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With Royal Ascot getting underway today, along with the Group B match between Sweden and England, BETDAQ members will witness one of the busiest weeks of trading we have seen this year.
Switzerland v South Korea (BBC THREE)
With both teams tied on four points at the top of Group G, a victory for either side in this encounter will ensure a table topping first round finish and avoid a second round knockout match against Spain on Tuesday. Switzerland's goal-scoring midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta is convinced his side has more to give to the tournament while coach Kobi Khun has promised that his team will take to the field on Friday, intent on winning the game. Still reveling in the glory of their draw with France, South Korea currently top the group and have nothing to lose in this encounter. You can get with Switzerland in this match at 2.19 or lay them at 2.21 while South Korea are available to back at 4.3 or to lay at 4.6. The draw is currently 3.1. On the Asian Handicap market Switzerland (-0/0.5) are 2.16, while South Korea (+ 0/0.5) are available at 1.84. This game is live from the AWD Arena in Hanover on RTE at 20:00 on Friday.
France V Togo
The final first round game in Group G sees 1998 world champions France, looking to avoid an embarrassing second consecutive group stage exit at the World Cup. This is a must win game for the French who have seemingly imploded on the big stage since they hosted the tournament eight years ago, and nothing but progression to the next round will save their under fire coach Raymond Domenech. Despite failing in their first two group games Togo coach Otto Pfister is surprisingly confident ahead of this potential group decider. Les Bleus need to win by two goals to book their place in the second round and are the firm favourites to advance. However, Pfister does not expect to be overrun in Cologne and believes his charges can shut out the French. France are backable in this encounter at 1.19 and layable at 1.2 while you can back Togo at 21.00 or lay them at 22.00. The draw in this game which will be broadcast live from the Rhein Energie Stadion in Cologne on BBC 1 from 20:00 on Friday, is 8.7. On the Asian Handicap market France (- 1.5/2) are available at 1.59 while Togo (+1.5/2) are available at 2.51.
Germany V Sweden
The first game of the knockout stages of this year's World Cup sees hosts Germany take on Sweden in the Allianz Arena in Munich in a game which is live on ITV and RTE at 16:00 on Saturday. Jurgen Klinsmann's side took a maximum nine points from their three group games, and will be looking to continue their goal scoring form against this Swedish side that Coach Lars Lagerback admits will have to improve dramatically on their inconsistent form if they are to overcome this impressive German side. You can get with Germany in this game at 1.74 or lay them at 1.78 while Sweden are backable at 6.0 and available to lay at 6.1. The draw is available at 3.65. On the Asian Handicap market Germany (-0.5/1) are 1.95 while Sweden (+0.5/1) are 2.02.
Argentina V Mexico
Argentina have assumed the role of favourites to win this year's World Cup, and on their impressive form in the group stages it is easy to understand why. Despite a 0-0 draw with Holland in their last game, the Argentineans eased through the so called group of death to finish on top, and line up this encounter with Mexico in Leipzig's Zentralstadion at 20:00 on Saturday. With no injuries or suspensions to worry about coach Jose Pekerman has a full squad to choose his team from, and feels that playing Mexico many times in the last few years gives his team the upper hand for this game. Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe could not hide his frustration after watching his team waste a host of chances in their 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Wednesday and knows the odds are stacked against his side for this crucial encounter. Argentina are available to back in this game at 1.41, or you can lay them at 1.43, while you can get with Mexico at 11, or lay them at 12.5. The draw game in this match which is live on RTE is 4.5. On the Asian Handicap market Argentina (-1/1.5) are 1.9 while Mexico (+1/1.5) are available at 2.08.
England V Ecuador
England managed to avoid a second round meeting with Germany by finishing top of Group B, but only just, and Sven Goran Eriksson's brave decision to bring only two substitute strikers including the inexperienced Theo Walcott may backfire on the much criticised manager, now that Michael Owen's tournament has been ended through injury. Defensive lynchpins John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are determined to eradicate the errors which proved so costly against Sweden on Tuesday when England were uncharacteristically poor defending set-pieces and had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their final Group B fixture, after conceding a late equaliser to Henrik Larsson. Ecuador defender Ulises de la Cruz claims his team can beat England in this must win game on Sunday. The South Americans have been this year's surprise package at the World Cup and though they suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Germany on Tuesday, the Aston Villa based full back insists his team have already put the result behind them and are ready for the challenge of the underperforming English. You can get with England in this match at 1.52 or lay them at 1.56 while Ecuador are backable at 8.1 or you can lay them at 8.4. The draw in this match from the Gottlieb Diamler Stadion in Stuttgart at 16:00 on Sunday is 4.2. On the Asian Handicap market England (-0.5/1) are 1.67 while Ecuador (+0.5/1) are 2.31. This game is live on ITV and RTE.
Portugal V Holland
Failing to beat Argentina in their last Group C clash means that Marco Van Basten's Holland have the trickiest of the second round games this weekend when they meet Portugal in Nuremburg's Frankenstadion at 20:00 on Sunday. Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari wrote his name into the history books, after his team limped to a 2-1 win over 10-man Mexico on Wednesday. That victory was Scolari's 10th successive World Cup triumph, and it also secured Portugal's place at the top of Group D, setting up this intriguing encounter. Holland should prove their sternest opposition yet, and whatever happens one of these big teams will be going home on Sunday. Holland are backable in this game at 2.32 or you can lay them at 2.37 while you can get with Portugal at 3.25 or lay them at 3.5. The draw is 3.25. On the Asian Handicap market, Holland (-0/0.5) are 2.05 while Portugal (+0/0.5) are 1.91. This game is live on RTE.
