Matt Gatward: Losing streak (16/06/10)
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Your support makes all the difference.Today's bets
Fernando Torres to be golden boot winner at 12-1. South Africa v Uruguay to be 0-0. Italy to win World Cup at 18-1.
Despite Rob Green's best efforts the World Cup has hardly been overflowing with goals thus far so the golden boot winner may not need to smash in that many to take the title. After one match each none of Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, all among the pre-tournament favourites, has found the net. And none of their team performances have hinted at a deluge to come.
OK, Germany look dangerous so far and Miroslav Klose knows where the onion bag is but they were only playing Australia who had Craig Moore at centre-half, and he's clubless as well as clueless judging by Sunday's showing.
All of which makes it even harder to ignore Spain's chances of winning their first World Cup and notching a few goals in the process. David Villa was top-scorer in the European Championship in 2008 as Spain won the title but his odds of 11-2 don't make him too tempting.
Fernando Torres at 12-1 offers the best value even though he is not due to start tonight against Switzerland. Torres is also not the out-and-out striker for Spain as he is at Liverpool as Villa fills that role with Torres playing off him. But the boy can score from anywhere as many a Premier League defender would attest. He is likely to come on tonight and may tap in a couple once the Swiss defence has been run ragged by Spain's slick passing and movement and then he will, in all likelihood, start against Chile and Honduras. Kerching.
The tournament's caginess is unlikely to disappear in tonight's match between South Africa and Uruguay in Group A where every team has one point after one game. Defeat in such a tight group could be terminal which will only reduce the risk-taking. Nil-nil at 11-2 or 1-1 at 5-1 offer the best value – if not the most excitement.
Italy looked stodgy in the first half of their 1-1 draw with Paraguay on Monday night and it may be a fool who backs them to win the World Cup. But they are notoriously slow starters and tend to build as the tournament grows. At odds of 18-1 they offer decent value especially if it is to be a low-scoring tournament. No one does 1-0 better than the Italians and their defence, although they conceded on Monday night, still looks pretty solid.
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