Greece V Ukraine

A Trixie bet to cover the other three European Wolrd Cup Qualification Play-off that are happening on Wednesday night, could bring a nice return. The three games covered here are Bosnia v Portugal, Ukraine v Greece and Slovenia v Russia and the idea is to take advantage of the European World Cup Play-offs, excluding the France v Ireland game, in order to add interest in those other fixtures, while hoping the Irish can find a way to join England at South Africa 2010.

A Trixie bet is when you make three different wagers, but are covered by four bets. Included in a Trixie is the treble on all three results coming up, and three double bets. Naturally this gives a little more coverage than going all out on just a treble, which is notoriously hard to land. Taking the Trixie instead gives you a higher chance of return, as you spread your stake out, which goes on all four bets, instead of taking taking individual bets.

For a Trixie to pay off, then you will need to land at least two of the selections in order to see any kind of return. This can be looked at in two ways, with regards to the World Cup Play-Offs. Firstly there is the option to just go for the individual games on the night, trying to target just the results. Alternatively, because these are games which can go to extra time and penalties, you could also opt for taking the route of “To Qualify” bets, picking the team that will come through the tie in whatever manner necessary. Or indeed you could mix and match from the different games, but obviously this is going to need to be taken at just one Bookmakers. Let’s take a look at what is likely to happen on Wednesday night:

Bosnia (0) v Portugal (1): This could be the game which brings the biggest reward, as it will rely on Bosnia overturning a 1-0 deficit, and there is the risk of Portugal scraping a vital away goal, whereas Bosnia failed to do so. Bosnia had the better of the encounter in Portugal, despite the result. They have good firepower up front and are an attack minded side. Whether they can avoid Portugal catching them out with the away goal is another matter, but you can expect Bosnia to go at them hard. It is hard to see Ireland or Slovenia overcoming their deficits, and realistically Bosnia have the best chance. Not strong odds for any of the selections, as this is how close it is. But Bosnia to qualify makes a nice fulcrum for a Trixie.

Match Odds:
Portugal to win: 7/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Bosnia to win: 11/5 at Bet365

To Qualify Odds:
Portugal: 2/7 at SkyBet
Bosnia: 10/3 at BetFred

Slovenia (1) v Russia (2)
Slovenia gave themselves a late lifeline with a goal against Russia, just to keep the tie alive somewhat. Russia though were by far the better team on the day, and look to have enough quality to qualify for World Cup 2010. They have quite a bit of flair, as well as control with Guus Hiddink at the helm, and while Slovenia will be relishing taking down Russia, they have a lot to do. Just one more goal from the better Russians will kill this tie off in an instant. Slovenia just do not have enough goals in them to outplay and conquer Russia.

Russia have been strong favourites to come through this, and this is reflected in the odds. Russia to win on the night represents the best odds out of the likely outcome, but for more certainty, then the Russians to qualify isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things.

Match Odds:
Slovenia to win: 23/10 at Expekt
Draw: 23/10 at Bet365
Russia to win: 11/8 at Paddy Power

To Qualify Odds:
Russia: 15/8 at Expekt
Slovenia: 10/3 at 888Sport

Ukraine (0) v Greece (0)
Every chance that this game will head into extra time as there is very little to choose between the two sides. It is really tough to pick out a winner from this one, although if there is something to give an edge, it will be the fact that it is back in Ukraine. Both teams like the defnsive side of the game, and they did cancel each other out a little bit. There were a couple of good chances to take an advantage on both sides, but both failed to capitalise. This game really could come down to one chance being taken on the night, and the Ukrainians did have that little bit more creativity. Away from home though, Greece will prove to be an even more stubborn side and are more than capable of snatching this away from the Ukraine.

Match Odds
Ukraine to win: 10/11 at Boylesports
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Greece to win: 7/2 at Bet365

To Qualify
Ukraine: 13/9 at Expekt
Greece: 6/5 at SportingBet

A possible Trixie selection based on the odds would be:
Bosnia to Qualify: 10/3 at BetFred
Russia to Qualify: 15/8 at Expekt
Ukraine to Qualify: 13/9 at Expekt

A £1 stake (which would mean that the stake would be £1 each on the four bets within the Trixie) on that would bring a return of around £60 if they all came in. Of course, the selections above will be based on only one Bookmakers price, those above are just the current best prices for the events to be found at the moment. Even swapping out Bosnia for Portugal, who do have a lead, would return around £20 for all three results. Even Greece are more than capable of qualifying too, as one away goal could be curtains for the Ukraine. This is the fun of a Trixie, mix and match, and by taking on more bets the return is higher at a little less risk than betting big on one outcome.

All of the European World Cup qualifiers are still finely balanced after Saturday’s first leg action. While New Zealand, Cameroon and Nigeria all booked their respective spots at the South Africa 2010, the eight European teams still have ninety minutes on Wednesday to make or break their World Cup dreams. With France getting the edge over the Irish in Dublin, courtesy of a Nicolas Anelka goal, Portugal and Russia both got their noses just in front. But with the return legs to come, there is nothing settled at all about the outcomes, with all eight teams still in with a great chance of making it to South Africa next year.

Bosnia (0) v Portugal (1)
Judging by the performances, Bosnia could well be favourites to come through this tie. A Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal looked uninspired and could already be out of the running if it were not for being saved by the woodwork on three occasions. It does make you wonder, when things like that happen, if some things are just meant to be. The Portuguese rode their luck through the qualifying group, and certainly did in the first leg of their play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The visiting Bosnians, never going to be a push over, won just about every stat on the game, except two. The scoreline obviously, and the fact that they could only manage to get one shot actually on target.

