Boxing Picks 2024- Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin (Saturday 15th June)

Two weeks ago Saudi Arabia hosted another big night of Boxing and there have long been a feeling that they will want to grab a firmer control of the sport.

Since that evening, reports have now come out that the Saudi Arabian authorities will be looking to make a big bid to bring the various promoters under the same banner and create a 'League' which is rumoured to be similar to the UFC model.

It will be interesting to see how the various organisations take to the suggestion/idea and that is because each Division would now likely have a single Champion with the top contenders fighting one another to be in line to knock off the king, very much like what we see in the UFC. It would mean fighters are matched up in very competitive outings, although I do wonder how the development of young, up and coming Boxers would be handled.

Perhaps those developments continue in the manner they have been for years and once a fighter hits a certain level, they are then invited into the Saudi League where they can look to be come the Champion within their Division. This is something that may be more explained when the actual model and format comes out, which could be as soon as the end of the month when a card at Wembley is expected to be announced with a full press conference too.

After a relatively quiet weekend, we have a couple of big shows in the United States that follow a decent Saturday night card put together by Boxxer on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

It is a shame that the rumoured Anthony Yarde vs Joshua Buatsi headliner could not be signed off, but there are some big names out on Saturday and fighters who will likely be targeted for solid fights under the Saudi banner in the weeks and months ahead.

Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin

It has been fourteen months since Gervonta Davis finished Ryan Garcia and there is little doubt that Tank is one of the top American Boxing names out there. He is very much at the forefront of the mind of many Boxing fans and the only real criticism you could have of Davis is that he is not a bit more active.

Gervonta Davis has won a World Title in the Light Welterweight Division, but he has mainly been spending his time in the Lightweight Division in recent times.

While a match up with Devin Haney has yet to materialise, and may not be on the radar after his controversial defeat to Ryan Garcia, there are names like Shakur Stevenson and Vasyl Lomachenko holding World Titles in the Division and the hope is that Davis will look to chase those bouts if he can get through this one.

This weekend Gervonta Davis is facing unbeaten Frank Martin who only fought once in 2023 and who needed a Twelfth Round Knock Down to secure a narrow win on the cards. Frank Martin himself has admitted he was not at his best against Artem Harutyunyan last July and he believes that performance has provided this opportunity, while the American has taken unbeaten records away from his last two opponents.

However, those have not been against someone with the power and quality of Gervonta Davis and the feeling is that Frank Martin does not hit with enough force to deter Tank from walking him down.

Early on the feeling is that Martin can use his skills to give Gervonta Davis something to think about, but we have seen Tank make the in-fight adjustments and that has seen him find a way to break down opponents.

With the power in the punches, Gervonta Davis is dangerous throughout this fight, but he did need to get into the second half of the bout to earn his last two wins. Rolly Romero lasted until the Sixth Round before Davis was able to find the punch to finish that contest, and it is going to be tough for The Ghost to steer clear of the Champion's shots as the bout moves into the Championship Rounds.

Gervonta Davis did put Ryan Garcia down in the Second Round and it feels like Frank Martin could be deterred pretty early and slowly broken down. Much will depend on the kind of punishment that Martin could be willing to take, but the expectation is that Tank will finish this before the judges are needed.

A really good looking Light Heavyweight fight takes place on the undercard when Mexican Monster David Benavidez takes on former World Champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Before Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko became World Champions and pound for pound entrants, Gvozdyk beat Adonis Stevenson to become the WBC Champion in the Division. Eventually he ran into the buzzsaw called Artur Beterbiev and the Ukrainian was broken down and beaten in the Tenth Round before heading into retirement.

Four years passed and Oleksandr Gvozdyk returned in 2023 to win three fights in a row, albeit at a lower level than facing someone like David Benavidez, even if the latter is moving up in weight.

David Benavidez has been trying to tempt Canelo Alvarez into an Undisputed Fight in the Super Middleweight Division, and produced some big wins in order to do that, but Canelo seemingly has little interest in the bout. Even the hope that the Saudi Arabians will put in the money to bring that event together is looking weak with the ideas put forward by Turki Alalshikh for the two fighters involving different names.

Instead of sitting and waiting for an opportunity, David Benavidez has chosen to step up in weight and a win over the former World Champion might see him in line to face the winner of the upcoming Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol Undisputed Fight.

This is far from an easy fight, but the feeling is that Benavidez can come through some tough moments and just have too much youth for The Nail at 37 years old.

Both hit very hard and it could be a really good fight for the fans, while the toughness of both cannot be underestimated.

Eventually I can see a situation where David Benavidez has more in the gas tank and begins to tee off on Oleksandr Gvozdyk and that may force the referee or the corner to step in and protect the former Champion. The Nail does hit hard, but Benavidez may end up forcing the Stoppage in the second half of this very good chief support.

There is some excitement in the Light Welterweight Division with some solid fights to be made, but the focus for Subriel Matias is to retain his IBF World Title before targeting some of the other Champions.

Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney and Isaac Cruz are the other Champions within the Division, but Matias has to focus on the Challenger in front of him and avoid any slips.

He will be backed by the home Puerto Rico support when taking on Liam Paro, an unbeaten Australian fighter who upset Montana Love in December.

Boxers representing Australia have shown plenty of toughness and grit, but this is a huge test for Liam Paro to stand up to the power that has been displayed by Subriel Matias.

The Champion avenged his sole loss with a Stoppage and Subriel Matias has shown his dominance by forcing Retirements from his last two opponents after Five and Six Rounds respectively.

Liam Paro has shown enough to believe he can at least pose some threat, but keeping Subriel Matias off him will be tough and the feeling is that the Champion can give the home fans plenty to smile about with another mid-fight ending.

Over in the United Kingdom, Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe meet in a rematch, but this time with a World Title on the line rather than both being up and coming prospects.

The layers are favouring a repeat with the Challenger becoming the new World Champion, and that does feel like the right fighter to back.

Chris Billam-Smith has plenty of wear and tear on him and that is perhaps going to be a factor in this one, although he is gritty and determined and that has to be respected.

We have seen the power that Richard Riakporhe carries, while the win on the cards over Billam-Smith will still give him confidence if this fight reaches the Championship Rounds.

It is a tough one to call with any certainty and the prices for a Riakporhe win in any fashion looks short enough to be left alone.

Isaac Chamberlain is going in with Jack Massey on the undercard after his original opponent withdrew, but this looks a tough test for him.

And we also have a surprising rivalry bout when Ben Whittaker returns- his opponent gatecrashed a presser earlier in the year to force his way into the picture.

We really don't know much about Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka.

He is unbeaten, but he has fought in multiple different countries and this is only his second fight in the UK, despite being a resident here.

There is clearly some irritation from Ben Whittaker that someone has been able to sign a fight with him without really 'deserving' it, and the feeling is that a spiteful performance could be produced by a boxer who will also looking to create a show for the fans.

