Archive for the ‘Soccer’ Category

2018 World Cup Odds & Free World Cup Picks

April 18th, 2018 by Lou Palumbo (Head Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   Comments Off on 2018 World Cup Odds & Free World Cup Picks
50% Signup Bonus Offer For Bankroll Sports Visitors
Click Here for a 50% Signup Bonus from My Bookie
Visa Card Deposits Are Now Accepted at MyBookie
(Exclusive Offer – Must Use This Link & Prom Code “Bankroll”)

The field for the 2018 World Cup is set, as one of the greatest sporting events on the planet is just around the corner.  Located at the bottom of this page you will find the latest 2018 World Cup Odds from the top sportsbooks on the web.  This post discuss the current odds & few under-valued / over-valued picks.  You will also find our handicapping team’s pick to win the 2018 World Cup.

After a few weeks of betting, the latest odds have settled on Brazil (Odds: 4 to 1 @ JustBet) the current favorite (as expected).  The betting public also likes the defending World Cup champs, in Germany (World Cup Odds: 5 to 1 @ JustBet) to repeat.  Right behind the current favorites are two very formidable squads in France (Odds: 6 to 1 @ JustBet) & Spain (Odds: 6 to 1 @ JustBet).

Some Essential 2018 World Cup Information
2018 World Cup Dates: June 14 to July 15, 2018

Host Country: Russia (17 Different City Venues)
Final Match Venue: Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)

 Favorite To Win The 2018 World Cup: Brazil (4/1)
Defending 2014 World Cup Champion: Germany

Under-valued 2018 World Cup Plays (We Like):

We truly see England (2018 World Cup Odds: 18 to 1 @ JustBet) offering a lot of value based on our computer simulations.  The fact that England was unable to get past the final 16 in the previous two World Cups is a big reason we see them being under-the-radar. This is also squad who’s entire team plays their club soccer within their country.  The English squad features one of the Premier League’s top scorers in Harry Kane, who scored 24 EPL goals in 2017.  18 to 1 is a bargain.

JustBet
Another team we see being offered at a tremendous value is Belgium (2018 World Cup Odds: 10 to 1 @ JustBet).  Not only did our simulators output Belgium as a potential World Cup Champion, but they also field one of their most complete national teams in the country’s history.  This young & very talented squad looked very impressive in their qualifying run; where they won an impressive nine of ten matches.  Their top scorers (Lukaku, Hazard, DeBruyne) are very exciting young footballers.  This trio scored a combined 43 goals in their ten qualifying games.

Over-valued 2018 World Cup Odds (Don’t Like):

There are casual observers who might be surprised to see Portugal (Odds To Win: 20 to 1 @ JustBetbeing offered at such a high price.  The globally popular, Cristiano Ronaldo may also make Portugal a tempting casual play.  However, Ronaldo’s best soccer is behind him at this point; 33 years old is a dinosaur when it comes to International Soccer.  It also may be temping to look to Portugal’s 2016 Euro victory and see them as a serious 2018 World Cup contender.  However, in their Euro 2016 title, they were only able to win just one match in regulation.

Our Free Pick to Win the 2018 World Cup:

France (6 to 1 odds) – We see France as the most talented and deepest team in the 2018 World Cup field.  We also see them as the most hungry.  The French team will be eager to redeem themselves after their Euro 2016 loss in their home country.  They cruised in their qualifier matches and beat some formidable squads (including Netherlands & Sweden).  They are also in a group they should have no problem getting through.  We see Les Bleus as the team to beat in Russia.

2018 World Cup Odds @ JustBet (as of 4/18/18):
(Get a Huge 100% Bonus when using This Link)

Brazil: 4 to 1
Germany: 5 to 1
France: 6 to 1
Spain: 6 to 1
Argentina: 10 to 1
Belgium: 12 to 1
England: 18 to 1
Portugal: 29 to 1
Croatia: 37 to 1
Uruguay: 37 to 1
Colombia: 45 to 1
Russia: 48 to 1
Poland: 73 to 1
Denmark: 95 to 1
Switzerland: 125 to 1
Mexico: 125 to 1
Egypt: 127 to 1
Sweden: 150 to 1
Peru: 175 to 1
Nigeria: 200 to 1
Serbia: 215 to 1
Senegal: 250 to 1
Iceland: 250 to 1
Japan: 250 to 1
Australia: 300 to 1
Costa Rica: 300 to 1
Morocco: 300 to 1
Iran: 300 to 1
Tunisia: 500 to 1
South Korea: 500 to 1
Panama: 500 to 1
Saudi Arabia: 500 to 1

Soccer Picks: Odds To Win the 2014 World Cup with World Cup Odds

July 22nd, 2013 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   Comments Off on Soccer Picks: Odds To Win the 2014 World Cup with World Cup Odds
Exclusive 200% Sign-Up Bonus Offer For Bankroll Sports Visitors Only
Click Here to get a Massive 200% Bonus from WagerWeb
Visa Card Deposits Are Now Accepted at WagerWeb (98% Approval Rate)
(Exclusive Offer – Must Use This Link & Promocode “bankrollsports“)

2014 World Cup LogoQualifying for the 2014 World Cup is in the midst of happening, and we are a year away from the greatest spectacle on the planet. Join us here at Bankroll Sports as we break down the World Cup odds for all of the top teams on the planet and make our 2014 World Cup predictions.

