JAPAN v BRAZIL, CROATIA v AUSTRALIA - FIERY STUTTGART CLASH ON THE CARDS
Jonathan Turner

We putting our cards on the table straight away for Thursday's Group F finale by recommending a buy of the bookings in the crunch clash between Australia and Croatia.

Unless Japan can claim an astonishing win over holders Brazil, this is effectively a play-off for a place in the last 16.

Given the make-up of the two sides it was always likely to be a bruising encounter but with so much at stake the likelihood of it being a seriously testing night for referee Graham Poll has been magnified.

Poll - a genuine contender to officiate in the final so long as England don't get there - hasn't exactly been given the highest profile games yet but he's suddenly going to be thrust into the spotlight here.

He's still managed to hand out 11 yellows and one red combined in South Korea v Togo and Saudi Arabia v Ukraine so even though we're asked to buy at as high as 76 it's a price we're prepared to pay for any number of reasons.

Australia have been busy trying to play down their over-aggressive reputation, skipper Mark Viduka saying after their defeat by Brazil: "I think this talk of us being a physical side is a bit of a cliche.

"We are a tough team but then so are many others. It's just that people are making a big deal of it as far as we are concerned."

And that's really generated a siege mentality, Viduka adding: "The game with Brazil was not a dirty one but it seems when we go for our tackles we are being too rough. When the opposition does the same, nothing happens."

That was echoed by Harry Kewell's actions at the final whistle when he launched a volley of abuse at referee Markus Merk which almost landed him in hot water.

But a glance at the disciplinary record of some of their key players does suggest the reputation isn't altogether undeserved.

Lucas Neill collected no fewer than 11 yellow cards and one red for Blackburn last season, Tim Cahill was cautioned eight times at Everton while there are plenty of other strong characters in the side.

And remember that the Aussies even managed to have Luke Wilkshire sent off in an abrasive 'friendly' ahead of the World Cup with a clearly-rattled Holland side.

And they now meet a Croatia outfit which has the unenviable record of having collected the most yellow cards (28) of any European side during the qualifying campaign.

Both sides - especially Australia - have targeted this as their key game and the beauty of the fixture for neutrals is that whatever happens in Brazil v Japan there will still be something at stake here.

Throw in the close links between the two countries and the case becomes even more compelling.

As far as the match result is concerned the draw is on Australia's side as they aim to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

And on the evidence of what we've seen so far - their come-from-behind-win over Japan and a battling display against Brazil - they look capable of achieving that.

However we're happy to just concentrate on our bookings recommendation.

Switching to Brazil v Japan in Dortmund and a watching brief looks in order.

The holders are all but certain to qualify in top spot and that will no doubt be reflected in their team selection - but Japan, coached by Zico, haven't shown enough to suggest they will be able to take any sort of advantage.

They were strangely cautious in the goalless draw last time out against Croatia, a policy which will surely cost them.

The only price that really caught the eye was the 23/10 at expekt about Robinho getting on the scoresheet for the first time in this World Cup after a couple of decent cameos in place of the ineffective Ronaldo.

The fact Ronaldo is on a yellow card would appear to give Brazil the perfect excuse to rest him in this match but, frustratingly, Robinho was also cautioned against the Aussies so is far from certain to start either.

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.