Showing posts with label Football World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football World Cup. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Algeria vs. Egypt World Cup Qualifier

On Thursday bitter rivals Algeria and Egypt will clash in a sudden-death playoff for a spot in the Football World Cup finals, and if the previous fixture in Cairo is anything to go by, expect there to be plenty of fireworks.

In that match, needing to beat the Group C leaders by two clear goals at home, Egypt recorded a famous last gasp 2-0 win five minutes into stoppage time. The result meant that both Egypt and Algeria finished tied on points, goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head records sending the fixture into a sudden-death playoff.

In addition to the events on the field, the match will also be remembered for the scenes that followed in its aftermath including rioting in the Algerian capital Algiers, and French port city of Marseilles and incidents in and around Cairo itself where 12 Egyptians and 20 Algerians were injured - some of the latter being wounded after their bus was stoned. Such behaviour is a continuation of the event's that took place on Thursday, when the Algerian team bus was attacked by Egyptian youths.

The deciding match will played at the neutral venue of Sudan. Head to head TAB Sportsbet (NSW) has Egypt has $2 favourites ahead of the $3.50 Algerians, while a draw after 90 minutes is paying $3.50. Other betting markets on the match include Correct Score, Half time/Full time double, Half-time result, 1st Half correct score, and Total Goals Over/Under (normal time).


Thursday, November 12, 2009

All Whites vs. Bahrain - One Shot for Glory

This Saturday night, Wellington's Westpac Stadium will be full to capacity as the New Zealand All Whites take on Bahrain in their do-or-die clash for Football World Cup qualification.

After the first-leg of the two leg play-off in Manama ended in a 0-0 draw both sides go into the match with it all to play for. For Bahrain, thanks to the away goals rule, a score-draw would be enough to see them through, but such a result is far from a certainty.

Buoyed by 35,500 screaming Kiwis (the largest ever football crowd in New Zealand), the All Whites will be a formidable opponent for the 5th placed Asian qualifier. Furthermore, the predicted weather conditions for Saturday night's match (a brisk 11 degrees) couldn't be more different to what the Bahranian side will be used to.

The New Zealand TAB has the All Whites as narrow $2.40 head-to-head favourites ahead of Bahrain at $2.70. While a draw after 90 minutes is paying $3.20. There are also a raft of other special markets on offer including Half time/Full time double, Half-time result, 1st team to score, Time of 1st goal, Total goals in match, Goal Start. Exact Score, Winning team & Method, Number of corners, Double Chance, Penalty in match, NZ to score and/or Bahrain to score.

In other upcoming World Cup qualifiers this weekend, Greece ($2.05) takes on the Ukraine ($3.30); Portugal ($1.37) takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina ($8.25), the Republic of Ireland ($2.70) plays France ($2.40); and Russia ($1.35) meets Slovenia ($9.00).