Apologies all for my failure to post the Whirled Coop predictions in a timely fashion for the start of the tournament…

As I failed to get them up over the first weekend I came to the conclusion it would be better to post them as the tournament progresses or actually at the end of the tournament…

Although this means we missed the opportunity to “get stuck in” to the things we liked, you may find that is not a particularly bad idea…

So, after Saturday’s showing who is brave enough to present a case why England are good value to beat an awkward Slovenia side  (who only need a draw to qualify) on Wednesday then?!

At least we get to listen to two of the cheesiest presenters in history in Adrian Chiles and James Corden.  Does anyone else feel the same as me that, although I quite like Chiles in a huggable bear kind of way, that his smug grin and camp humour is the last thing they need after a 0-0 with Algeria?

I was in the same place mentally as Wayne Rooney and not in the mood for gags.

After games like that they need to rock out Des Lynam and Jack Dee if you ask me.

Anyone got anything great for the next round of games?  Personally I still think that the entire tournament is completely up in the air.

Brazil look to have stated the best claim for me, although I  think the 21/4 you can now get on Spain is more appealing than the initial 4/1.  I am not sold on Argentina at all.  All fur coat and no knickers as they say.  Diego will still be there undoing against a top tier side, however romantic is would be if they went on to win it.

Generally, as I expected not that many opportunities to profit from this stuff at the moment.

As I suspected, backing draws across the board in Round 1 would have returned you a decent profit, but even with a few shocks it still wouldn’t have been earth shattering.

Legend.

I am pretty hard to please and I give our pundits in the UK (what I believe to be a well deserved) hard time.

Clarence Seedorf just absolutely smashed his slot on the BBC.  Credit where it is due.  Top draw.

Get him back on every day.

I wonder how our boys would get on critically analyzing the game in their second (or third?) language…

First match bet of the tournament for me tonight. Not really a fan of diving in until you have seen them normally.

Like online dating really. Bit dangerous.

Alas, I have come to the conclusion that the Italians are very poorly perceived at the moment and are unnecessarily undervalued.

Yes they are old. They were bloody old in 2006.

Yes they are short up front. They were bloody short up front in 2006.

Yes they are dull. They were bloody dull in 2006.

And, yes, they are 6/5 to beat a Paraguay team who are “unpredicatble” at best away from Estadio Defensores del Chaco.

And, yes, England were 1/2 to beat USA on Saturday night.

This is the same Italian setup that conceeded TWO goals in the whole of the world cup last time out. One was an own goal. The other a penalty… once they were in the final. You do the maths.

BOTW: 2.5pts on Italy to beat Paraguay @ 6/5

So who is going to believe me when I get time to post all the selections tomorrow that I was having South Korea to qualify from their group at 5/2?

Sure a few of those that know my view on football will vouch for me… and everyone knows how much I love PJS

Whilst I have time I am having 2pt (in the game only!) on David James starting the game tonight @ 13/8 with Skybet.

Cheers all, enjoy the game tonight…

Right then ladies and gentlemen.

As I am standing firm as a risk neutral, valued obsessed, misery guts and I have not provided you with any “fun” selections for the upcoming Vuvuzela Extravaganza, I thought it would be fun to do a little picks competition amongst ourselves i.e. my loyal readership of 9…

Oh, if only I had the time to advertise and promote this site….

Anyway, enough of the violins and wailing cats, here is what I am proposing.

Everyone should send me 5 selections of their choice before Steven Peinaar gets his first touch of the ball on Friday.  I will collate them all up into a nice little summary and post them on here and we can debate/analyse/mock our own selections as the month unfolds.

Anyone keen?

As ever, I have to insist on a load of rules to spoil the fun.  Not too many I promise.

Whirled Coop House Rules

1. Every player allocates a total of 20pts as they see fit across a minimum of 5 selections.  No limit to number of selections

2. Logical and rational explanations are not required.  Lets live a little.  Some sort of banter, however, is a must.

4. Email must state site and odds of selection – just in case any of us decide we want to hop on board and it isn’t to late.

5. Send to blez@betoftheweek.net by office COB on Friday

Right folks, what do we think?

To make it more difficult for myself, as the Don Juan King Kong of the betting world (only joking) I will attempt to make my selections completely unique from everything everyone else selects…

And as I am so kind the winner can have a years free subscription to my betting tips, which is worth many thousands of pounds each year… oh wait, hang on a minute.  You get them free already.  You lucky buggers…

Game on!