MY PICKS: Gervonta Davis to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 William Hill (1 Unit)

David Benavidez to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.80 William Hill (1 Unit)
Subriel Matias to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Ben Whittaker to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2024: 23-38, + 13.42 Units (84 Units Staked, + 15.98% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (June 15th)

A mixed set of results on Tuesday means I have not really had the kind of bounce back day as I was hoping for, but it could, and perhaps should, have been better.

At one point it was looking really worrying with Emil Ruusuvuori struggling to complete a win that should have been much more comfortable, but it could have been worse and I will just have to begin the turn of this week on Wednesday.

Alexander Bublik-Marin Cilic over 23.5 games: After reaching the French Open Semi Final, Marin Cilic has to be heading into the remainder of the 2022 season with plenty of confidence behind him. The grass court season is one that could be particularly important for Marin Cilic who has shown himself to be a pretty solid competitor on the surface throughout his career, a surface that many other players do not enjoy.

With the confidence of the run in Paris behind him, Marin Cilic could be one of those players that could be very dangerous in the draw at Wimbledon. The third Grand Slam of the season will have Novak Djokovic entering as favourite, but Marin Cilic will not be overly concerned by too many other names in the draw and there feels like a real opportunity in front of him.

This time twelve months ago, Marin Cilic was Ranked at 37, but he is back inside the top 20 of the World Rankings and is a former two time Queens Champion. He had a tougher than expected First Round win over Liam Broady, but having his footing back on top of the grass courts should stand him in good stead and Marin Cilic is the favourite in this Second Round match.

Last year he won the title in Stuttgart and I do think the time spent on court in the First Round will benefit Marin Cilic.

He takes on Alexander Bublik who looked to be on his way to a First Round win before Lorenzo Musetti retired from the match and in recent seasons he has shown he can perform on the grass courts. A disappointing loss to Andy Murray in the Second Round in Stuttgart last week has been franked by the fact the British player reached the Final there, while Alexander Bublik has a serve that can be very effective on the faster surfaces and on the grass.

Over the last twelve months, Alexander Bublik has held 87% of his service games played on the grass courts and I do think he will give Marin Cilic something to think about. The long levers may mean Cilic is able to get more balls back in play, but their previous two matches on the Tour suggests it will be tough to earn the breaks.

Both of those have been played on the clay courts and Alexander Bublik has won 63% of his service points on a slower surface, although Marin Cilic has won each match. In both occasions, the match has needed a deciding set though and it does feel it is possible for Bublik to serve well enough to make this very competitive.

Marin Cilic's serve has been a big problem for Alexander Bublik to deal with on the clay and it will be that much tougher on the grass. I think the favourite will be able to roll through many of his own service games, but Alexander Bublik can serve effectively on this surface and it may see him force at least two tight sets, or perhaps even steal one and force this match into a decider like the previous two matches between these players have required.

Karolina Pliskova v Bianca Andreescu: I am a pretty big fan of Bianca Andreescu and I do think she is a player that could be competitive at the very top of the WTA Tour consistently if she is over the injuries that have blighted her career since winning the US Open.

The hard court season is coming up and there are limited points for the Canadian to defend before the final Grand Slam of the 2022 season begins in New York City and so I would expect a significant jump in the World Ranking.

She could be a potentially dangerous player in the draw at Wimbledon later this month, although Bianca Andreescu has not really shown a lot of affinity with the grass courts on the pro Tour. Her First Round win was a solid one, but it was a tough match for Andreescu and the feeling is that she is going to have to be a lot better if she is going to progress further in Berlin.

Injury has made it a tough year for Karolina Pliskova and she is coming off a disappointing Roland Garros, although the big server looks much more at home on the grass and hard courts rather than the clay courts throughout her career.

In 2019 Karolina Pliskova won a title on the grass courts and in 2021 she reached the Wimbledon Final after a couple of underwhelming performances in warm up events for the third Grand Slam of the season. After the early exit in Paris, it was perhaps surprising that Karolina Pliskova did not add a grass court tournament to her schedule last week, but she was a strong winner in the First Round having won twelve games in a row after dropping the first set to Kaia Kanepi.

The serve is the important weapon for Pliskova in this match and if she is able to back that up, I would expect her to have chances to at least attack the Bianca Andreescu serve.

Karolina Pliskova has to expect to get a few more cheaper points behind the first serve and Bianca Andreescu is still trying to work out the best approach to her tennis on this surface. Having to work hard to win service games on the grass means needing to get used to the movement needed and the Canadian has yet to really get to grips on playing on the grass.

I actually thought the Wimbledon Runner Up from last year would have been a stronger favourite than a pick 'em, although that could be down to the inconsistent form we have seen from Karolina Pliskova on her return. Being back on the grass courts should help and I think Karolina Pliskova is able to edge past Bianca Andreescu thanks to the first serve.

MY PICKS: Alexander Bublik-Marin Cilic Over 23.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Alex De Minaur - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Jack Draper-Emil Ruusuvuori Over 23.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Grigor Dimitrov - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Karolina Pliskova @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Ekaterina Alexandrova - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Simona Halep - 5.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Hubert Hurkacz-Ugo Humbert Over 22.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Nick Kyrgios-Stefanos Tsitsipas Over 23.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 7-8, - 4.42 Units (30 Units Staked, - 14.73% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2018 (June 15th)

After a mixed Wednesday, Thursday proved to be another effective day of Tennis Picks with the five completed matches returning four winners.

One of the matches, Kirsten Flipkens vs Kiki Bertens, was postponed until Friday in Hertogenbosch as the weather has affected the WTA tournament being played there. That is one of a couple of matches that has to be competed on Friday in the Second Round with the winning player scheduled to play again later in the day in the Quarter Final.

The rest of the tournaments being played this week have all reached the Quarter Final Round and there are plenty of matches scheduled for Friday as all of those tournaments reach the business end of the week.


Richard Gasquet - 2.5 games v Stefanos Tsitsipas: It is going to be very interesting to see the development of Stefanos Tsitsipas in the years ahead, but I think he is being priced up in this Quarter Final as someone who has already begun to prove himself on all surfaces.

All credit has to be given to Tsitsipas for what was a strong run on the clay courts which is an important step in his development, but he is yet to show he can consistently produce on the other surfaces. Playing on the grass courts are perhaps the steepest of the learning curves for players who are not accustomed to the surface and Tsitsipas is going to get a tough lesson from Richard Gasquet on Friday.

You have to also respect the fact that Tsitsipas has won two matches here, but both have come against players who are someway inferior to Gasquet on the grass courts and both wins were closer than the youngster would have liked. While it is important to show you can win matches when not at your best, but this is just the seventh match Tsitsipas will have played on grass and I think Gasquet exposes that.

While his opponent is learning and perhaps been a little fortunate to get past Malek Jaziri on Thursday, Gasquet was a dominant winner. Over the years it could be argued that the grass courts are the favourite surface for Gasquet who has a quality slice and strong numbers in both the serve and return department.

