World Cup 2010 Betting Blog Day 8

Written by Joe Berg Monday, 14 June 2010 12:21

England World Cup Blog

Well, I think it’s safe to say it’s been a World Cup opening to forget, as far as entertainment, quality and goals are concerned, at least until the Germans stepped up last night with a performance worthy of the world stage. 

Excitedly, I got the drinks in (Yazoo chocolate milk) and cleared my work desk on Friday afternoon to sit back and pretend to be writing a report to my boss while I watched South Africa vs Mexico. Unfortunately, the ITV Player wouldn’t work and so I had to listen to the first hour or so on Radio 5 while I searched all over for a site that was streaming. Eventually, someone on Facebook told me I could watch it on an Iraqi website, and so that’s what I did for the last part. Not really worth it, to be honest. And how bleeding annoying are those horns? Surely FIFA should be banning them. Have you heard one good thing said about them by anybody? Anybody? 

Friday’s night game was even more boring. The only good thing was seeing France fail to take maximum points. Wouldn’t it be great if they finish 2nd in the group to set up a second round tie against Argentina? Would lick my lips at that. 

Saturday was spent on the settee with beer in hand, pizza in oven and Pringles spilt all over the floor. South Korea were impressive, and look to me like they might do well in this tournament. I really like their philosophy and I hope to see them really take it to Argentina when they meet. Meanwhile, the Argies should’ve scored a load against Nigeria but ultimately only managed the solitary goal, although Messi was entertaining as usual. 

And then on to the big one, England against our language-butchering cousins, the Yanks. Who would’ve predicted a goalkeeping balls-up? Really. An English goalkeeper making a match-costing mistake. These things don’t usually happen to us. Oh wait.

Off to an absolute flyer after four minutes, all was looking rosy. “What do you mean you were worried before kick-off? We’re going to stroll it, I sense a 5-0 drubbing.”

Half an hour later and we hadn’t found the net again, but at least there was no threat coming from the other side. Then on 40 minutes, step up Robert Green.

I was angrier than some at this as I’ve been a vocal supporter of Joe Hart from the day the squad was announced. He’s had a great season, is as self-confident as the most German of Germans, and on top of that appears to have the ability to warrant such belief in himself. Why oh why doesn’t Capello give him a chance? Mr. “I pick players on form, not on name” Capello needs to have a serious word with himself. 

After the game, I tuned in to watch James Corden on ITV. I was actually quite looking forward to it. Unfortunately, he let me down, and not only on that first show but also last night as well. As funny as he is in sketches and interviews, he just isn’t strong enough to host a show. And if I hear him say “How much do we love , let’s have a cheer!” one more time, there’s a chance I might throw the telly out the window. It’s also an England player love-in. “We won’t hear any criticism of Robert Green on this show.” “I could spend every weekend with Steven Gerrard and never get bored.” Etc etc etc… 

I am supporting the Back the Beard Campaign, though. 

Sunday was a happier occasion for me as my adopted nation, Slovenia, (albeit with a touch of good fortune) saw off Algeria courtesy of a Rob Koren speculative effort. Cue a lot of fist punching and shouting in my living-room as I received texts from friends who had made the way to South Africa and were in the stadium. I even saw one of them on the telly for a moment, which made me laugh but also berate myself for not being there, thanks to my gambling. The plan for a long time had been to save a couple of hundred a month and to get out there to watch England (at the time, I didn’t think Slovenia would qualify as well). As it is, I gambled away every penny and am stuck here watching games with Pringles that I can barely afford. 

Still about £350 short of my rent (that should’ve been paid on Friday), I put £100 on Serbia to beat Ghana yesterday afternoon. I should’ve known NEVER TO BET ON ANYONE REPRESENTING SERBIA, as over the past year I’ve lost more money on Djoković, Janković and Ivanović in the tennis than any other players. Some people just never learn.

And so, feeling sick again, I went for broke. £250 on Germany to win by at least two goals. I couldn’t even watch the match through nerves, instead taking the tube out to Ealing Broadway where I walked around like a tramp in a trance, even sitting in a church for a while, just desperate to be away from human life, and more importantly, away from kebab shops with tellys. Then the text came, “1-0 Germany.” Then the follow-up, “2-0 Germany, you’re quids in, mate.”

My gambling mate wasn’t doing me any favours; if anything he was tempting fate. I knew it wouldn’t last, I knew the Australians would score a freak goal. Then it went to 3-0 and I made my way home. Happy days. In the end, the Germans showed me I should never doubt their ruthless efficiency. And I won’t. Danke schon. 

I’m still short of the rent, but today I’m going to try other means to get hold of it, rather than risking it. I want to put it on Holland to win by 2 or more, but have a twang of apprehension and so can’t grow the balls to go for it. I also expect Cameroon to beat Japan, but again, something inside me is protesting. We’ll see, I might just lump on it at the last minute. 

If I do, I’ll have to do it in a shop as I’ve sent the email this morning to bar myself from the website. I already feel pain and regret at the decision, but there’s no going back now. 

With 15 minutes til kick-off in the Holland game, I better leave it there and try to get some work done before hopefully sneaking out of the office and across the road to the pub for at least some of the game. Why can’t the government close down the country and make the next 4 weeks a national holiday? It comes but once every four years, and no one’s really working anyway.
 

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