South Africa became the first nation to not qualify for at least the knockout rounds of the World Cup when it missed out after three matches in 2010. However, we can virtually guarantee that the hosts aren’t going to be missing out of the knockout rounds in this one! Brazil (Favorites To Win the World Cup: 3.50 to 1 @ JustBet Sportsbook) is going to host this tournament this year, and that means that the hometown crowd is going to be on full bore for a team that has a heck of a lot of promise to it. Brazil of course, doesn’t have to fight through qualification to get to the World Cup thanks to the automatic qualification of host nations. This is going to be the first chance for the world to see Neymar, who is expected to be the next icon in Brazilian soccer. This striker could bring a real flair for the dramatics to the World Cup, and the fact of the matter is that for all of its glory, Brazil has lacked creativity up front for the last half decade or so.

Bovada SoccerBrazil might be the favorite on the odds to win the World Cup, but the team to beat is going to be Spain (2014 World Cup Odds: 4.50 to 1 @ JustBet Sportsbook) has the most talented team in the world, and it is going to be the hardest team to beat in the World Cup for sure. There’s a reason that this team won the World Cup in 2010, and there’s a reason that it won the Euros in 2012 as well. Manager Vicente del Bosque can hold this job for as long as he wants, and he has no reason to give it up. Andres Iniesta struck the World Cup winning goal in stoppage time in 2010, and he might be the third best midfielder in the bunch. David Villa and Fernando Torres make up a fantastic striking combination, and there is no doubt that this will once again be one of the highest scoring team in qualification for the World Cup.

JustBet

A team that is coming out of nowhere to impress as one of the best teams in the world is Belgium (2014 World Cup Betting Lines: 25 to 1 @ JustBet Sportsbook). Belgium is one of the teams in Europe that knows that it is going to qualify for the World Cup as long as it doesn’t fall off of the horse. The Belgians were able to really surprise on American soil a few weeks ago, winning a match over a very good United States team. Granted, the tests are going to get tougher as time goes on, and a qualifying stage featuring Serbia, Croatia, Wales, Scotland, and FYR Macedonia isn’t exactly all that challenging. Still, Belgium has done the job, outscoring teams 13-2 in the process of getting towards the World Cup, and with a good group draw, it could be on its way to the knockout round of this tournament.

We think that the team to get in on right now is Japan (Odds To Win the World Cup: 100 to 1 @ JustBet Sportsbook). The Japanese have been one of the most impressive sides in the entire world in terms of qualifying. We know that the Samurai Blue aren’t the most talented team in the world, but they are tactically sound, and they have a real chance of pulling off some upsets in the upcoming Confederations Cup. Japan is the only team that has qualified its way into the World Cup at this point aside from Brazil, and that’s something that we don’t have an assurance of with a lot of the teams with significantly worse odds. Stay away from a de facto Group of Death, and Japan will probably be a favored team to get into the knockout stages when absolutely anything could happen.

2014 World Cup Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 6/24/13):
(Get a HUGE 100% Bonus @ JustBet When Using This Link)
Brazil 3.50 to 1
Spain 4.50 to 1
Argentina 5 to 1
Germany 7 to 1
Netherlands 15 to 1
Italy 15 to 1
England 20 to 1
France 25 1
Belgium 25 to 1
Uruguay 30 to 1
Portugal 30 to 1
Chile 40 to 1
Mexico 40 to 1
Russia 60 to 1
Columbia 60 to 1
Ghana 80 to 1
United States 80 to 1
Croatia 80 to 1
Ivory Coast 80 to 1
Serbia 100 to 1
Sweden 100 to 1
Turkey 100 to 1
Czech Republic 100 to 1
Ecuador 100 to 1
Australia 100 to 1
Ukraine 100 to 1
Japan 100 to 1
Paraguay 120 to 1
Denmark 150 to 1
Cameroon 150 to 1
Nigeria 150 to 1
Switzerland 200 to 1
Poland 200 to 1
Peru 200 to 1
South Korea 200 to 1
Republic of Ireland 200 to 1
Norway 200 to 1
Greece 200 to 1
Slovakia 400 to 1
Romania 400 to 1

2011-12 UEFA Champions League Odds, Picks, Predictions, & Preview

August 1st, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   Comments Off on 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Odds, Picks, Predictions, & Preview

Attention Canadian & European Sports Bettors: Exclusive Bonus Offer!
Click Here For a 100% Signup Bonus From Bet365
(Exclusive Bonus Offer – Must Use This Link or Above Links)
Note: Not Available for US Customers, See Below For Other Great Sportsbook Bonuses!

Full List of Odds To Win 2011-12 Champions League Can Be Found Below

Some of the best soccer teams in Europe will get together over the course of the next 10 months to determine the top club in European soccer! Our expert soccer handicappers have their fingers on the pulse of the Champions League odds this year, and we are all set to make our free Champions League picks!