Gasquet won't be as strong as he was in his win over Evgeny Donskoy in every match, but he is someone who will feel he can produce enough variation on the grass to give Tsitsipas some tough looks to deal with. The Frenchman returns well enough to get more joy against the Tsitsipas serve than his last two opponents have, while Tsitsipas' 15% career break percentage on the grass courts have only been improved slightly by his 17% break percentage in his first two matches against players who simply don't play as well as Gasquet.

This could be a good looking match for the fans, but Gasquet should have the edge and I think he wins and covers a number I expected to be a little higher.


Denis Istomin-Lucas Pouille over 22.5 games: Two players who have enjoyed playing on the grass courts in their careers and who come into this Quarter Final with some solid wins behind them meet on Friday in Stuttgart.

The Denis Istomin wins over Philipp Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer are made all the more impressive when you see the fashion in which he controlled the matches against two very good grass court players. You could say that both German veterans have declined in general, but on this surface they are not an easy out yet Istomin was the dominant winner in both matches.

Lucas Pouille is the defending Champion in Stuttgart and he was a strong winner as expected in the Second Round and I think these two players can combine for a very good match.

Istomin serves very well on the grass courts and his hold percentages have been very strong over the last few years. Where there can be some struggles for Istomin is on the returning side of the court, but if he serves as he can then it is going to be very tough for Pouille to break his game down on the grass.

That is down to the limitations that come with the Pouille returning game and is one of the main reasons I struggle to see him lasting in the top 20 of the World Rankings for the long haul. He has talent, but Pouille has to improve his break percentage to really take the next step in his career and I do think Istomin will be able to serve well enough to get through his games and into potential tie-breaker situations in the match.

The Frenchman's own serve has worked effectively on the grass in the last couple of seasons with 82% and 83% hold percentages in 2016 and 2017. With Istomin also having some problems in the returning aspect I think it will be tough for either player to retrieve a break position so there is every chance we will need a deciding set in this one.

One break may be enough to separate the two over two sets too and I will look for these two players to combine for enough holds of serve to cover the total games line, even if it is a touch on the high side.

MY PICKS: Richard Gasquet - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Denis Istomin-Lucas Pouille Over 22.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)
Coco Vandeweghe - 3.5 Games @ 1.95 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Donna Vekic - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Johanna Konta - 5.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 13-7, + 9.26 Units (40 Units Staked, + 23.15% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2017 (June 15th)

The change in surface does mean there is the real potential for a number of upsets early on in these events. The move from the clay to the grass is considered the most difficult of all the switches over the course of the Tour and that has shown up at times over the years.

Roger Federer wasn't helped by being a little undercooked in terms of competitive matches, but he will still feel he should have beaten Tommy Haas having missed his chances in the final two sets after dominating the first.

I don't think there should be a real concern about Federer who will be back in action in Halle next week. He has been stunned early in the draw in Dubai earlier in 2017, but Federer has shown he can bounce back from that by winning the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami following that loss to Evgeny Donskoy.

Halle is a big tournament for Federer though as he will want to put some matches under his belt ahead of the start in Wimbledon and no longer be the 'World Practice Champion' as he described himself this week.


It was on the way to a very strong day for the tennis picks on Wednesday, but some late losses prevented the kick on that I would have wanted. At least it was a day when there was another tick upwards for the totals for the week, although I would have hoped for more.

There were a number of matches that I liked on Wednesday, but Thursday looks a little tighter to call and so I have half of the number of picks from the day before.


Benoit Paire - 1.5 games v Peter Gojowczyk: Backing Benoit Paire to win any tennis match is always a decision that could send someone through the wringer, although it's easier when you know you're not actually going to watch the match as live.

There is no doubt that Paire can play some flashy tennis, but he is also highly frustrating when he loses his cool and starts producing error after error. He can also be someone who collapses mentally which can result in some really poor sets of tennis and the potential to give up his position and tank on the match.

With that in mind, I still want to back Paire in this Second Round match against Peter Gojowczyk who simply doesn't play at this level too often. Winning three matches through the Qualifiers and First Round may give the German the confidence to try and pull off the upset, and Gojowczyk has had a stronger grass court pedigree than Paire which will give him further belief.

Paire didn't have a bad performance in his First Round win over another erratic player on the Tour, Victor Troicki, and a similar level should be good enough here. He actually served effectively enough and Paire's return game was also solid and he should be too good for an opponent who is generally used to playing at the Challenger level.

The odds are given for the fact that Paire and Gojowczyk have had differing results on the grass courts in the past, but I like the Frenchman to battle through with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.


Evgeniya Rodina - 3.5 games v Antonia Lottner: The First Round win over Dominika Cibulkova is the biggest of Antonia Lottner's young career, but backing that up may be a difficult task. Coming through the Qualifiers before beating Cibulkova is impressive from a player who has not had a lot of grass court experience but Evgeniya Rodina is very capable on this surface.

The emotion of battling her way through three sets is going to take a physical and mental toll on Lottner and I think that is going to be a factor in this match.

Rodina had some solid wins in Surbiton last week before crushing Miyu Kato in the First Round here and she has the big hitting that can be very dangerous on the grass courts. She did reach the Quarter Final here in Hertogenbosch in 2016 and Rodina also won a tournament at the lower level on the surface last year and I think she will have a little too much for Lottner.

The Rodina serve is a decent enough weapon, although Lottner will have her chances to break the serve, while I think Rodina has hit out on this surface to really pressure opponents in her return games.

After a couple of tight sets, I am expecting Rodina to progress to the Quarter Final on Friday with a 6-4, 6-4 win.


Ana Konjuh - 2.5 games v Richel Hogenkamp: There are a number of young players on the WTA Tour who look like they are close to making the breakthrough that Jelena Ostapenko made at the French Open. While all of these players will still be big prices to win Grand Slam titles at this time, Ostapenko's success will have inspired many of those players going forward.

One of those that has been tipped for the top is Ana Konjuh who has won a title on the grass courts before and who produced a solid win in the First Round. Konjuh has also reached the Third Round at Wimbledon before and I think she will be too good for Richel Hogenkamp despite having a difficult 2016 on the surface.

Hogenkamp has to be respected after putting together a number of wins on the clay courts, albeit the majority of those coming at the levels below the main Tour. The consistency of those wins have not come on the grass courts over the years and I do think Hogenkamp will struggle with the power that Konjuh can produce.

I also believe the younger player will have the superior serve on the day and that is a huge benefit on the grass courts and I do think Konjuh will work her past Hogenkamp. Ultimately I think Konjuh will earn a break of serve more than her opponent in the two sets they compete in and I will back her to cover this number of games.


Yanina Wickmayer + 4.5 games v Johanna Konta: The feeling for the casual fan may be that Johanna Konta is going to bounce back from her clay court struggles with some big runs on the grass courts over the next month. Some will even feel she should be one of the favourites to win the title at Wimbledon, but I think Konta's game is not completely suited to this surface.

