to earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles whenever they play – win or lose!
In addition there’s a huge selection of popular branded games, including Instant Win Monopoly, and slots like Wheel of Fortune, Price is Right and Play your Cards right.
Virgin Casino - want to put as much entertainment and value into playing casino online as possible and as a result they focus heavily on running generous customer offers and promotions.
The promotions include a first deposit match from £5 to £50, regular chances to win trips to Las Vegas, free £20 Virgin Wines Vouchers and exclusive games like their Virgin Prize Vault which gives players the chance to win a trip to Necker Island, Richard Branson’s private island.
The casino also offers extra value to players through the market leading High Flyer loyalty scheme which gives players the chance to earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles whenever they play – win or lose!
In addition there’s a huge selection of popular branded games, including Instant Win Monopoly, and slots like Wheel of Fortune, Price is Right and Play your Cards right.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
VC Bet's 60/1 offers
VC Bet's offers for this weekend:
Saturday
60/1 Figo scores first and Portugal win 3-0
60/1 Rosicky scores first and Czech Republic win 2-1
60/1 Totti scores first and Italy win 2-1
60/1 Pirlo scores first and Italy win 1-0
Win only. Maximum stake £25 per person.
Sunday
60/1 Prso scores first and Croatia win 3-1
60/1 Adriano scores first and Brazil win 3-1
60/1 Ribery scores first and France win 1-0
60/1 Zidane scores first and France win 2-0
Win only. Maximum stake £25 per person.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
World Cup of Poker
Continue the World Cup action at WPTonline with the World Cup of Poker league.
This World Cup of Poker action is happening now until the 9th of July. Play in our daily Group Stages and earn points for finishing in the top 10. If you earn enough points by the end of the Group Stages to finish in the overall top 5 then you will share in a £2000 prize fund.
Earn enough points to finish in the top 20 overall and you will qualify for the £3000 World Cup of Poker Final freeroll being held on Saturday 22nd July 2006 at 6.30pm GMT.
Points will be awarded based on number of players in each daily qualifying tournament. So get your players playing today to earn their spot in the World Cup of Poker Finals!
The more players and bigger the buy-in, the more points available.
Here is the schedule.
World Cup of Poker Group Stages Schedule
Name Date Time Buy-In
World Cup £1000 Guarantee Monday - Thursday 10pm BST £10 + £1
World Cup £1500 Guarantee Friday 10pm BST £15 + £1.50
World Cup £2000 Guarantee Saturday 10pm BST £20 + £2
World Cup £2500 Guarantee Sunday 10pm BST £25 + £2.50
This World Cup of Poker action is happening now until the 9th of July. Play in our daily Group Stages and earn points for finishing in the top 10. If you earn enough points by the end of the Group Stages to finish in the overall top 5 then you will share in a £2000 prize fund.
Earn enough points to finish in the top 20 overall and you will qualify for the £3000 World Cup of Poker Final freeroll being held on Saturday 22nd July 2006 at 6.30pm GMT.
Points will be awarded based on number of players in each daily qualifying tournament. So get your players playing today to earn their spot in the World Cup of Poker Finals!
The more players and bigger the buy-in, the more points available.
Here is the schedule.
World Cup of Poker Group Stages Schedule
Name Date Time Buy-In
World Cup £1000 Guarantee Monday - Thursday 10pm BST £10 + £1
World Cup £1500 Guarantee Friday 10pm BST £15 + £1.50
World Cup £2000 Guarantee Saturday 10pm BST £20 + £2
World Cup £2500 Guarantee Sunday 10pm BST £25 + £2.50
In-Running Betting - a guide
Betting just got a lot more exciting!
Once upon a time, when the match kicked-off, the betting stopped. Now, with VC Bet's new and improved betting in-running service, the action is only just beginning.
Betting in-running has become a key part of the VC Bet business as it is hugely popular with customers who like to add extra excitement to a game that has already kicked off. Backing a team at big odds when they have fallen behind can be extremely lucrative and very satisfying if they manage to come back and win. There are also plenty of people out there who like to weigh in on the short ones when a team has a good lead. Whatever you prefer, you’ll be impressed by our new and improved betting in-running service.
Of course, you can bet on the outright market as you’ve been doing with VC Bet for years. But now, we’ve added a whole new range of fun and interesting bets that make the experience of watching a game all the more exciting. Check out our guide to all of the markets that you can look forward to betting on throughout the 2006 World Cup.
