An easy route to the semis

One quadrant of the world cup draw sticks out in my mind, and it is the one that is being contested today.

Uruguay vs South Korea
USA vs Ghana

The winners will take on each other in the quarter final stages for a place in the Semi-Finals of the world cup. I don't feel many will have tipped an Essien-less Ghana, to have got that far. Nor will many have predicted that a team who struggled to qualify, Uruguay, will have made it that far. The USA were third in 1930 but haven't come close since, and South Korea wern't even expected to get out of their group.

This all in all makes it even more painful that England failed to top their group. Instead a potential Germany-Argentina-Portugal-Brazil route to the final lays await. This gives England the chance to exercise the demons of firstly of 96, then of 98, then of 00, 04 and 06 and finally of 2002.

But back to my actual point, the games today provide an option for an outside bet at this world cup. Uruguay are the favourites of the 4 teams to make it to the semi finals, but I would actually take the more realistic option of Ghana or the USA being eliminated in the Semi-Finals.

With Ghana at 5/1 at Coral and the USA at 4/1 at Ladbrokes . Put down your standard stake on Ghana and 1.2 times your standard stake on the USA for a win of 3.8 times your standard stake.

YES, I know it is laced with risk, what if South Korea or Uruguay knock out Ghana or USA. What if, USA or Ghana beat the potential Semi-Final opponents, Netherlands, Slovakia, Brazil or Chile. The reward is, for me, far too good value to turn down.

Another good value bet is the over 0.5 goals in the Uruguay vs South Korea game at 1/9 put 3 times your normal stake on this.

Finally, my nailed on bet for the day is Tsonga to beat Kamke at 1/4. It may just be the easiest money you ever make. As always put on 10 times your stake.