I believe Konta likes her rhythm off the ground, but the potentially low bounces can ruin that for her and the Brit doesn't have as strong a record on the grass as some would imagine.

She has played well in Eastbourne where she has reached one Quarter Final and one Semi Final in the last two years there. However at the same time Konta has only reached one other Quarter Final in six grass court tournaments she has played since 2015 and I think she could be a vulnerable favourite.

Yanina Wickmayer has a solid grass court pedigree, but the Belgian is coming through a difficult 2017 which will have sapped confidence. She has tended to be a solid player on the grass courts and was only narrowly beaten by the likes of Kristina Mladenovic and Karolina Pliskova last year.

One player she did beat was Konta though and this does look a lot of games for the British player to cover even in a winning effort. Konta is the better player, but I will look for Wickmayer to keep this one competitive enough to stay within these games.


Lucie Safarova - 3.5 games v Su-Wei Hsieh: The last couple of years have been difficult for Lucie Safarova who has seen injury affect her confidence on the Singles circuit. Her Doubles successes have continued, but Safarova is still a very dangerous player on the grass courts and I think that will give her the edge in this one.

The lefty serve is very dangerous on the grass courts, especially with the power that Safarova can generate and I expect her to put Su-Wei Hsieh under pressure.

Hsieh is a crafty veteran who will look to bamboozle Safarova with unorthodox shots from both wings, but I can see the latter having control of the rallies to prevent getting involved in too many of the longer rallies in which Hsieh will thrive.

The Hsieh serve is one that Safarova should be able to attack with some joy and I think she will use that to have a little too much for the former. I will be looking for Safarova to come through with a 6-4, 6-4 win for a place in the Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Benoit Paire - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Evgeniya Rodina - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Ana Konjuh - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Yanina Wickmayer + 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Lucie Safarova - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 10-8, + 2.24 Units (36 Units Staked, + 6.22% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2015 (June 15th)

The grass court started last week, but there is no doubt that the tournaments in Birmingham, London and Halle this week are the 'big' events leading into Wimbledon and the fields that have been brought together backs up that feeling.

Some of the biggest names on the Tour are in action this week including French Open Champion Stan Wawrinka who takes part at the Queens Club, but the idea of the strength of the field is shown by his First Round draw against Nick Kyrgios.

This is going to be a big week which will give us some indication over the players that can go deep into the draw at Wimbledon in a couple of weeks time and I hope I can back up a decent first week on the grass courts for the picks.

A strong tennis week is expected with the talent on show and hopefully that is matched by the picks.


Fernando Verdasco v Roberto Bautista Agut: He might be on course for a better season in terms of wins than 2014, but Fernando Verdasco let me down in a straight sets loss to Robin Haase last week which does concern me going to back him to win his First Round match at Queens.

Verdasco has the game to be a strong grass court player, but he has to stay in this match mentally because Roberto Bautista Agut will look to frustrate him for long periods. The defence of the latter can see him force opponents to hit extra balls and that is a clear way to break down the Verdasco game if he lets that get to him and goes too close to the lines that he ends up over-pitching his shots.

It was a way Bautista Agut eventually broke down the Verdasco game in Madrid last year on a clay court, but I do think he is perhaps over-rated on his title win in Hertogenbosch last season. Any person who can win a title on grass has to be respected on the surface, but Bautista Agut hadn't shown a lot of form outside of that tournament and was beaten by Nicolas Mahut last week defending his title.

Of course Mahut is a very competent grass court player and won the title in Hertogenbosch this week so that defeat might not be as bad as some think. However, I think Verdasco is also very comfortable on grass and has had more consistent success on the surface which can see him come through as the underdog.


Richard Gasquet - 3.5 games v Simone Bolelli: The grass court season is a short period in the grand scheme of the tennis Tour so there are some players that really don't like it. On the other side of the coin are those players that seem to thrive on the surface and Richard Gasquet is one such player who has had plenty of success on grass in the past.

Injuries and issues with form have perhaps prevented him from having the impact he would have liked in recent years, but he returns to Queens in 2015 for the first time in five years ready to go. Gasquet reached the Fourth Round at the French Open, but his game does look suited for grass with his solid volleying and decent serve giving him a chance to progress.

The draw looks like one he should be very happy with as Gasquet goes up against Simone Bolelli, a player he has beaten five times in his career. That includes a couple of wins on the grass, although Bolelli is a dangerous opponent having won a couple of qualifiers this week.

The Italian might prefer the clay courts, but Bolelli has done well on grass previously and those two wins will give him plenty of confidence. He has a big serve and can certainly use the grass to his advantage, although the problem is that he can be very inconsistent and doesn't protect the serve as well as he should have.

If Bolelli is not quite on form with his serve, Gasquet will enjoy the longer rallies on a surface he is more comfortable on than his opponent. He has loved the match up with Bolelli and I think he comes through 76, 63.


James Ward + 3.5 games v Milos Raonic: The one thing I really hate at this time of year is the way certain British channels love to promote every British player in action.

Any one who follows the Tour on a year round basis knows that the majority of the British players are just not that good, but we are supposed to care about them despite them earning a lovely cheque for an inevitable First Round exit at Wimbledon thanks to a Wild Card being given to them.

However, I do have to say that the best of three set matches on grass certainly gives some Brits a chance to have a decent run in a main Tour event and James Ward could be one who takes advantage this week. He isn't a great player, but he has done well at Queens in the past as he takes advantage of other players that are simply not that comfortable on the grass.

On the face of things, Milos Raonic shouldn't be one of those players with a huge serve and an ability to hit big forehands and who has developed a net game. However, Raonic has struggled on the grass because of his limited return game and even a good run at Wimbledon last season hasn't convinced me the Canadian is a good thing at very short odds.

Some will say the run to the Semi Final at Wimbledon wasn't a surprise for Raonic last season, but he had only won back to back matches at 2/11 previous grass court events. He had never been beyond a Quarter Final and comes into Queens this year having been suffering with an injury that kept him out of the French Open.

Ward will have to serve well and hope chances come his way if he is going to secure the upset, but he might at least be able to keep this close even if he can't quite win the match. I can see a 76, 64 kind of victory to whoever comes though so the games being offered on Ward look tempting enough.


Sam Querrey + 3.5 games v Grigor Dimitrov: The defending Champion Grigor Dimitrov comes into Queens after yet another disappointing French Open, but he will be hoping he can bounce back on this surface as he did twelve months ago. However, Dimitrov might have hoped for a much easier First Round match than facing another former Champion at this tournament in Sam Querrey.

To be honest, Querrey has never really kicked on from some early successes in his career that suggested he might be the next American star, but he has remained a very good grass court player in recent years.