Two out of the last three seasons, Barcelona (Champions League Odds Favorites: 2 to 1 at BoDog Sportsbook) has ended up winning the Champions League title. For good reason, the top Spanish side is the favorite to win it all again this year. This is a club with a very, very rich history in this championship, and with so many Spanish players that are on arguably the best team assembled in the world right now, the Spain national team, it is no wonder why Barca has such a great pedigree. Sure, it stumbled out of the blocks in the World Football Challenge against Man U in the United States, but we know that we are going to see better out of this team as the year goes by to the point that we are definitely not going to want to bet against it.

List Of Past Champions League Winners (Since 1995)
2010-11 Champions League Champions: Barcelona
2009-10 Champions League Champions: Inter Milan
2008-09 Champions League Champions: Barcelona
2007-08 Champions League Champions: Manchester United
2006-07 Champions League Champions: AC Milan
2005-06 Champions League Champions: Barcelona
2004-05 Champions League Champions: Liverpool
2003-04 Champions League Champions: FC Porto
2002-03 Champions League Champions: AC Milan
2001-02 Champions League Champions: Real Madrid
2000-01 Champions League Champions: Bayern Munich
1999-00 Champions League Champions: Real Madrid
1998-99 Champions League Champions: Manchester United
1997-98 Champions League Champions: Real Madrid
1996-97 Champions League Champions: Borussia Dortmund
1995-96 Champions League Champions: Juventes
1994-95 Champions League Champions: Ajax

The teams that are all overvalued are the ones from England. The biggest overachiever of the bunch is Manchester United (2011-12 Champions League League Lines: 8 to 1 at BoDog Sportsbook). Are the Red Devils the best side in England? Absolutely. However, they do have a major target on their backs this year, and we’re really not all that sure that they’re going to be able to survive what could be a potentially lethal Champions League draw. Teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal are all overrated as well, and there is no doubt that they are all going to end up going out of this competition before the Final Four even begin.

**Click Here for a Hidden & Secret Soccer Betting System**
The #1 Most Profitable Sports Betting System in the Entire World
Champions League Betting Bonus for American Bettors!
Click Here For a 100% Signup Bonus From JustBet
(Exclusive Bonus Offer – Must Use This Link or Above Links)

The interesting teams are the middling favorite clubs. Bayern Munich (Odds to Win the Champions League: 20 to 1 at Bet Online Sportsbook) is always a big time contender out of Germany, and it has the winning pedigree necessary to be able to go a long way in this competition yet again.

A team like FC Porto (Odds to Win the Champions League: 25 to 1 at BoDog Sportsbook) is a great choice after rolling right through Portugal and the UEFA Cup last season. The only problem with Porto is that Head Coach Andre Villas-Boas has left for Chelsea. However, the winning nature is still there, and the Dragons are going to be stacked once again for another run through Portugal and the rest of the world.

Both of the Italian sides, AC Milan (Latest Champions League Odds: 20 to 1 at BoDog Sportsbook) and Inter Milan (2011-12 UCL Odds: 20 to 1 at BoDog Sportsbook) are always good bets for this tournament as well, though we would probably be more inclined to back AC right now over Inter knowing that the blue clad Milan side is having problems contractually with one of its best midfielders, Wesley Sneijder.

Latest 2012 Champions League Odds @ Bet Online Sportsbook (as of 8/1/11):
(Get a 100% Cash Signup Bonus at BetOnline When Using This Link)

Barcelona 1.90 to 1
Real Madrid 5 to 1
Manchester United 7 to 1
Chelsea 8 to 1
Manchester City 15 to 1
Arsenal 20 to 1
Bayern Munich 20 to 1
FC Porto 20 to 1
AC Milan 20 to 1
Inter Milan 20 to 1
Borussia Dortmund 30 to 1
Lyon 50 to 1
Napoli 60 to 1
Bayer Leverkusen 60 to 1
Marseille 60 to 1
Villarreal 60 to 1
Shakhtar Donetsk 80 to 1
Zenit St. Petersburg 80 to 1
Lille 80 to 1
Ajax Amsterdam 80 to 1
Udinese 100 to 1
CSKA Moscow 100 to 1
Fenerbahce 150 to 1

Odds To Win 2011-12 Champions League @ BoDog Sportsbook (as of 8/1/11):
(Get a FREE 10% Deposit Bonus with NO MAXIMUM at BoDog.eu When Using This Link)

Barcelona 2 to 1
Real Madrid 5 to 1
Chelsea 8 to 1
Manchester United 8 to 1
Manchester City 12 to 1
Bayern Munich 16 to 1
AC Milan 20 to 1
Arsenal 20 to 1
Inter Milan 20 to 1
FC Porto 25 to 1
Borussia Dortmund 33 to 1
Valencia 40 to 1
Lyon 50 to 1
Bayer Leverkusen 66 to 1
Marseille 66 to 1
Napoli 66 to 1
Villarreal 66 to 1
Ajax Amsterdam 80 to 1
Lille 80 to 1
Zenit St. Petersburg 80 to 1
Benfica 80 to 1
CSKA Moscow 100 to 1
Dynamo Kiev 100 to 1
Fenerbahce 100 to 1
Rubin Kazan 100 to 1
Shakhtar Donetsk 100 to 1
Udinese 100 to 1

