PARAGUAY VS SPAIN STARTING LINEUPS AND LAST-MINUTE BETTING TIPS
We've just seen a last minute price-cut on Spain with nearly every major bookmaker as punters continue to pile money on the European champions winning their way to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup. You can still back them, albeit at a slimmer 1.4 price while Paraguay have been increased to a lengthy 9.5 listing with the draw available at 4.5.
The starting lineups are as follows:
Paraguay: 1-Justo Villar; 2-Dario Veron, 14-Paulo Da Silva, 21-Antolin Alcaraz, 3-Claudio Morel, 8-Edgar Barreto, 11-Jonathan Santana, 15-Victor Caceres, 16-Cristian Riveros, 18-Nelson Valdez, 7-Oscar Cardozo.
Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 16-Sergio Busquets; 9-Fernando Torres, 7-David Villa.
In regards to outright qualification, a bet that includes extra-time and penalties, you'll find Paraguay at 5.0 with Spain at a very slim 1.16.
If you think Spain can really run away with this one, you can back them at a (-1.0) handicap at a 2.2 price and that's a decent bet for Spanish fans. If they win, I don't necessarily see them scraping it- I think they'll win it by a decent distance.
The bookmakers don't favour goals in this one, at least not too many, with the over/under at 2.5 and favouring the under with a 1.65 price. Over 2.5 goals rewards at a solid 2.2. You saw in the Germany vs Argentina fixture just how quickly a small scoreline can increase when one side is forced to chase the game.
I think that Paraguay need to score first if they're going to have a chance here, either that or limit Spain to a single strike. They're organized and very effective, but Spain simply have so much quality. I think David Villa should continue his goalscoring streak and you can back him at 1.83 to score anytime and 5.0 to score two or more.