It is that grass court pedigree that does make him a threat to Dimitrov, especially if the latter is just feeling short of confidence after his French Open First Round loss. Dimitrov did perform properly out of a similar situation twelve months ago, but Querrey looks like he has the weapons that could frustrate the Bulgarian.

The Dimitrov serve, while a strong aspect of his game, is still one that can offer up chances to opponents when he is not quite at his top level and Querrey can steal a set. That will give him a chance to cover the number, even in a losing effort, and I think Dimitrov is giving up one too many games in this match.


Andreas Haider-Maurer + 2.5 games v Dustin Brown: I'll be the first to say that Andreas Haider-Maurer is a hard player to take seriously after some 'lacklustre' performances in the past. You can't always tell how seriously he is going to take a match and that makes him a tough player to trust, but I am still scratching my head that Dustin Brown is favoured so strongly in this match.

Haider-Maurer doesn't have a deep grass court pedigree, but he showed his toughness in a close loss to Gael Monfils last week and the Frenchman isn't even close to be as erratic as Brown.

Dustin Brown has a big serve and some very good volleying skills, but his decision making is very poor and he would much rather go for the spectacular than the basics. That means losing points he shouldn't and making mistakes to present opponents chances to break serve and wins sets.

Yes Brown should win this game... But no, he can't be trusted to win this in straight sets and a similar performance to the one produced in Stuttgart will give Haider-Maurer a real chance to spring the upset. Tie-breakers should be the order of the day, but the Austrian has a chance if he can stay mentally focused.

He showed that by getting to two tie-breakers against a much more effective returner in Monfils and I think the games could be crucial, even this small number.

MY PICKS: Fernando Verdasco @ 2.05 Stan James (2 Units)
Richard Gasquet - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)
James Ward + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Sam Querrey + 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Andreas Haider-Maurer + 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Picks Final: 14-9, + 6.43 Units (45 Units Staked, + 14.29% Yield)

Season 2015: + 51.28 Units (900 Units Staked, + 5.70% Yield)

Season 2014: + 45.05 Units (1586.5 Units Staked, + 2.84% Yield)
Season 2013: + 21.74 Units (1251.5 Units Staked, + 1.73% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, + 5.76% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2014 (June 16th)

Last week is usually the time when the big names from the men's game take to the court for their sole preparation for Wimbledon in competitive grass court action and this week it is the biggest names in the women's game that get going. Aside from Serena Williams, Na Li and Maria Sharapova, most of the stars of the WTA Tour head down to Eastbourne including Victoria Azarenka who has recovered from an injury that saw her miss out on the French Open.

I tend to stay away from the outright picks in the final week before a Grand Slam tournament because I do feel that factor alone makes it hard to get a total read on motivation for players. That is especially the case if a player is down a set and how much desire they have to fight back and expend energy they might want to reserve for the next big tournament which begins in seven days time.


Last week also looked to be a terrible one for the picks as I just couldn't seem to catch a break from the picks I was making, but both Grigor Dimitrov and Roger Federer won tournaments as they helped recover the losses and actually end the week with some more positive results to add to the season. Hopefully this week won't see my picks having such a torrid time, especially with no outright picks to save the week, but it is a new game and will bring some momentum into the third Grand Slam of the season.


Angelique Kerber - 3.5 games v Alison Riske: The grass courts have certainly been a surface that Alison Riske has enjoyed with her decent serve and power shots really skidding off the court and enabling her to win plenty of matches.

She had a run to the Third Round in Birmingham last week and should give Angelique Kerber plenty to think about, although I do think the German's defence will extract enough errors from Riske's game to help her move through to the Second Round.

Kerber isn't solely a defensive player as she too also has a decent serve and penetrating groundstrokes, so it is something of a surprise to me that so many breaks of serve were achieved when they met at the Australian Open back in January.

I am guessing the grass courts will mean we don't see as many breaks as in that match, but I still think Kerber can win another one against Riske and come through 64, 64.


Agnieszka Radwanska - 5.5 games v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: After reaching the Semi Final at Wimbledon last season, and previously also playing in her sole Grand Slam Final on the grass courts, Agnieszka Radwanska should be feeling confident she can have another big run at the next Grand Slam beginning next week.

It would be nice for Radwanska to get some tennis under her feet on the surface, although her early exit didn't bother her a year ago in Easbourne, and I do think the match up with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is a good one for the Pole.

Radwanska can frustrate Pavlyuchenkova and that leads to errors with the Russian trying to play that much closer to the lines. I also think the grass courts can expose some of the limited movement of Pavlyuchenkova and I really don't think she is as comfortable on this surface as the other ones we see on the Tour during the season.

With that in mind, I expect a tight first set to be won by Radwanska who can then pull away in the match for a 64, 62 win.


Tamira Paszek v Su-Wei Hsieh: Tamira Paszek still loves playing on the grass and she has come through the qualifiers in Eastbourne which should just help her feel a little more confident of winning this First Round match against fellow qualifier Su-Wei Hsieh.

Out of the two players, you would have to say that Paszek has the better grass court pedigree as this is probably her favourite portion of the season and I was surprised that the layers only make a small favourite to win the match outright.

Hsieh has also qualified for the event so can't be totally disregarded, but Paszek should have too much in the locker to move through to the Second Round.


Ivo Karlovic v Jeremy Chardy: This isn't a match that I would be predicting to see too many breaks of serve, but Eastbourne is a venue where Ivo Karlovic has won the title before and he has been playing some good tennis over the last couple of months.

The conditions should favour the big serving of Karlovic and we all saw how Jeremy Chardy couldn't hand that when losing to Sam Querrey at Queens last week. The Frenchman is a solid player on grass, but his return game can be erratic and it may be tough for him to really get involved if Karlovic is serving to the level he has been of late.

Karlovic did suffer a loss in Halle in straight sets when losing two tie-breakers, but I think his serve is 'safer' than Chardy's and that may make the difference in critical moments in the match.

We could see three tie-breakers in this one, but Ivo Karlovic's ability to get to the net may win the match for him.

MY PICKS: Angelique Kerber - 3.5 Games @ 1.81 Unibet (2 Units)
Agnieszka Radwanska - 5.5 Games @ 1.81 Unibet (2 Units)
Tamira Paszek @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Ivo Karlovic @ 1.73 William Hill (2 Units)

Weekly Daily Final: 10-19, - 18.74 Units (58 Units Staked, - 32.31% Yield)
Weekly Outright Final: 2-2, + 23 Units (11 Units Staked, + 209% Yield)

Season 2014: + 51.86 Units (876.5 Units Staked, + 5.92% Yield)

Season 2013: + 21.74 Units (1251.5 Units Staked, + 1.73% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, + 5.76% Yield)
Season 2011: + 82.02 Units

Tennis Picks 2014 (June 15th)

It hasn't been a lot of fun making picks over the last few days with a lot of poor picks and a little bad luck conspiring against me.

However, even a desperately poor week has every chance of ending with a smile as both Grigor Dimitrov and Roger Federer made their respective Finals at Queens and Halle and both are favourites to win those events.