2011-12 English Premiership Odds with EPL Picks & Predictions

August 1st, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   Comments Off on 2011-12 English Premiership Odds with EPL Picks & Predictions

Attention Canadian & European Sports Bettors: Exclusive Bonus Offer!
Click Here For a 100% Signup Bonus From Bet365
(Exclusive Bonus Offer – Must Use This Link or Above Links)
Note: Not Available for US Customers, See Below For Other Great Sportsbook Bonuses!

Full List of Odds To Win English Premiership Can Be Found Below

Soccer picks are one of our specialties here at Bankroll Sports, and we’re going to be clueing you in on the best English Premiership odds on the board right now, both for our European bettors and our American betting fans.

The defending champions of the EPL are also the favorites this year on the soccer odds, Manchester United (English Premiership Odds Favorites: 1.85 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). The Red Devils stormed to glory last year behind a tremendous offense with threats like Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov. The team went out and picked up several other stars to reload for the likes of the retired Paul Scholes. The possibility remains that Wesley Sneijder could be coming over to Manchester as well from Inter Milan, and if that transfer goes through before the end of the season, the Red Devils really could be not just the side to beat in England, but the side to beat in the entire world as well. Man U has been Premier League Champions a record 12 times, and there is no team that has claimed more English soccer titles in its history than it has with a total of 19 titles.

List Of Past English Premiership Winners
2010-11 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
2009-10 Premier League Champions: Chelsea
2008-09 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
2007-08 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
2006-07 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
2005-06 Premier League Champions: Chelsea
2004-05 Premier League Champions: Chelsea
2003-04 Premier League Champions: Arsenal
2002-03 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
2001-02 Premier League Champions: Arsenal
2000-01 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
1999-00 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
1998-99 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
1997-98 Premier League Champions: Arsenal
1996-97 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
1995-96 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
1994-95 Premier League Champions: Blackburn Rovers
1993-94 Premier League Champions: Manchester United
1992-93 Premier League Champions: Manchester United

However, this season, just like last year, the challenge from the other team in Manchester is going to be a tough one. Manchester City (English Premier League Lines: 3.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) probably has its best chance of getting out of the shadow of its United city rivals this year, though it is clear that it is going to be an uphill battle regardless. City does have two English championships under its belt, but the most recent one was in 1967-68, and the team has largely lived without any real gusto for the better part of the last two decades. Last year, Man City finished in third place in the table, wrapping up a Champions League berth, but the team’s leading scorer, Carlos Tevez, could still be headed elsewhere. It’s not like there aren’t a ton of other capable strikers on this team this season, though. Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko are both capable strikers, but we know that Tevez will have his spot on the pitch if he is still with the Citizens. The odd man out really appears to be English great Craig Bellamy, who is rumored to be loaned out or transferred to Celtic in the next few weeks.

**Click Here for a Hidden & Secret Soccer Betting System**
The #1 Most Profitable Sports Betting System in the Entire World
English Premier League Betting Bonus for American Bettors!
Click Here For a 100% Signup Bonus From JustBet
(Exclusive Bonus Offer – Must Use This Link or Above Links)

The team of the hour this year though, might just be Chelsea (Odds to Win the England Premier League: 2.65 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). The Blues were the biggest competitors this past season to the Red Devils, but their spending spree came up just short. This was the third time since 2006-07 that the residents of Stamford Bridge ended up finishing as the runners up in the EPL, something that just is not acceptable whatsoever. Now, a proven winner has come to town to manage the team in the form of Andre Villas-Boas, a man who led Porto to one of the best seasons that a Portuguese side has ever seen a year ago. That was really the only critical move that the Blues made in the offseason, and they are going to hope that largely the same side that was second best last season can make the move up the table to the top spot in 2011-12.

2011-12 EPL Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/1/11):
(Get a HUGE 50% Bonus at 5Dimes.com When Using This Link)

Manchester United 1.85 to 1
Chelsea 2.65 to 1
Manchester City 3.50 to 1
Arsenal 8 to 1
Liverpool 11.25 to 1
Tottenham 48.50 to 1
Everton 500 to 1
Aston Villa 500 to 1
Fulham 1,000 to 1
Sunderland 1,000 to 1
West Bromwich Albion 1,000 to 1
Newcastle 1,000 to 1
Queens Park Rangers 1,000 to 1
Stoke City 2,000 to 1
Bolton 2,500 to 1
Blackburn Rovers 3,000 to 1
Wigan Athletic 3,000 to 1
Wolverhampton 3,000 to 1
Norwich City 5,000 to 1
Swansea City 5,000 to 1

Odds To Win 2011-12 Premier League @ BoDog Sportsbook (as of 8/1/11):
(Get a FREE 10% Deposit Bonus with NO MAXIMUM at BoDog.eu When Using This Link)

