So, England have qualified for the World Cup in South Africa 2010, and having been matched with the United States of America, Slovenia, and Algeria – the nation begin their games, against the former, on 12th June 2010 in Rustenburg, in the heart of the Savannah Bushveld. Despite a few exceptions, little is known of the USA squad, however, they did beat European Champions Spain recently, and have a few famous Premiership faces in their lineup. Tim Howard, the ex Manchester United and now Everton goalkeeper will almost certainly start in goal, with Watford defender Jay DeMerit providing a solid basis for the USA defence.

DeMarcus Beasley, who is currently playing for Rangers, will probably lineup on the left hand side of midfield, and could cause problems with his base and agility – however, he isn’t particularly proven on the world stage, despite a stint at PSV Eindhoven, and Glen Johnston should keep him relatively quiet. The teenage sensation Freddy Adu, currently plying his trade in Portugal, was tipped to be a footballing sensation. He was due for a trial period at Manchester United, and was eagerly scouted by Europe’s top managers – whether he will start against England is another matter, but if he does, he may well be dangerous. Check out all the latest odds and predictions for the World Cup 2010 at Partybets.com

England’s defensive midfield, perhaps Gareth Barry if he starts, will be looking to keep tabs on the USA’s most prolific player, the Fulham playmaker, Clint Dempsey. Dempsey is proven at the highest level, and scores regularly in the Premier League – in the game against England, he’ll be looking to slip into the space behind the strikers and feed balls through. One man who’ll be looking to get on the end of those passes, is Landon Donovan, the USA’s most popular player, and David Beckham’s teammate at Los Angeles Galaxy. Donovan is on the verge of signing for Everton whilst the American league is on a winter break, therefore he’ll be match fit and raring to go.

Inter – Juventus 16 April 2010

Inter last 5 league matches:

Inter last 3 home matches: 

Juventus last 5 league matches:

Juventus last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Inter - 2, Juventus - 6

Inter home table position: 3

Juventus away table position: 4

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza will host an important venue on Friday as Internazionale Milano welcomes Juventus for this traditional derby of the Serie A.

After a long domination in the competition, Inter lost it’s first spot of the Serie A to AS Roma and now trail them by only 1 point making this a very important match for them as one mistake could see them out of the race and their adversaries building a comfortable position.

The team is going through a though phase with only 2 victories in the last 7 matches of the tournament and showing real problems in morale and motivation as in the Champions League their game is much improved over what they have showed in the championship. They still look solid on home ground with 12 victories and 4 draws in all 16 played and a very good goal ratio of 33 scored and only 11 conceded.

Juventus has taken a huge plunge in the standings and ended up on the 6th spot with real pressure from next in line Napoli but still prospects of claiming a Champions League spot for next season as 4th Palermo are just 3 points away.

Two victories for them in the last 3 matches played but both obtained with lower ranked teams of the competition Atalanta and Cagliari and showing real problems in away games failing to grab any points from the last 3 bringing the record to 7 victories, 2 draws and no less than 7 defeats.

My pick: Inter to win

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Le Mans - Bordeaux 14 April 2010

Le Mans last 5 league matches:

Le Mans last 3 home matches:

Bordeaux last 5 league matches:

Bordeaux last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Le Mans - 19, Bordeaux - 5

Le Mans home table position: 17

Bordeaux away table position: 5

It’s incredible how things can change at the top of the French Ligue 1, in only one month, Bordeaux from the best candidate to claim another title of champions has fallen to the 5th spot and now even a participation in the Champions League is a difficult task.

Le Mans is left with little to play for as the season gets to it’s final rounds, with a total of just 22 points and only above last Grenoble, nothing can save them from an encounter with the second league in France.

No victories for them in the last 6 rounds from which they claimed only 2 points in draws with Grenoble and more surprising title contenders Montpellier last week but there is nothing in the statistic to suggest them as fierce opponents with only 4 victories and 6 draws in 16 matches played on home ground and the lack of any motivation except prestige.

