Well, it’s been a fantastic tournament for the Euro 2008 Bets team, with over £1,500 profit on match bets to £50 stakes, all eight quarter finalists correctly predicted and our outright selection (Germany at 4/1) in the final.
We’re not going to desert them now - you may however want to guarantee a profit by backing Spain to win the trophy - but we think this match has draw written all over it in 90 minutes and we’ll take the 9/4 at Boylesports.
The Irish firm have also got an excellent monye back offer if either Michael Ballack or Fernando Torres scores the last goal so get an account opened now and start makign some cash.
We’ve had a host of draw bets in the closing stages of these championships as the tension is high, no-one wants to lose and, when the teams are tightly matched, the draw is often great value.
Punters simply prefer to back a winner and then cheer on a team but we’re happy with our strategy tonight. David Villa’s absence will hurt the Spanish while Torres has not been at his majestic best.
Germany will be praying that Ballack is fit as this is a team without many stars but they are resolute and will keep fighting.
Spain may have beaten Russia 4-1 in the group stages but this is ’squeaky bum’ time and it’s highly unlikely we’ll see a repeat of that scoreline in today’s Euro 2008 semi-final, especially given the Russian’s much improved form.
You may have noticed that we’ve been keen on the value prices offered on the draw in many of the games since the final group matches.
Remember three of the four quarters ended level after 90 minutes and Turkey - and us after our 7/2 punt with VC Bet - were remarkably unlucky not to take Germany to extra time in the first semi.
You get the picture - take the standout 5/2 with Boylesports for a Spain-Russia draw.
We were also tempted by the same firm’s 14/5 for the Russians to win in 90 minutes as we feel they are (just) the more likely of the two teams to make it to Sunday’s final.
Andrei Arshavin has a ton of momentum after his last performance and could once again dominate proceedings.
The Spanish are not our favourite team in international football and, while we respect their individual abilities, we’re happy to go against the general concensus by opposing them at the available prices. Therefore, Russia to qualify at 7/5 with Bet365 is another wager that could be worth having.
Our two pre-tournament picks Germany (4/1) and Turkey (50/1) meet in the semi-finals of Euro 2008 to guarantee us a finalist - and also put us in a position where we can’t lose, as we can simply back the winner of the other semi later this week.
Who is going to progress from this half of the draw is not as clear-cut as many are suggesting as, despite huge selection worries, the Turks will fight for their shirts to the bitter end - especially given their Germanic opposition.
We’re very tempted by VC Bet’s draw price of 7/2 and can’t resist playing up our huge tournament winnings (we’re over £1,600 UP on matches alone!).
Fatih Terim will have his eventual eleven ready to battle and scrap and the Germans will have to play a much different game than they did against Portugal.
We do see them as almost certain finalists but feel that they might fail to break down Turkey in the 90 minutes - with the underdogs’ tired legs beginning to open the door for them in extra time, either that or they’ll inevitably win the penalty shoot-out.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that we’re boasting a 100% record on the Euro 2008 quarter finals - after a tremendous record in the group stages - and we’ve got a major fancy for tonight’s huge Italy-Spain clash.
We fancy Italy massively at the 9/4 available with the generous VC Bet.
The Spanish are favourites to win this, but they just don’t ever produce the goods in big tournaments when the going gets tough - the exact opposite of winners Italy.
The latter will certainly miss Pirlo, and to a lesser extent Gattuso, but the Euro 2008 Bets crew think they’ll just have too much nous for their rivals and 9/4 is a most appealing price to add to our profits - we’re over £1,600 UP to £50 stakes.
Of course the Spaniards are not hopeless cases, no chance of that with the likes of Torres and Villa on their side, but their odds are clearly affected by the hype surrounding those glory boys.
If you like correct scores, you can get 13/1 on 2-0 and 16/1 on 2-1 (to Italy) with Betfair.
We called last night’s quarter final perfectly and we’re not going to desert a winning formula - we’re backing the draw in tonight’s Netherlands-Russia clash.
VC Bet’s eye-catching quote of 14/5 simply must be taken.
The Dutch have been in great form at Euro 2008 but are perhaps flattered by the scorelines they’ve recorded.
With Arshavin back, Russia will be no pushovers and we can see this game going to extra time and penalties - at which the men in orange share England’s incompetence.
A draw is a strong recommendation for the Euro 2008 Bets team , with Russia to marginally edge qualification.
That’s the amazing profit figure if you’ve had £50 on every one of our match recommendations on Euro 2008 Bets.
We know some of you have been betting bigger than that and playing up your winnings - especially as we also selected all eight of the group qualifiers.
All this for free - if you’re happy with what we’ve told you (and you bloody well should be!), all we ask is that you place your bets via the bookmaker advertisements on our site. It costs you nothing!
Did you take our confident advice to take 23/10 on Germany to beat Portugal - we told you it was a cracking price and now we’re advising you play up your piles of winnings by taking the draw at 5/2 in the Turkey-Croatia tie.
Paddy Power’s price must be grabbed as this promises to be an incredibly tense battle between two evenly-matched sides, both of whom are under-rated by the so-called pundits for no apparent reason.
We’ve had Turkey down as our best outsiders from before the championships but also have respect for Slaven Bilic’s Croatians - if pushed to pick the qualifier after extra time, or even penalties, we’d just stick with the Turks.
However, a draw is definitely our pick to add to our superb record on Euro 2008 Bets.
VC Bet have offered the temptation and we’re taking it.
They go 23/10 on Germany beating Portugal and that simply has to be taken.
The Euro 2008 Bets team hold Portugal in high regard but, when push comes to shove, that price is too juicy to resist when one considers that the Germans are masters at tournament football.
Ok, they weren’t brilliant against either (the under-rated) Croatia or Austria but they got through and we expect them to do exactly that following this mouth-watering battle.
They’ll stifle Cristiano Ronaldo and look to pounce via the likes of Klose and Ballack.
The draw is by no means bad value, especially as these teams have a habit of getting into penalty shoot-outs, but the price is right and we’ll look to continue our good run by punting the old enemy!
Time for a bit of trumpet blowing here - not only have we picked a host of match winners (and a few correct scores) throughout, but the Euro 2008 Bets crew also picked all eight group qualifiers for the quarter finals!!
Spain’s last-minute winner added to our roll of honour while consolation for Russia’s win over Sweden was the news that it gave us the full house of group qualifiers.
Tomorrow, we’ll have our tip for the first knockout clash (Portugal v Germany).