Manchester United 7 to 4
Chelsea 5 to 2
Manchester City 7 to 2
Arsenal 8 to 1
Liverpool 11 to 1
Tottenham Hotspur 50 to 1
Aston Villa 300 to 1
Everton 300 to 1
Newcastle United 1,000 to 1
Queens Park Rangers 1,500 to 1
Sunderland 2,000 to 1
Blackburn Rovers 2,500 to 1
Bolton Wanderers 2,500 to 1
Fulham 2,500 to 1
Stoke City 2,500 to 1
Norwich City 5,000 to 1
Swansea City 5,000 to 1
West Bromwich Albion 5,000 to 1
Wigan Athletic 5,000 to 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5,000 to 1

Latest 2012 Premier League Odds @ Bet Online Sportsbook (as of 8/1/11):
(Get a 100% Cash Signup Bonus at BetOnline When Using This Link)

Manchester United 1.80 to 1
Chelsea 2.50 to 1
Manchester City 3.50 to 1
Arsenal 7.50 to 1
Liverpool 9 to 1
Tottenham Hotspur 40 to 1
Everton 200 to 1
Aston Villa 200 to 1
Any Other Team 100 to 1

Champions League Finals Odds & Picks – MANU vs Barcelona

May 22nd, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   Comments Off on Champions League Finals Odds & Picks – MANU vs Barcelona
Bet On The Champions League Final Odds At This Sponsor & Get An Exclusive 100% Bonus
Click Here For a 100% Sportsbook Bonus From Sportbet!
(Bonus is Exclusive To Bankroll Sports Only – Must Use This Link or Above Links)
 
Complete List of 2011 Champions League Final Odds Can Be Found Below

2011 Champions League Final Odds, Picks & Info
2011 Champion League Final Date: Saturday, May 28th, 2011
2011 Champions League Kick Off Time: 2:45 ET
2011 Champions League Location: Wembley Stadium, England
2011 Champions League Final Favorite: Barcelona (-200)
2011 Champions League Final Underdog: Manchester United (+175)
2011 Champions League TV Coverage – Network: Fox, ESPN3.com

**Click Here for a Hidden & Secret Soccer Betting System**
The #1 Most Profitable Sports Betting System in the Enitre World

And it all comes down to this… Soccer betting fans have been waiting all season long to see two of the best international sides in the entire world come together for the Champions League Final picks, and on Saturday, May 28th, we’ll finally see exactly what we were looking for. The champions of the English Premier League, Manchester United, will take on the champions from the Spanish La Liga, Barcelona in a battle of two of the biggest titans in the soccer world.

Manchester United should have the advantage from the standpoint of having the home crowd on its side, as this all or nothing fixture will be played at Wembley Stadium, not all that far away from its home at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have been absolutely thrilling in this entire season, from their triumph in the EPL all the way through the Champions League.

United made it through a relatively easy first group which featured Rangers, Valencia, and Bursaspor, accounting for all but four possible points in the competition, allowing just one goal. From there, it was a challenge against Olympique Marseille before winning 2-1 on aggregate. The quarterfinals featured a 3-1 aggregate victory over English rivals, Chelsea, and the semifinals were no problem whatsoever against the struggling German side, Schalke 04. The Red Devils won 6-1 on aggregate to reach the finale.

The defense for the Red Devils has been tough all season long. In the EPL, they had one of the top units in the league, but in the EPL, there really has been no comparison. Manchester United has allowed just four goals in its 12 fixtures to date, and top keeper Edwin van der Sar has only surrendered three of them.

Wayne Rooney is the offensive leader of this team in spite of the fact that he wasn’t the leader in goals during the season. He has three goals, and he only trails Javier Hernandez, who has four in this competition. Dimitar Berbatov, who had 20 goals in the EPL campaign, has yet to find pay dirt here in the Champions League, but you can bet that he’ll be looking for glory in the finale on Saturday night at Wembley.

Barcelona might not have won the Copa del Rey this year, but that was about the only distinction that it didn’t end up collecting on the season in Espana. The Catalans won the La Liga title with a whopping 96 points, four clear of Real Madrid, and they outscored their foes by an absolutely astounding 74 goals. They won 30 of their 38 matches, some of which came with some substandard sides out on the pitch.

Barca was a little bit more prone to allowing goals in this competition, as it ended up conceding three in the first round of fixtures alone. After that though, the road was incredibly tough to get here, as the Spanish side definitely earned its spot in the finale. Arsenal actually beat the Catalans at the Emirates, only to lose 3-1 in the return leg to get eliminated. From there, the only goals scored were relatively meaningless strikes by Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid. The runners up in Spain were beaten 2-0 on their home pitch, which gave Barcelona arguably the most impressive victory in this competition regardless of team to date.

Lionel Messi has been absolutely off of the charts in this competition, and if Barca is to beat the Champions League lines on this day, he will probably be the man to do the damage. He had a whopping 11 goals on 64 shots in 10 matches, numbers which are just stunning. He’s definitely not the only goal scorer on this team, though. Pedro had four goals in just seven matches, while David Villa had three goals.