But the truth is, they created chances, and could have been out of sight. Rallying to cancel out Portugal defender Alves’s goal, Bosnia hit the woodwork twice in the final minute of action. That was after a header smacking against the Portuguese crossbar in the first half. Bosnia are a good attacking side, quite refreshing and joyful to watch. They have the potency to score in Edin Dzeko and this tie is far from finished. They will have been disappointed not to get an away goal, but while Chelsea midfielder Deco was pulling a lot of strings in the midfield, Portugal do not look a great side, certainly not any better than the Bosnians. With the home crowd behind them, Bosnia could easily make themselves a little bit of history on Wednesday night, by reaching their first ever World Cup finals

Match Odds Only
Bosnia to win: 23/10 at Paddy Power
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Portugal to win: 11/8 at SkyBet

Prediction: Bosnia have nothing to lose now. They should be heartened that they can find a way past the Portuguese defence at home. They do have the firepower, now it will all be down to passion and execution on the night. Portugal can expect a torrid time on Wednesday, and if they are going to get through, then it will probably be down to their ability to hang on. They themselves will want to get an away goal to kill off the tie, but that could expose frailties at the back.

Slovenia (1) v Russia (2)
Russia, a very good side under Guus Hiddink, will be kicking themselves for the late goal they conceded in this match, a vital away goal which will have given the Slovenians some great hope for the return fixture on Wednesday. Stretching their legs out to a 2-0 lead with a brace from Everton’s Bilyaletdinov and the home side had looked in complete control. Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin and Chelsea’s Yuri Zhirkov both enjoyed good, influential games and looked to pose a threat every time they got on the ball. This was a fixture which Russia was expected to win with ease, and that had looked on the cards, being the largely dominant side.

The Slovenians, who have a collectiveness and unity to their play, in contrast to any individual flair, struggled a little on their big night. But a late goal by Pencnik for Slovenia, who finished off a rebound, gave them hope of turning Wednesday night into a really momentous night back in Maribor. Indeed the Slovenians could have nicked a cheeky late equaliser. Only an excellent back post save from Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev saved the day, as a second away goal for the Slovenians would have been extremely tough on the Russians.

Match Odds Only
Slovenia to win: 9/4 at SkyBet
Draw: 23/10 at William Hill
Russia to win: 11/8 at Paddy Power

Prediction: Russia are good enough to see off this tie. You would expect them to get at least one more goal, and could be an interesting team to follow at the World Cup. They have a nice balance of flair going forward and workmanship, all with some familiar names to English Premier League fans. Definitely one to watch, and the occasion on Wednesday night is likely to be too much for the Slovenians based on the evidence of the first match.

Ukraine (0) v Greece (0)
As was expected, this was the tightest game of the four qualifiers, with literally nothing to choose between the two teams. Ukraine on a whole though, will be feeling the more satisfied, and definitely the more confident, as they created just that little bit more than the home side. After a keen start by both sides, the game drifted in a display of the two teams cancelling each other out a bit. This was always going to be the difficulty in picking a winner from this tie, as they both appear to rely on the defensive side of the game for success.

Greece had a couple of chances to win the game, especially when the European zone’s top scorer Theo Gekas missed a headed chance, and then Liverpool’s Greek defender Kyrgiakos sent a last minute header wide on a good opportunity. Ukraine though, did have the best glimpses of creativity out of the two sides, showing just a little more poise on the ball, especially when counter attacking. Ruslan Rotan had possibly the best opportunity of the match, when he pounced on a mix up in the Greek defence, only to waste the opportunity presented to him. Both sides wasted their best opportunities, and it looks as if one goal either way will be enough to get to the World Cup 2010.

Match Odds Only
Ukraine to win: 5/6 at Paddy Power
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Greece to win: 7/2 at SkyBet

Prediction. This could head to extra time, and even penalties. Heading back to the Ukraine though, the home side will be slight favourites. But again, the workmanship in midfield and defence of both sides, meant that a stalemate looked the most likely result in the first leg, the Ukrainians will be happy enough to win the tie in their own backyard.

European Play-Off’s

All 1^st legs to be played on the 14^th November

Greece V Ukraine – 18:00 GMT

Republic Of Ireland V France – 18:00 GMT

Portugal V Bosnia & Herzegovina – 18:00 GMT

Russia V Slovenia – 19:00 GMT

Out of the seeded nations, Greece and Russia will be pleased the most with the draw, although, you look at it another way in Ukraine being chuffed to bits with their draw of Greece, arguably the weakest of the four seeded nations in the draw. Portugal will still fancy themselves against a dangerous Bosnia side but France won’t have appreciated a two legged tie with the Republic of Ireland, a side who held Italy 2-2 at Croke Park.

To Qualify Odds:

Greece – 2.10 WilliamHill, Ukraine 1.90 Expekt.com

Republic Of Ireland – 3.75 WilliamHill, France 1.4 Coral

Portugal – 1.33 Coral, Bosnia & Herzegovina – 4.5 Ladbrokes

Russia – 1.29 Coral, Slovenia – 4.5 SkyBet

Our Qualifying Picks

Greece V Ukraine – Ukraine @ 1.90

Republic of Ireland V France – Republic of Ireland @ 3.75

Portugal V Bosnia – Portugal @ 1.33

Russia V Slovenia – Russia @ 1.29