TOGO v SWITZERLAND - TRANQUILLO A BARN-STORMING BET
Jonathan Turner

The bookmakers failed to agree on Brazil's World Cup chances after another unconvincing performance from the defending champions on Sunday.

Things have gone to plan so far for Switzerland after they set their stall out for a point against France and duly ground out a goalless draw.

But Kobi Kuhn's side will need to adopt a more positive approach against Togo in Dortmund on Monday to keep on track for the last 16.

In fairness goals weren't a problem in qualifying when they scored more than anyone in their group - including France who topped the section - and they then managed four in their two play-off games with Turkey.

It was a similar story in their build-up to these finals so it could pay not to get carried away with their lack of attacking threat against the French and instead credit them for producing such a solid defensive effort.

Indeed that performance underlined the fact they are a supremely well organised side who are going to prove a match for far better-fancied teams once we get to the knockout stages.

Switching to their opponents Togo and, given the shambolic nature of their build-up, they didn't perform badly in their opener with South Korea.

They took the lead through Mohamed Kader but skipper Jean-Paul Abalo's sending off proved crucial as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

He's obviously suspended for this game now and the continuing speculation over coach Otto Pfister - who resigned before returning to take charge just in time for the South Korea match - clearly isn't helping matters either.

They still don't seem to have recovered from their shambolic showing at the African Nations Cup, with that followed by friendly defeats against the likes of Saudi Arabia and Guinea.

Indeed they've won just two of their last 10 games so it's hard to make any sort of case for them here.

The problem now though is that South Korea were odds-against to beat them whereas the Swiss are no bigger than the 8/15 chalked up by Bet365.

A more attractive wager comes on the first goalscorer front where BetFred seem to have underestimated the threat posed by Tranquillo Barnetta.

The youngster, who plays his club football in the Bundesliga, is one of the real creative forces in the Swiss midfield and twice this year already (against Scotland and the Ivory Coast) he's come up with the opening goal so at 14/1 makes plenty of appeal.

He so nearly broke the deadlock against the French too when his freekick evaded everyone and hit the post and the current Swiss system of 4-1-3-2, where the outstanding Johann Vogel is the man shielding the back four, gives Barnetta a real licence to roam forward.

It's also worth noting his versatility - he's played on either side of midfield, at full-back and up front so, if Switzerland are struggling to break through in the closing stages, he could easily be pushed into a more advanced position.

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.