If that happens, it will actually make this a half decent week after all despite some of the negativity I had been feeling. I would expect Federer to come through and beat Alejandro Falla, but I still think Feliciano Lopez is a dangerous opponent for Dimitrov so will keep the fingers crossed in those matches.


Ana Ivanovic - 5.5 games v Barbora Zahvalova Strycova: As much as I respect the run that Barbora Zahvalova Strycova has had to reach the Final this week, I do think she was given a couple of breaks yesterday that helped her through against Casey Dellacqua.

The first was the horrendous about of easy errors that the Australian made, and the second was the rain delay when Dellacqua had turned the first set around with three games in a row.

Still, as I said, you have to respect the form of a player reaching the Final, except I believe Ana Ivanovic is going to be prove to be far too good for her in this match.

Zahvalova Strycova has had to struggle through a few Rounds, but Ana Ivanovic has dominated through the week and it was more of the same from her in the Semi Final. It will be hard to see past another convincing Ivanovic win in the form she has displayed all week and I don't see that coming off at the most critical time.

The first set may be tight, but I can see Ivanovic running away with the match if she wins that set and force Zahvalova Strycova to feel the fatigue of the week and the Serb should pick up a title after a 63, 63 win.

MY PICKS: Ana Ivanovic - 5.5 Games @ 1,85 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 9-19, - 20.44 Units (56 Units Staked, - 35.79% Yield)

World Cup 2014 Group F Picks (June 15-25)

It has been over twenty years since Argentina, the two time former World Cup Winners, have won a major international tournament, but they are considered the second favourite to win this competition. They head up a Group F containing first time qualifiers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria and Iran.

You can find my outright picks from the tournament here

Group A picks will be made here

Group B picks will be made here

Group C picks will be made here

Group D picks will be made here

Group E picks will be made here

Group G picks will be made here

Group H picks will be made here


Sunday 15th June
Argentina v Bosnia and Herzegovina Pick: The feeling is that Bosnia and Herzegovina could be the neutral's choice at the World Cup if the manager truly fulfils the promise to go on the attack with a 4-4-2 formation designed to do that.

Safet Susic went as far as to say that he knows that Bosnia can sometimes neglect the defensive side of things in their games and that may be the big problem against this Argentina team in their opening game. While the gambit to attack and score goals is admirable, it might be until the Iran and Nigeria games that Bosnia really can get away with neglecting any aspect of their game.

Argentina are also known more for their attacking aspect rather than the defence and they have four players that should pose problems for any team in the world- Lionel Messi has another chance to really put his name beside Diego Maradona by producing on the biggest stage, and he is ably backed by Angel di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero.

It is the suspect defence where Argentina are most vulnerable and that should mean we are given a very entertaining game to open Group F, especially as both teams would fancy their chances of beating the other two teams in the section. The potential is even there to match the six goals scored in the Spain-Netherlands game in Group B, but either way I would think Argentina will have too much firepower in their locker for the Bosnians.

The two World Cups have seen Argentina peak too early by blasting their way through the Group Stage before ultimately falling in the Quarter Final and I am expecting them to at least begin the Group in a similar manner. It gives Argentina a chance to build confidence in a draw that gives them a great chance to reach the Final on enemy territory, and I think they will win this game by a couple of goals at least.


Iran v Nigeria Pick: Carlos Queiroz has always been known for his defensive tactics and that was the case during the last couple of years of the qualifying campaign in Asia as Iran return to the world stage for the first time since 2006.

Out of all the teams at the World Cup, I would be surprised if Iran break that mould and there is every chance that we are going to see the first draw of the World Cup from this game. Iran will be disciplined and well organised which is going to be tough for Nigeria to break down, especially as I feel this is far from a vintage version of their nation.

Nigeria did win the last African Cup of Nations and they qualified for the World Cup comfortably enough, but they did struggle for goals during those qualifiers and I think they could be a caught cold by Iran in this one.

I would have no interest backing Nigeria at odds on to win the game and I do think it will be one that isn't the most exciting game of the tournament to this point. It could be a case of defence versus attack, although Iran may look at the fact that Tahiti scored against Nigeria last year and perhaps fancy sneaking a win to double up the one they had over the United States back in 1998.

In my opinion, one goal may be enough to separate the teams and backing the Under 1.5 Goals could pay off despite the attacking games we have seen to this point.


Argentina got off to a nervy start to their World Cup campaign where anything less than winning the tournament may be treated as a failure, but I think Alejandro Sabella needs to take a portion of the blame. He changed the 4-3-3 formation that had been so successful over the last two years and adopted a 5-3-2 look which produced a tepid first half display.

Going back to 4-3-3 at half time and introducing Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago gave Argentina more impetus and freed up Lionel Messi who scored a superb solo goal to help beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-1.

Bosnia should adopt a more attacking formation in their final two games, especially if Nigeria and Iran are as poor as they were in their opening goalless draw. Neither team looks like having the guile to create a lot of chances, although Iran at least showed their defensive discipline in holding the Nigerians at arms length.

Whether they can do that against the two opponents they have to play will determine whether Iran can perhaps spring a surprise.


Argentina v Iran Pick: The theory is that Alejandro Sabella is a little worried that Argentina will be exposed by the better teams they will meet at the World Cup if they persist with their 4-3-3 formation that produces so much attacking quality, but that is a worry for another day.

Against Iran, Argentina will be expected to entertain and impress and the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain will really test an Iranian backline that won't see that kind of quality on a regular basis.

Iran have nothing to lose in the sense that they can't be knocked out of the World Cup no matter how this game ends, but I still don't expect to see an expansive approach as they look to secure a respectable scoreline. Carlos Queiroz will make sure they are disciplined at the back, but I expect the movement of the front three to be too much for Iran to deal with and can only see Argentina winning by three or four goals at a venue that has produced goals in previous two World Cup games held here.


Nigeria v Bosnia & Herzegovina Pick: I didn't have a lot of hope for Nigeria at the World Cup because I think they are a team that does struggle to score the goals to win games and, despite being the reigning African Cup of Nations winners, I thought they wouldn't get beyond the Group Stage.

The main reason was because of Bosnia & Herzegovina who showed they don't always 'neglect the defensive side' as their manager claimed before the start of the tournament and who put in a strong effort against Argentina in the first game of the Group.

The 2-1 loss means Bosnia start the game in bottom place, but they will likely play two up front in this one and try to get after Nigeria. The Nigerians will have to perform a lot better than they did against Iran when the poor quality in the final third of the pitch really cost them a chance of winning the game and another showing like that will put them in a very awkward position with Argentina left to play.

Nigeria will hope that Argentina won't have anything to play for by that point, but their confidence might be rocked as I am expecting Bosnia to be too good for them and find the goals to win the game.