With only one victory in the past 5 matches of the Ligue 1 football championship, Bordeaux is now on the 5th spot of the table with a total of 56 points, but 2 less matches played than their main competitors and one from the Current leaders Olympique Marseille.

Their main problem is the form displayed recently, except the home match against Lyon in the Champions League which they won 1-0 but failed to qualify further, the team has showed little signs of recovery or changes in played football. They have failed to win any of the past 3 matches played whilst traveling but still maintain a decent away statistic with 7 victories and 2 draws in 14 played but real problems in defense as they conceded no less than 17 goal, scoring 19.

My pick: Bordeaux to win

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PSV – Feyenoord 11 April 2010

PSV last 5 league matches:

PSV last 3 home matches: 

Feyenoord last 5 league matches: 

Feyenoord last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: PSV - 3, Feyenoord - 4

PSV home table position: 3

Feyenoord away table position: 4

Derby match in the Dutch Eredivisie with PSV battling out for the championship title and Feyenoord with it’s own objective of a Europa League spot at the end of the season.

PSV is currently on the third spot of the chart with a total of 72 points, no less than 5 from leaders Twente and only one from second Ajax and a chance in the preliminaries of the Champions League. One thing is certain from them, with a comfortable distance of 16 points from Feyenoord, at least the third spot is assured.

After a troubled period, PSV seems to be back in form and won the last 2 matches played, both away with lower ranked teams. They have yet to lose any matches on home ground with a statistic of 12 victories and 3 draws in all 15 played and a very good goal ratio of 37 scored and only 12 conceded.

Feyenoord has lost some ground recently due to the large number of matches finished in draws, no less than 3 form the last 5 played, and now sit only 2 points above AZ Alkmaar and 7 from Heracles, their main 2 threats for an Europa League spot.

The championship battle is far away as the gap from the first 3 is impossible to surmount in the few matches left. The team has a very decent away record in the Eredivisie with no less than 8 victories and 5 draws in 15 played but with their defeat suffered early in the season to PSV, chances are small to grab a positive result from this one.

My pick: PSV to win

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Real Madrid – Barcelona 10 April 2010

Real Madrid last 5 league matches:

Real Madrid last 3 home matches:

Barcelona last 5 league matches: 

Barcelona last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Real Madrid - 1, Barcelona - 2

Real Madrid home table position: 1

Barcelona away table position: 1

El Clasico as this derby match is known around the world and all eyes on Spain Saturday night with this legendary rivals go head to head with both Ream Madrid and Barcelona aiming for the title of champions and both displaying impressive force and football skill.

Real Madrid is the favorite here with this match on home ground and in front of 80.000 eager supporters. They currently to the Primera Division table but with 77 point they are in front of Barcelona due only to their better goal ratio making this direct match between the two a very important and maybe decisive for the overall look at the end of the season.

Real lost their trip to Barcelona 0-1 in the start of the season and in case both teams finish with the same amount of points, the Catalan giants have the upper hand putting pressure on Real Madrid before this match kicks off but also motivating them even further.

A perfect record at home this season, a truly unbelievable performance in such a powerful football championship with 15 victories in 15 played and a goal ratio to match this as they scored no less than 50 goal and conceded only 13. Having been kicked out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon with the big final on Santiago Bernabeu and existing Copa del Rey very early this remains their only objective and failure to grab it would mean disaster.

Barcelona has a sky high morale after this week of Champions League as they eliminated Arsenal with a superb display of football and Lionel Messi in an exceptional form. Continuing their journey both in the UCL and Primera Division, fatigue may become a factor in their overall performance but the motivation and pressure such a derby match brings will probably make them tackle their limits.