VC Bet In-Running Markets
1. To win the match in 90 minutes
Description: The outright result after 90 mins
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to the 85th minute
Options: Team 1 win
Draw
Team 2 win.
2. To win in extra time
Description: The outright result after extra-time
Availability: After normal time (90 minutes) to the 115th minute
Options: Team 1 win
Draw
Team 2 win.
3. To win on penalties
Description: To win the match on penalties
Availability: At the end of extra-time to last penalty
Options: Team 1 win
Team 2 win
4. To qualify for the knockout stages
Description: To qualify for the qualifying stages of the World Cup
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off
Options: Yes – they will qualify
5. To win the World Cup
Description: To win the World Cup
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off
Options: Yes – they will win the World Cup
6. Correct Score
Description: The correct score in the game after normal time – 90 minutes
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: All possible correct scores
7. Asian Handicap
Description: The result of the game when the Asian Handicaps have been applied (Visit the VC Bet website for a full guide to Asian Handicap betting))
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Team 1 win
Team 2 win
Stakes returned
Half stakes returned
8. Second Half Asian Handicap
Description: The result of just the second-half when the Second-half Asian Handicaps have been applied
Availability: From half time to 85th minute
Options: Team 1 win
Team 2 win
Stakes returned
Half stakes returned
9. Team to score the next goal
Description: The team that will score the next goal in the match
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Team 1 score next
Team 2 score next
No goal
10. Next goalscorer
Description: The player that will score the next goal in the match
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: All players available
No goal
11. Over / Under goals in the match
Description: Will there be over or under a specified number of goals in the match (90 minutes only)? This is usually set at a number and a half, eg 1.5, so that the number of actual goals will always be over or under the specified figure.
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Over
Under
12. Second half goals
Description: The number of goals scored in the second half
Availability: From half-time to the 85th minute
Options: Numbers fluctuate according to the current tally
All numbers available
13. Total corners
Description: The number of corners won in the match
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Numbers fluctuate according to the current tally
All numbers are available
14. Second half corners
Description: The number of corners won in the match
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Numbers fluctuate according to the current tally
All numbers are available
15. Last corner
Description: The team that wins the final corner of the match
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Team 1
Team 2
16. Double chance
Description: You are a winner if your team wins or if it is a draw.
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Team 1 & Draw
Team 2 & Draw
17. Total booking points
Description: The total amount of booking points in normal time (90 minutes). 10 points are awarded for a yellow card and 25 points for a red.
Availability: As soon as the match has kicked-off to 85th minute
Options: Numbers fluctuate according to current points tally.
18. Specials
Description: A range of special bets will be on offer throughout the tournament. Check the VC Bet website for details.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Free £40 World Cup Bet
Tote Sport have launched a brilliant World Cup Match Centre which is packed with loads of stats, info and special World Cup betting markets as well as Live Text Commentary on every single match.
To celebrate the World Cup they have increased their £25 free bet to a net busting £40 for all new customers! This will run for the duration of the World Cup (09.06.05 - 09.07.06).
Have you ever thought that you had guessed the right score in a match only to lose out on an injury time goal? Well, we have come up with a solution to this frustration with our new Correct Score Offer. Place a correct score bet and we'll pay out on the score as the clock strikes 90 minutes plus on the score at the end of injury time if different** - and this offer is available on every match at the World Cup.
Bet on the 1st goal scorer and if your player fails to score 1st, but scores last you'll still be a winner!*** Available on every England game.
If you can correctly predict who will finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the World Cup, you will be entered into a prize draw to win VIP tickets for you and three friends to watch a Premiership team of your choice. Plus 10 runners-up will get a free £50 bet on any Premiership game in August.
Simply reply to us via the platform email with your selection before 19.07.06 and we'll enter you into the draw.
Terms and conditions apply****.
VC Bet's 60/1 shots
VCBets latest World Cup Specials
Thursday
60/1 Wanchope scores first and Costa Rica win 1-0
60/1 Beckham scores first and England win 3-0
60/1 Gerrard scores first and England win 4-0
60/1 Ljungberg scores first and Sweden win 2-1
Thursday
60/1 Wanchope scores first and Costa Rica win 1-0
60/1 Beckham scores first and England win 3-0
60/1 Gerrard scores first and England win 4-0
60/1 Ljungberg scores first and Sweden win 2-1