The last time that these two behemoths of the sport collided was in the 2008 Champions League finale. Messi scored the game clincher in the 70th minute that day of a 2-0 win for the Spaniards.

Manchester United vs. Barcelona Match Odds @ Bet Online Sportsbook (as of 5/22/11):
(Get a HUGE 100% Bonus at Bet Online.com When Using This Link)
Barcelona +109 (-0.5, +109)
Manchester United +275 (+0.5, -119)
Draw +205

Barcelona To Lift Trophy -200
Manchester United To Lift Trophy +150

Current Champions League Final Odds @ Sportbet Sportsbook) (as of 5/22/11):
(Get a HUGE 100% Bonus at Sportbet Sportsbook When Using This Link)
Barcelona +106 (-0.5, +106)
Manchester United +296 (+0.5 , -120)
Draw: +248

Barcelona To Lift Trophy -200
Manchester United To Lift Trophy +175



2010 World Cup Power Rankings (Updated 7/5)

July 5th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   2 Comments »

New Exclusive 100% Signup Bonus (Up to $2,000) From JustBet!
For New JustBet Players: Must Mention Bankroll Sports & Use This Link To Signup!
(Available By Above Links Only – $100 Min / $1,000 Max – 50% Added Bonus For Deposits Over $1,000)

Just four teams remain in the World Cup betting festivities, and here at Bankroll Sports, we’re breaking the teams down, #1 to #32 for your World Cup Power Rankings.

1: Germany (2-0-1, 6 pts) – Not that we ever doubted the strength of the Germans, but there clearly hasn’t been a team stronger in this World Cup than they have been. F Miroslav Klose now has 14 goals for his World Cup career, leaving him one short of Ronaldo for Brazil for the all time scoring lead. He is also just one goal off of the Golden Boot pace going into the semifinals as well. Germany has dropped eight goals in the knockout rounds already and is virtually assured of being the highest scoring team in this tournament. How many tremendous performances can this team expect to come up with, though? England and Argentina have already fallen, but Spain provides perhaps the toughest task to date.

2: Holland (3-0-0, 9 pts) – La Oranje are just two regulation victories away from matching the feat of the 2002 Brazilian team that won the World Cup. Holland would become one of the rare teams in World Cup history to win all of its group stage matches and then not need at least one period of extra time to win the tournament. Holland put forth a tremendous come from behind effort against Brazil in the last round, erasing the memories of knockout round defeats to the winningest team in World Cup history in both 1994 and 1998.

3: Spain (2-0-1, 6 pts) – David Villa strikes again! The Spanish have only gotten goals from their top striker so far in this knockout round, as Villa was the hero in 1-0 wins against both Portugal and Paraguay. Spain knows that this is the best chance that it has ever had to win the World Cup in the country’s second trip ever to the semifinals of this tournament. Wasting this opportunity would be a bitter disappointment in Madrid and all across Spain. However, someone aside from Villa is going to have to figure out how to hit the back of the net. At times, it feels like the Spanish have just waltzed around the pitch waiting for Villa to do something special. That won’t cut it against Germany.

4: Uruguay (2-1-0, 7 pts) – In a tournament where all five South American sides made it out of the first round of the tournament, none figured that Uruguay would be the last team standing representing COMNEBOL. Alas, perhaps it shouldn’t still be here. The Uruguayans needed a deliberate handball from F Luis Suarez right on the goal line in the 120th minute against Ghana to preserve a chance at a shootout. To their credit, they did win the sudden death challenge four goals to two, but not since Diego Maradona and the “Hand of God” goal that helped Argentina win the World Cup has there been such a controversy.

Join Now!

Final Power Rankings for Eliminated Teams

5: Brazil (2-0-1, 7 pts) – Shame on the Brazilians for not only blowing a 1-0 lead, but blowing their composure as well. After giving up that fluke goal on a cross to Holland’s F Wesley Sneijder, the team just appeared to mentally check out. As a result, manager Dunga was sacked and Brazil has come home empty handed from South Africa.

6: Argentina (3-0-0, 9 pts) – Was a berth in the quarterfinals good enough to save Diego Maradona’s job? We tend to believe so, as the Argentines ran into a brick wall against Germany in their final game here in South Africa. We always wondered how Argentina would react to a bit of controversy, and the answer is simple: Not well. A 4-0 defeat sent one of the favorites of this tournament crashing out of the World Cup.

7: Paraguay (1-2-0, 5 pts) – Give Paraguay all the credit in the world for hanging in there against Spain for almost the entire match. One defensive lapse really cost the team, though one has to wonder what would have happened had the Paraguayans converted on their penalty kick attempt late in the match.

8: Ghana (1-1-1, 4 pts) – Ghana doesn’t want to talk about penalty kicks, though. The Black Stars were all but through to the semifinals when F Luis Suarez literally robbed them red handed of a strike in the 120th minute of a 1-1 match. However, F Asamoah Gyan had a chance to be a hero and sink a penalty shot that would’ve done the exact same thing. He hit the crossbar, and Ghana went on to lose the shootout very predictably by the count of 4-2. Still, the Black Stars have nothing to be ashamed about, as they clearly put on the best show that any African team has ever put on in this tournament.