As Real Madrid are the best team when it comes to home ground statistic, Barcelona tops the charts with their away record showing 10 victories and 4 draws whilst losing only against Atletico Madrid and a very good goal ratio of 33 scored and only 10 conceded. Although they are characterized mainly by their offensive force, this season they proved to have the best defensive of them all in the competition.

My pick:  Real Madrid to win (over 2.5 goals)

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Napoli – Parma 10 April 2010

Napoli last 5 league matches:

Napoli last 3 home matches:

Parma last 5 league matches:

Parma last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Napoli - 6, Parma - 10

Napoli home table position: 8

Parma away table position: 15

Not to much separating these teams in the Italian Serie A table with Napoli holding on to a Europa League spot and Parma losing ground fast due to the large number of matches ended in draws recently.

Napoli managed to win 2 out of the past 5 matches played in the competition, both on home ground and one of them very important against a struggling Juventus team, taking their place and advancing up to the current 7th spot with only one point ahead.

Further progress is possible for them as 4th and 5th Palermo and Sampdoria are just 2 point in front but the team really needs to work on it’s away game. As far as home statistic goes, it a very decent one with 8 victories and no less than 7 draws in all 16 played, losing only to Fiorentina but managing a good goal ratio of 22 scored and 13 conceded.

Somehow Parma’s made an incredible recovery and from a likely candidate in the relegation zone they are now in a comfortable 10th spot. They have chances at a European tournament spot but the distance may prove to great as they have only 43 points at the moment.

Their away statistic is still very poor as the team managed to win only 2 matches and end another 6 in draws in all 16 played showing a very disappointing goal ratio of only 15 scored and no less than 28 conceded.

My pick: Napoli to win

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Werder Bremen – Freiburg 10 April 2010

Werder last 5 league matches:

Werder last 3 home matches:

Freiburg last 5 league matches:

Freiburg last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Werder - 5, Freiburg - 16

Werder home table position: 9

Freiburg away table position: 13

With Werder Bremen out of the race for the championship title of the Bundesliga, the team’s main focus is a Champions League spot now at 5 point distance but for this all matches are crucial including this against an always uncomfortable Freiburg team.

With a total of 48 points in 29 matches played, Werder Bremen’s only objective still standing this season is a third spot in the table occupied now by Bayer Leverkusen but with Borussia Dortmund above them their task is very difficult and one thing is sure, the team that will avoid making mistakes will probably claim it and have their go in the UCL preliminaries.

With their loss in the last round at Dortmun their chances have fallen dramatically and with an modest home ground statistic of 6 victories and 5 draws in 14 played even a team like Freiburg will push for it’s claim to at least one point.

Freiburg is in a very dangerous position, currently only the 16 spot which leads to a knock-out to stay in the Bundesliga and with the team’s current form a very good chance of falling even more, much to Hannover’s delight.

The team seems to be performing better in away matches as they managed to win 4 and end 3 in draws compared to the 2 victories and 4 draws at home but their goal ratio is still disastrous, 19 scored and 27 conceded.

My pick:  Werder Bremen to win (over 2.5 goals)

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Toulouse – Grenoble 10 April 2010

Toulouse last 5 league matches:

Toulouse last 3 home matches:

Grenoble last 5 league matches:

Grenoble last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Toulouse - 13, Grenoble - 20

Toulouse home table position: 13

Grenoble away table position: 19

This week, Toulouse has a great opportunity of climbing one spot in the French Ligue 1 table in front of PSG with this relatively easy match against Grenoble on Saturday.

Toulouse is far from the form and performances showed in the last season with it’s current ranking in the lower part of the table and especially their current form as they have yet to win any matches from the past 5 played.

On home ground they are still showing a decent statistic with 7 victories and 3 draws in 15 played with a good goal ratio of 15 scored and 10 conceded, a good defensive force but a weak offence especially for a team playing with the support of the fans.

Grenoble is last in the standings and condemned for relegation as they managed to gather only 15 points in 31 matches played no less than 17 at the moment from salvation, so an impossible task.