In each of the last two World Cup tournaments, Argentina have started the event on fire and put in some top Group performances on their way to the Second Round, but both times have seen them beaten in the Quarter Finals by Germany. That is probably the only positive they can take out of their two performances here so far where they have won both games against Bosnia and Iran, but have not looked their best.

Lionel Messi has won both games for Argentina and the comparisons with Diego Maradona, who carried the nation to the 1986 World Cup, have gone into overdrive. However, there is little doubt that he has to help Argentina end their search for a major international tournament to really find himself in that same level as the man who used the 'Hand of God'.

Nigeria's win over Bosnia, albeit a controversial one after an Edin Dzeko 'goal' was wrong disallowed, means they are in pole position to join Argentina in the Second Round as they avoid defeat in this game. If they don't they will need to hope Iran don't beat Bosnia in their game, and there is still the possibility of a random draw separating those two teams for a place in the Second Round.

If Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 and Iran beat Bosnia 1-0, both Nigeria and Iran will have the exact same record and would mean a 'drawing of lots' to decide the team that moves through to likely play France in the Second Round.


Bosnia & Herzegovina v Iran Pick: There has been a lot of criticism of Safet Susic back in Bosnia for going against his own philosophy in the first two games which has led to the nation being eliminated before the end of the Group Stage.

Susic had set up Bosnia to be a very attacking team during the qualifiers with two up front, but decided against that in the first two games here- it was understandable against Argentina, but failing to do the same against Nigeria meant another defeat sent Bosnia packing.

They have been unfortunate in both games, especially with the Edin Dzeko 'goal' that was disallowed against Nigeria which would have given Bosnia the lead in that game. A couple more missed opportunities from the Manchester City player and it was all over for Bosnia.

There have been suggestions that some of the players are not interested in competing in a 'dead rubber' while others are suggesting Bosnia are going back to their usual formation, but it might not matter against Iran.

The close relationship of the two nations meant Iran were the first team that played Bosnia in a friendly back in 1993, even before FIFA recognised Bosnia & Herzegovina as a sovereign state, and Iran certainly have shown that they can cause a surprise off the back of their first two performances.

Iran's close loss to Argentina was very disappointing considering they arguably had the better chances of the two teams until Lionel Messi scored a cracking winner and Carlos Queiroz was very upset with the referee for not handing Iran a penalty. There is pace in the team in the forward areas and we saw Emir Spahic exposed for pace in the game with Nigeria.

If Bosnia do play a more attacking line up, Iran should enjoy success on the counter and I think they can win their first World Cup game since 1998 and give themselves a chance of moving into the Second Round.


Nigeria v Argentina Pick: This is a difficult situation for Nigeria to be in considering a draw would be enough to move through to the Second Round, but a defeat could open the door for Iran. They will have to defend a lot better than they did against Bosnia in their latest game because the likes of Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi are unlikely to be as generous with their missed opportunities in front of goal as Edin Dzeko was.

A 1-0 loss for Nigeria and a 1-0 win for Iran would mean a draw would have to decide which team goes through, but the pressure would certainly build on the Nigerians if they hear Iran have taken an early goal or are a couple of goals in front.

The draw does seem the most convenient result for both teams as Argentina can avoid France in the Second Round and Nigeria would move through, but I do sense the Argentina fans are looking for a big performance as the hosts Brazil were earlier in the week. This is going to be a game packed to the rafters with Argentina fans who see this as a 'home' game and I can't imagine they would be too impressed if Argentina simply 'play out a draw'.

With the forward power that Argentina have, I expect they will be too strong for Nigeria, although they will also have to be aware of the pace and power the Nigerians have up front. We have seen Iran and Bosnia cause some problems for Argentina, but Nigeria might not be able to exploit that immediately as they are caught between attack and defence.

At the end of the game, I would expect Argentina have won this game by at least a couple of goals, while Nigeria will be wondering if Bosnia can do them a favour and at least hold Iran to a draw.

GROUP F PICKS: Argentina - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units) versus Bosnia
Iran-Nigeria Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.10 William Hill (1 Unit)
Argentina - 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Pinnacle (3 Units) versus Iran
Bosnia & Herzegovina @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Unit) versus Nigeria
Iran @ 3.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit) versus Bosnia & Herzegovina
Argentina - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (2 Units) versus Nigeria

Group F Update: 1-3, - 4.9 Units (8 Units Staked, - 61.25% Yield)

World Cup 2014 Group E Picks (June 15-25)

The FIFA World Rankings have regularly been criticised, but never more so than when Switzerland were one of the top eight seeds in this tournament having not been past the Second Round of any major international competition since the 1954 World Cup which was held in their own country. They are joined by France, the 1998 Winners and 2006 Runners Up, as well as Ecuador and Honduras.

You can find my outright picks from the tournament here

Group A picks will be made here

Group B picks will be made here

Group C picks will be made here

Group D picks will be made here

Group F picks will be made here

Group G picks will be made here

Group H picks will be made here


Sunday 15th June
Switzerland v Ecuador Pick: When it came to the World Cup 2014 draw last December, one of the bigger surprises was noticing that Switzerland were going to be one of the top seeds ahead of the likes of Italy and the Netherlands. It is a quirk of the FIFA World Rankings that Switzerland were able to get as high as they have despite failing to get out of the Group Stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and also failing to qualify for the European Championships 2012.

However, Switzerland were dominant in their qualifying campaign and will very much be expected to qualify for the Second Round at the very least this time, while the future of the national team is exciting with young talent breaking through.

Their first game in Group E could be crucial to Switzerland's chances though as Ecuador are the most likely challengers for a top two berth assuming, and it is a big assumption at times, that France don't self-implode in the manner of 2002 and 2010.

The real issue that many have pointed out about Ecuador is their lack of success outside of Quito and that could be costly for them in this Group, even if their players are a little more accustomed to some of the conditions they will be facing.

So far, the World Cup has been producing a lot of goals, but this could be the second game that fails to reach those heights in my opinion. The layers seem to be in agreement with me in that regards with the Under 2.5 Goals set as low as 1.57 in some places, and even picking a winner doesn't look clear cut.

I am expecting a decent showing from the Swiss though and I do have concerns for Ecuador as a team outside of the comforts provided by the altitude of Quito. However, the value may be in backing Switzerland to win to nil at a big price considering they conceded just one goal in three Group games in South Africa and a strong defence has been the foundation of their success over the last few years.


France v Honduras Pick: After seeing the way Costa Rica dismantled Uruguay in their opening game at the World Cup, I definitely have a different level of respect for the teams coming out of the CONCACAF qualifying section other than the United States and Mexico.

However, I still believe that Honduras could be one of the weaker teams at the World Cup and anything other than getting beaten in all three games would be a decent return from a limited side.

They might have half a chance of springing a surprise or two if their opponents are not up to scratch and that is where France are a little difficult to judge.