Racing
Ascot stages the final two days of its 2006 Royal meeting on Friday and Saturday. The highlight on Friday's card is the Coronation Stakes run over the old mile for three-year-old fillies. Both the Irish and English 1000 Guineas winners, Nightime (available to back at 8.0) and Speciosa (9.2), clash in this contest. However, both of these fillies have shown their best form on soft ground and it is possible that conditions will not be ideal for either on Friday. John Gosden runs last year's Fillies' Mile winner Nannina (8.6). She was down the field in the Guineas at Newmarket, but a better showing is expected from her on the likely better ground at Ascot. Another filly who is likely to be well suited by the good to firm ground is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Race For The Stars (6.4), who will bid to continue a fine meeting for the O'Brien team after Ad Valorem's win in the Queen Anne Stakes and Yeats' Gold Cup win. In Saturday's feature race, the Golden Jubilee Stakes, Australian speedball, Takeover Target (3.7), will try to emulate his compatriot Choisir's feat of three years ago by adding this prize to the King's Stand Stakes that he won on the opening day of the Royal meeting. He will face stiff opposition from a host of local defenders, however, including Iffraaj (6.6), Amadeus Wolfe (7.4) and Gift Horse (10.0).
Australia V Ireland
Ahead of Saturday's one off test against Australia Irish coach Eddie O Sullivan has made one change to the team that were defeated 27-17 by the All Blacks last week. Full-back Geordan Murphy has been dropped from the starting line-up for the clash at the Subiaco Oval in Perth on Saturday morning. Murphy's number 15 jersey is taken by Leinster's Girvan Dempsey, who wins his 66th cap.
Ronan O'Gara will start for Ireland despite coming in for some sever criticism following last weekends defeat to New Zealand. The Munster man was blamed for the defensive lapses that ultimately cost Ireland the second Test when All Blacks fly-half Luke McAlister brushed him aside in a five-metre charge for the line. Australia will be without powerhouse prop Rodney Blake for this, their last test match ahead of the forthcoming tri nations series. Blake, who weighs in excess of 280 pounds, was forced out of last weeks 43-18 victory over England due to an ankle injury. Al Baxter will replace him in the front row against Ireland, while doubts still remain over hooker Adam Freier and back-row forward Daniel Heenan. Australia are backable in this match at 1.29 or you can lay them at 1.33 while you can get with Ireland at 4.5 or lay them at 4.9. The draw in this match which is live on Sky Sports 2 from 11:00 on Saturday is 41.0.
South Africa V France
South Africa and France also compete in a one off Test on Saturday and while the Springboks have been busy, twice beating Scotland in recent weeks, France are out of match practice, having not taken to the field since their triumphant six nations clash against Wales last March. South Africa were rocked this week by the news that Schalk Burger will be out of action for the next six months. The 2004 IRB Player of the Year picked up a neck injury in their 29-15 victory over Scotland last weekend, and scans have confirmed that the forward needs a career saving operation to fuse two vertebrae. You can get with South Africa in this game at 1.5 or lay them at 1.53 while France are available to back at 3.2 or to lay at 3.4. The draw is priced at 31.
Golf
The US PGA tour continues this week with the Booz Allen Classic from the TPC at Avenel, in Potomac Maryland. Many of the sport's top competitors who are taking a break from the game following the fiercely contested US Open last weekend, with Padraig Harrington the top name involved following his top five finish at Winged Foot. Prices on the Booz Allen Classic are now available.
The European tour returns to the homeland of golf this weekend with the Johnnie Walker Championship from Gleneagles in Scotland. Colin Montgomerie is the local favourite to claim the spoils on the Jack Nicklaus designed PGA centenary course which will host the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Tennis
The third major tennis competition of 2006 begins on Monday when the first round of the Wimbledon tournament at the All England Club gets underway in London. Swiss world number 1 Roger Federer is looking for his fourth consecutive title here and is brimming with confidence after equaling Bjorn Borg's record for consecutive wins on grass, while winning the ATP Halle International last week. French Open winner Rafael Nadal will play although he suffered from a shoulder injury in last week's Stella Artois championship. Despite 60 consecutive wins on clay the Spanish world number 2 says he is not expecting to be in contention here as he remains a novice on grass. Greg Rusedski withdrew from the Nottingham Open last week but has declared himself fit to compete at Wimbledon.
In the women's competition, Mary Pierce, Serena Williams and last year's runner up Lindsay Davenport have all withdrawn from this year's tournament through injury and Russian teenager Maria Sharapova leads the field ahead of Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin Hardenne, Martina Hingis and world number 1 Amelie Mauresmo. Prices on the Wimbledon tournament are now available.
For a chance to win £25 (€40) to bet on any of the weekend action, simply email the answer to the following question to helpdesk@betdaq.co.uk by 12 noon on Saturday.
When was the first ever World Cup 3rd place play-off? Was it a) 1934 b) 1938, or c) 1950?
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