Only one victory for them in away matches and another 2 points from 2 draws with no less than 12 games lost, nothing really that would recommend them as claiming a positive result from this match.

My pick:  Toulouse to win

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Only 2 more months to go until the big spectacle of the World Cup will begin for the first time on African ground with South Africa as hosts.

Big names such as Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain are always in the books for the supreme trophy in football but it’s hard to predict who can go all the way.

Group A – France with the best of chances in claiming the top spot of this group but with their recent performances and especially their poor display of football surprises may emerge. Mexico has a strong team but i think Uruguay has the the upper hand in claiming the second spot with South Africa, the hosts normally last only as seen before in Korea and Japan the home team receives a more than normal support from the refs.

Group B – Argentina seems to have a easy group with Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece all 3 teams clearly below the South American’s prestige but with a Nigerian team who on it’s own continent will not make things easy and the Greeks who remain with the incredible performance which led to them claiming the EURO trophy. Korea Republic is widely regarded as the outsider and my opinion is no different. If all goes to plan Argentina will Qualify from the top spot followed by Greece.

Group C – In this group the English squad should have no problem in claiming the top spot, with their clear aim of getting the title they should start in force and surprisingly the only team I see making them some problems is Slovenia which lest a very good impression in the preliminaries. The USA team will probably figth for the second spot with Slovenia and Algeria will complete the table.

Group D – The consistent German team is the clear favorite in topping the group and in my opinion go as far as the final with weak opposition from Australia and Ghana but with a very strong Serbia squad which many have ignored so far but that i expect to go a long way in the World Cup.

Group E – The Netherlands are favorites in claiming the top spot and with the force recently showed they should do this in stile leaving the other 3 teams battling out for the second spot, more chances for Denmark as Japan and especially Cameroon are looking terribly weak.

Group F – Italy will probably have a very though time dealing with Paraguay and their usually slow start in the competitions may cause them some discomfort. Slovakia will probably grab the third spot and will be a crucial team for the top 2 with New Zealand probably picking up a lot of balls from their own net, a team in my opinion at Luxemburg’s level.

Group G – Brazil, the big favorite for another World Cup trophy as I see them will have to deal with Portugal and in the end grab the top spot as Cote d’Ivoire looked like a B rated team in the African Cup of Nations and a hard working North Korean team but with little skill which is candidate for the last spot.

Group H – Spain is likely to be the one team which will grab all the points in this group as the current Euro trophy holders have to deal with Switzerland, Honduras and the only one other decent team in my eyes, Chile which will probably grab second spot in a battle with Switzerland.

Manchester United – Bayern Munchen 7 April 2010, Champions League

*matches in all competitions

Manchester last 5 matches:  

Manchester last 3 home matches: 

Bayern last 5 matches:

Bayern last 3 away matches:

One of the most exciting and disputed matches of this stage in the Champions League with Manchester United starting with one goal deficit against Bayern Munchen.

The first round of the confrontation was started perfectly by Manchester United with a goal in the early minutes but then gradually, Bayern took th lead of the game and managed to score the winning goal late, making the outcome of this clash very hard to predict.

The pressure seems to be on Manchester United as the team lost the derby match last week against Chelsea on home ground and felt on the second spot with 2 points gap from their adversaries. Two defeats in a row is not something that Man United is used with and with the Champions League trophy as an objective, determination is not a problem.

The home side has some problems with the players as top striker Wayne Rooney is out due to injury as well are O’Shea and Anderson to name the most important.

Bayern Munchen is heading into this important match with a very good morale as they managed to defeat Schalke 04 in the weekend and reclaim the top spot of the Bundesliga. In the first leg of the match they have proven once again that until the final whistle blows nothing is decided.

They have had great results in away matches recently and will step into this one with defense as their main strategy hoping that Ribery’s speed will cause real problems on counter-attack.

My tip:  Draw

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