It has been feast or famine for France in the last four World Cups- they have reached the Final twice, winning once, but also been beaten in the Group Stage twice so some fans may get very excited if they come out of this section. That has to be expected with Honduras, Switzerland and Ecuador making up the numbers, but losing Franck Ribery and leaving Samir Nasri at home has taken away some of the creativity that may have been expected.

The likes of Paul Pogba could thrive in their absence though with the former Manchester United player ready to show off his talents on the world stage. And if some of the friendly results since qualification are to go by, France should certainly be getting off to a very positive start in their opening game in Brazil.

France have beaten the Netherlands and crushed the likes of Jamaica and Norway and there does seem to be a settled squad travelling to Brazil under Didier Deschamps. This game should give France the right opportunity to play themselves into the tournament and I can't see anything but the side being too strong for Honduras.

Take away the draw with England in the friendlies, Honduras took heavy losses to Brazil, Turkey and Israel and I would expect France to be able to win this game by a couple of goals at least.


Switzerland won a dramatic game against Ecuador when it looked like the South American's were going to create a chance to win the game- thirty seconds later and the Swiss had scored the winning goal with virtually the last kick of the game and now are in a strong position to finish in one of the top two spots in the Group.

They were in the same boat four years ago after beating Spain, but Switzerland somehow managed to mess up qualification after drawing with Honduras in their final game and might be a little tense knowing that is their final game again.

However, Honduras looked remarkably average in their 3-0 loss to France and the latter showed the togetherness that hasn't always been a feature of their team.


Switzerland v France Pick: With three points each in the bag, there is every chance that France and Switzerland would both settle for a draw at this moment in time and take their chances in their final round of games. Each would have likely considered the other as the most dangerous team in the Group, although the onus is perhaps more on France who would like to finish top of the Group and avoid having to play Argentina in the next Round.

That is assuming Switzerland would at least beat Honduras which would leave France in a position of having to beat Ecuador and hope goal difference is in their favour, but you would think that both managers would accept that fate right now.

Qualification from the Group is the priority and I do believe this will be a tense encounter where neither team will want to give too much away- however, this World Cup has seen some strange displays from teams regardless of their situations as highlighted by the attacking Ivory Coast-Colombia game compared with the dire Greece-Japan game despite the two teams in the latter being more 'desperate' to win.

The draw is the a real player in the game where neither side will want to jeopardise their place in the Second Round, but I will simply take there being fewer than three goals in the game.


Honduras v Ecuador Pick: If the earlier game in Group E is a draw, that will mean the loser in this game is out of the competition although I don't think it would change the approach that Honduras are likely to have in the game.

There isn't a lot of quality going forward for Honduras, but they showed against France that they are able to disrupt the game and get plenty of bodies in and around the box to make it difficult for teams to break them down. France obviously had the added guile to do that, but I am not convinced that Ecuador can say the same about their team.

Set pieces may be the best avenue for both of these teams to try and score the goals to win the game, but I am not really holding out too much hope for an entertaining game in another of the late evening kick offs in Britain.

The teams did play out a 2-2 draw back in November before the draw was made for the World Cup, but there is a lot more at stake this time. The two options that have appealed to me the most is for another game going under 2.5 goals or Honduras with a 0.75 start on the Asian Handicap- my feeling is that one goal could potentially win this game so the low scoring option is my call.


The World Cup may only be a little under two weeks old and there is plenty of football to go before the winner is decided, but I have been the most impressed with France who tore Switzerland apart in their most recent game.

That result almost certainly means France will top Group E and will be assured of missing Argentina in the Second Round, albeit on the assumption that Argentina are not beaten by Nigeria by a couple of goals or in a high-scoring game earlier on Wednesday when final Group games are to be played.

Who follows France into the Second Round? Ecuador must be kicking themselves that they conceded such a late winner against Switzerland in their opening game, but the come from behind win over Honduras gives them a great chance as long as they can beat France in their final game.

Any other result means Switzerland will have the edge on second spot as long as they can beat Honduras, although they won't need reminding that a goalless draw with the same nation knocked them out in South Africa four years ago.


Ecuador v France Pick: With France almost certainly assured of finishing top of Group E and avoiding Argentina in the Second Round, there is every chance that they will rotate players in preparation for the next Stage of the World Cup.

France have been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament to this point and look like they have everything required to win the World Cup. Their opponents haven't been the best, but France have dismissed them with confidence and the stunning win over Switzerland demands respect.

They face an Ecuador team that knows what they have to do- either match the Switzerland scoreline, or avoid a heavy loss in the case of a Honduras win in the other game in the Group. That puts them in a tough spot because Ecuador haven't looked secure at the back, but have produced some decent attacking displays.

The problem for them is attacking this France team leaves gaps that they have exploited perfectly in the first two games and the pace the French have in forward areas could punish Ecuador. If France were to play a full team, or something close to that, they could certainly win this third game in the Group by countering an Ecuador team that may push forward, but those doubts about the line up are nagging.

It's a tough game to predict because of the permutations for Ecuador that depend on what is happening in the other game- the layers are taking no chances with this French team who look short and even backing goals doesn't look that profitable considering the situation for both teams.

An early goal would change all that in a Group that has produced plenty of goals but the best option for the game may be France to cover the Asian Handicap if Ecuador are pushing late in the game to get back into/or win the match.


Honduras v Switzerland Pick: Four years ago, these two teams met in South Africa in a very similar situation- on that occasion Honduras were out, but Switzerland needed to beat them in their final Group game to move into the Second Round. Despite a host of shots on goal, Switzerland could only manage a goalless draw in that game and exited the World Cup.

They have a little more room in this one as long as Ecuador don't earn a result against France which would give Switzerland a place in the Second Round with a point, but a defeat also means Switzerland are likely to be heading out.

It makes this a difficult prospect for the Swiss who were blitzed by France in their last game, especially as Honduras still have a chance of moving through with a win and an Ecuador loss. Goal difference looks against Honduras but you never know and they won't want to exit another World Cup just yet.

The edge in quality certainly belongs to Switzerland and an early goal may give them the foundations for a big win, but I can see them being a little more cautious to not fall into a hole as they have in their last two games. Switzerland came back to beat Ecuador, but were hammered by France, and they may just want to settle into this game.

Honduras can make life difficult for them too as they did for France with some of their heavy tackles and physical game able to put the Swiss off their stride. Patience may be the key for the European team who had big expectations heading into the World Cup, so taking a small interest on a draw at half time before the eventual Switzerland win may be the best call for the game.

GROUP E PICKS: Switzerland Win to Nil @ 4.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit) versus Ecuador
France - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.92 Pinnacle (2 Units) versus Honduras
Switzerland-France Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Honduras-Ecuador Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
France - 1 Asian Handicap @ 2.05 Ladbrokes (2 Units) versus Ecuador
Draw-Switzerland @ 4.50 Bet Victor (1 Unit) versus Honduras

Group E Update: 1-3, - 3.16 Units (7 Units Staked, - 45.14% Yield)