9: Portugal (1-2-0, 5 pts) – There is no shame in the way that Portugal was knocked out of the World Cup, as the 1-0 defeat to Spain was disappointing, yet expected.

10: United States (1-2-0, 5 pts) – Manager Bob Bradley may get sacked for the defeat to Ghana, but all things considered, the US should be thrilled about getting into the Round of 16 here in South Africa.

11: England (1-2-0, 5 pts) – The Three Lions were one of the most disappointing teams in this tournament, and though a defeat to Germany was at least in the realm of possibility back home, losing by four goals will certainly leave manager Fabio Capello on the unemployment lines.

12: Japan (2-0-1, 6 pts) – Losing in a penalty shootout is always the cruelest way to leave a tournament, especially after 120 scoreless minutes. Give the Samurai Blue some credit for reaching this point, as they put together a fantastic effort and can hold their heads high for a strong effort in South Africa.

13: Mexico (1-1-1, 4 pts) – The Mexicans never really stood a chance of advancing into the quarterfinals against mighty Argentina, but just like the Japanese, there should be no level of shame here either. This was a very tough Group A to get out of, and Mexico did just that to make its homeland proud of its effort in the 2010 World Cup.

14: Chile (2-0-1, 6 pts) – Two wins in their first two matches were fantastic, but the Chileans ended up losing out to both Spain and Brazil in their L/2 matches, proving that there is still a ways to go to get them up to the highest level of international play.

15: South Korea (1-1-1, 4 pts) – A 2-1 loss to Uruguay crushed the South Koreans in their effort to duplicate their outstanding run to a third place finish in the 2002 World Cup on their home soil. Better is expected in the future, but for now, a place in the last 16 will have to do for one of the top Asian nations.

16: Slovakia (1-1-1, 4 pts) – The Slovaks never stood a chance to beat Holland in the Round of 16, but watching Robert Vittek score his fourth goal of the tournament in stoppage time was a nice send off for the most unlikely team to advance out of the group stage of the World Cup.

17: Switzerland (1-1-1, 4 pts) – Disappointing and lifeless draw against Honduras kept the Swiss out of the second round of this tournament.

18: Slovenia (1-1-1, 4 pts) – It simply had to be heartbreaking to watch Landon Donovan boot the Slovenians out of this tournament with his stoppage time strike against Algeria. Still, a loss to England and blow a two goal lead to the USA wasn’t worthy of a bid in the second round for Slovenia.

19: Ivory Coast (1-1-1, 4 pts) – The Ivory Coast was probably the best club not to reach the second round of this tournament, but this is the second straight World Cup that the “Group of Death” claimed Les Elephants.

20: Denmark (1-0-2, 3 pts) – A heartless effort against the Japanese sent the Danish Dynamite home without a berth into the second stage of this tournament, but there are still great signs to point at for the direction of this team in the future.

21: South Africa (1-1-1, 4 pts) – No, it ultimately didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but South Africa’s win over France in the final group stage match in Group A was a great boost to the host nation. The Bafana Bafana became the first host nation to not advance to Round 2, though.

22: Australia (1-1-1, 4 pts) – Give the Socceroos some credit for beating Serbia on the final match day in Group D even though it wasn’t enough to get through. The future of soccer here is very, very bright, especially considering the fact that the results just kept getting better and better for the Aussies.

23: New Zealand (0-3-0, 3 pts) – There probably isn’t a team prouder in this tournament than New Zealand is. Once a 400-1 longshot to win it all, the Kiwis managed three draws and were just one stroke of genius away from becoming the least likely qualifier for the second round in years in this tournament.

24: Italy (0-2-1, 2 pts) – Shame on you, Italy! Even a draw against lowly Slovakia would’ve been enough to put the defending champions through to the second round of the World Cup, but it wasn’t meant to be. Now, the Azzuri have to go home and wonder what went wrong in a tournament that didn’t even provide a single win.

25: Serbia (1-0-2, 3 pts) – Simply put, the Serbs blew it. They had their chance to get into the second round of this tournament, but a shocking defeat to Australia kept them from advancing.

26: Greece (1-0-2, 3 pts) – Greece still has never scored a goal against a team that had a full 11 men on it in the World Cup, but at least it got its first points ever in this tournament with a ‘W’ against Nigeria.

27: Nigeria (0-1-2, 1 pt) – If not for miss after miss after miss in the dying moments of their match against South Korea, the Nigerians would have survived into the second round of this tournament. A 2-2 draw was a fair result, but was one that has to leave a bitter taste in their mouths, knowing that advancement was oh so close.

28: Algeria (0-1-2, 1 pt) – Algeria fought off the United States for 90 minutes before Donovan scored in stoppage time, but in the end, not being able to score a goal in this tournament was the reason that the Desert Foxes are going home.

29: Cameroon (0-0-3, 0 pts) – The Cameroonians once thought that they were the top African team in this tournament, but it’s hard to make that argument with no points under their belt through the group stage.

