Beating the Odds in World Cup Soccer

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Alas, the next Women's World Cup won't take place for another two years but this week, the triumphs and failures of the men's World Cup eliminator matches played out across four continents with nations vying to join Japan, Australia and host country Brazil next summer.

Many players who ply their trade in elite leagues around the world are journeying to compete with their respective countries in destinations far and wide. More than 175 players from the Barclays Premier League alone have been selected for international action. After showing up for national team duty, these players quickly bounce back to the clubs that pay their fortunes. 

Regardless of your club allegiances, there's plenty of great soccer to follow in the coming weeks and months. Using an online sportsbook such as Betfair, fans can actually get early odds on qualifying matches, which is a good way to gauge things. Nothing, however, trumps the drama found on the field of World Cup play. 

Two late American goals in Tuesday night’s qualifying game against Panama knocked the Central American country out of next summer’s tournament, giving Mexico, which lost to Costa Rica on the same night, an unexpected spot in the playoffs. It was not the only stunning result on a wild day of qualifying matches around the world. Bosnia -Herzegovina clinched its first World Cup spot; Iceland advanced to the European playoffs hoping to become the smallest nation to compete in a World Cup; and England avoided disaster by beating Poland at Wembley Stadium.

While England managed to dodge the often-treacherous European playoffs, as did Spain and Russia, other established soccer powers were not so fortunate. France, Portugal and Croatia are among the eight runners-up in their groups that now face a two-game aggregate playoff to earn a World Cup berth. The draw for the playoffs will be Monday, with the games scheduled for November.

Do you watch and/or root for your national team? Or your favorite player?

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There is 1 comment on this post. Join the discussion!

sorguc says:

thank you my sister :)

Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 10:43am EDT

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