It is the final day of group matches at the Olympic football tournament and the race for the quarter final spots is really heating up. Heading into the last set of games we know the identity of two of the quarter finalists with Nigeria and Portugal already through but a nervy night is in store for those chasing the other six spots.
The final match in each group kicks off at the same time to give everyone a level playing field and all eyes will be on the Brazilians late at night to see if they can secure the win they need to guarantee qualification.
Group A
We have to wait until the end of the day for this group to conclude and it will do so with Denmark taking on the hosts Brazil and Iraq facing South Africa. Denmark just need to avoid defeat to qualify while the winners of the other match will definitely go through if Brazil don’t win so there is plenty at stake in this group.
Group B
Nigeria are away and gone in this section and already have top spot sewn up with two solid wins. Colombia are in pole position to join them knowing that if they beat Nigeria they will qualify but were Colombia to slip up then the winner of Japan vs Sweden will pip the South Americans to the second quarter final place.
Group C
This is the most interesting group of the lot going into the final round. Korea and Mexico both go into the night on four points and a draw will put them three points ahead of Germany before the result of Germany vs Fiji is known. Mexico only have a +4 goal difference though which Germany are likely to cover handsomely so Mexico may need to win to qualify. Having beaten Fiji 8-0 Korea know they are through with a draw.
Group D
Portugal have already qualified for the quarter final but they need another point to be sure of topping the group. The match between Argentina and Honduras is a straight knockout to make it into the quarter final while Portugal take on Algeria aiming to get the point they need. The African side are already eliminated from the tournament, one of just two sides with Fiji the other who are already eliminated.
Betting
I’m going with three bets in this final night of action in the group stages. I guess Portugal are as big as 10/11 to beat Algeria because a point will do but the gulf in class between them and Algeria has been there for all to see in the tournament so far and just because they don’t need to win doesn’t mean that they won’t. I fully expect Portugal, who took Argentina apart in their first match, to see off Algeria.
Secondly the sheer nature of the set up in Group C makes me think goals are naturally going to come when South Korea take on Mexico. Mexico know they have to score else they are likely to be out and were they to do that South Korea would then have to score to stay alive so that has the potential to be a match which opens right up and has an end to end feel to it.
Surprisingly given the situation around the game we can still get 10/11 on over 2.5 goals and when you think both sides matches against Germany had well over 2.5 goals I’m expecting plenty more here especially if there is an early goal which completely forces a response from the side who concedes.
Finally a nation will be expectant when Brazil go up against Denmark in Salvador. Brazil have to win to guarantee qualification for the next round and that will need them to do something they haven’t yet managed in the tournament to date – score a goal.
Denmark are in the excellent position of knowing if they keep a clean sheet they will be into the quarter finals and they will most likely be there as group winners too. That will be confirmed if they win the match.
Just the sheer nature of the importance of this match I’m expecting a tight and tense tussle here. Goals haven’t come regularly in this group, indeed there has only been one in four matches thus far and I’m not convinced we’re going to see too many more here. Brazil just have to win even if it is 1-0. This isn’t the match to try and entertain above winning whereas Denmark can set up tight and hit Brazil on the break. It all points to few goals to me.
Tips
Back Portugal to beat Algeria for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
Back South Korea vs Mexico – Over 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
Back them here:
Back Brazil vs Denmark – Under 2.75 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with NetBet
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