30: Honduras (0-1-2, 1 pt) – The Hondurans earned a point in their final match against Switzerland in a rather pathetic 0-0 display for both clubs. Still, this was a team that was just happy to be here.

31: France (0-1-2, 1 pt) – The French were clearly the biggest embarrassment of the World Cup, getting just one point against Uruguay to show for three matches. Rumors may or may not be true that manager Raymond Domenech was asked to walk home instead of getting on the team charter.

32: North Korea (0-0-3, 0 pts) – Giving up 12 goals in three matches is never a good sign no matter who you are playing. North Korea was as bad as it has ever gotten at this level.

Top 10 Players in the 2010 World Cup

June 26th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in Soccer   Comments Off on Top 10 Players in the 2010 World Cup
Exclusive 100% Sportsbook Bonus Links From Bankroll Sports
100% Bonus Links: DiamondBet USJust BetSport BetOddsmaker

With one round of play in the books at the World Cup, here at Bankroll Sports, we’re ranking the ten best players that are still in this field that you should be keeping an eye on in the knockout rounds of this tournament.

1: David Villa, Spain -Villa is going to be looked upon as the man that really needs to step it up for the Spanish once again to continue on the path towards the first World Cup that the country has ever won. He scored twice against the Hondurans in the opening match and followed that up with a strike against Chile that helped secure qualification into the second round after a rough loss in the opener against Switzerland.

2: Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina – All of Higuain’s damage in this tournament came in the match against South Korea, but my, what a match it was! The Argentine striker netted a trio of goals, notching what will probably be the only hat trick that this tournament sees. Higuain is a prime candidate for the Golden Boot Award, especially if Argentina can survive a quadrant of teams that includes England or Germany awaiting in the quarterfinals.

3: Landon Donovan, United States -The chosen boy of American soccer right now is really evolving into a national hero. Donovan scored the goal that set up the USA’s comeback against Slovenia to salvage a 2-2 draw, and he followed that up with the most important strike in American soccer history, a blast into the Algerian net that took the Stars and Stripes into the Round of 16 for the first time since 2002. If the USA is advancing anywhere in this tournament, Donovan is going to be the man to keep a very, very close eye on.

4: Diego Forlan, Uruguay – Uruguay was absolutely dominant in the first round of this tournament, and a lot of that was because of the play of Forlan. He struck twice in the group stages and was the biggest reason that the Uruguayans ended up outscoring their opponents 4-0 in the first three matches. Before this tournament, there was an outside chance of Forlan coming up big in Group A and being a candidate for the Golden Boot. Now that Uruguay is probably a favorite amongst itself, South Korea, the United States, and Ghana to reach the semifinals of this tournament, Forlan could be a prime suspect.

**Click Here for the Best Sports Betting System in the World**

5: Robert Vittek, Slovakia – If we really believed that Slovakia would be hanging around deep into this tournament, we would have Vittek ranked higher in our World Cup Power Rankings. There’s no doubt that he is a hero right now though, as he scored twice in the shocking upset of Italy in the final match in Group E to put the Slovakians through.

6: Lionel Messi, Argentina – Yes, Lionel Messi still doesn’t have a goal under his belt but he has been the biggest offensive threat arguably in the entire tournament. He set up all four goals in a 4-1 romp over South Korea. It only seems to be a matter of time until Messi ends up getting onto the score sheet, especially if the Argentines can make a bit of run. Manager Diego Maradona knows that Messi is going to be the one to carry this squad to the World Cup if it is going to happen.

7: Elano, Brazil – The Brazilians look like a finally tuned offensive unit right now, and Elano is one of the two men to thank on the squad. Perhaps Elano wasn’t the more aggressive of he and his fellow offensive teammate, but he has lit up the scoreboard twice in this competition and should be considered a real threat for to a number of lesser teams that are about to feel the wrath of one of the best teams in the entire world.

8: Luis Fabiano, Brazil – Perhaps Elano and Luis Fabiano should be 7A and 7B, because without them both, the Brazilians wouldn’t have ended up getting seven points in the first round of matches. Fabiano will be the aggressor of the bunch, as he ended up setting up a number of the five goals that the team put forth against Portugal, Ivory Coast, and North Korea.

9: Asamoah Gyan, Ghana – The Ghana soccer team wouldn’t be anywhere near the second round of the World Cup without the efforts of Gyan. Not only did he end up taking over half of the shots and half of the shots on target for his team, but he also buried both of the team’s goals as well. Unfortunately, both ended up coming from the spot area, and the Black Stars have yet to figure out how to score from anywhere aside from a penalty kick. Gyan is going to be the man that is going to have to score against the Americans in all likelihood, or the last African team standing will be eliminated fairly quickly.

10: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal – The chosen boy of Portuguese soccer is going to have to step it up a lot more than he did in the first round of this tournament. He only scored one goal against North Korea in that 7-0 romp. However, Portugal didn’t score a goal against either the Ivory Coast or Brazil, which is setting up what could be a disaster against its neighbors from Spain in the first match of the Round of 16.