Italy v Paraguay

Italy v Paraguay could well decide who wins Group F, especially if one team takes all three points and Italy and Paraguay are more closely matched than the odds would have you believe.

Italy have a wealth of experience but that is their problem, they have a very old squad and we saw in the Confederations Cup last year how they can be torn apart by a more mobile team playing free flowing football.

Italy v Paraguay Match Odds

A bet on the winner of the match is always a popular one and gives you a bet that lasts right up until the final whistle. In competitive games like this there are good odds on both sides.

BACK PARAGUAY TO BEAT ITALY

Paraguay could be the dark horses at the World Cup 2010 and they are well capable of getting at least a draw here although there is no reason why they shouldn't look for even more out of the game. They performed very well in their qualifying campaign and with players such as Roque Santa Cruz they are capable of getting a good few goals.

Italy were in one of the weaker qualifying groups and still could not beat Republic Of Ireland over two games, Paraguay are at least as good as Republic Of Ireland (21 places clear in FIFA rankings) and the odds on Paraguay are so good that they just have to be backed to beat Italy.

Italy v Paraguay Asian Handicap Odds

Asian Handicap is slightly different to regular match betting, usually one side is given a lead to make the game more equal, and therefore more competitive as a betting contest.

BACK PARAGUAY + 0.25

Paraguay are fancied to get at least a draw out of this game given how poor Italy have been on many occasions over the past couple of years. The fact that Paraguay are such good odds with the +0.25 headstart is hard to believe and this should be placed as one of the more confident bets at the World Cup.

Italy v Paraguay Goals Odds

Many bets can be placed related on how many goals there will be in the match so working out whether it will be high scoring or low scoring is usually a must before betting on the game.

Italy Recent Competitive Results

Paraguay Recent Competitive Results

BACK PARAGUAY 1-0 AGAINST ITALY

Italy used to be relied on to keep a clean sheet in almost every game they played but in their most recent World Cup qualifiers they conceded five goals in six games and kept only three clean sheets, despite not playing many strong sides. Paraguay scored one goal in three of their last six qualifers and two in the other three and it certainly looks as though Paraguay will score one or two goals here, given Italy averaged less than one goal conceded a game in thier last six qualifers it should pay to go with Paraguay scoring once, adn if they are to win the game by scoring once it would have to be 1-0.

Italy v Paraguay Player Odds

A look at the best bets involving the players of the match, usually the most popular bets in this category revolve around who will score the goals in the match.

Italy v Paraguay Team News

Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli and Francesco Totti have all been left at home whilst a calf injury means Andrea Pirlo misses the first two group games for Italy. Paraguay's Salvador Cabanas, who was their top scorer in qualifying, was shot in the head and whilst he is expected to recover fully, he is not in the Paraguay squad.

BACK ROQUE SANTA CRUZ TO SCORE FIRST AGAINST ITALY

Italy don't seem to have any great goalscorers these days, only one player scored more than two goals in qualifying and that was Alberto Gilardino. If Italy were to score he would be the man fancied to do so but we fancy Paraguay to score the first goal, and with top scorer for qualifying Salvador Cabanas missing from the squad it could be Roque Santa Cruz who scores first. He only got three goals in qualifying but he only played five games due to injuries and the talented striker can net before anyone else in this match.

Italy v Paraguay Half Time Odds

Your bets don't have to just be on what happens by the end of the game, you can bet on what happens by half time, in conjunction or not with the full time result.

BACK  PARAGUAY / PARAGUAY IN THE HALF TIME / FULL TIME BETTING

Only two of Italy's last six games in qualifying were draws at half time and Paraguay know how to score first half goals so it should pay to take the generous odds on Paraguay winning at both half time and full time. Presuming they score first in this vital game, Paraguay will be very keen to defend their lead and they can do so successfully against the Italians who don't look to have too many goals in them.

Italy v Paraguay Best Bet

Paraguay are a really good bet to win this game but with the Asian Handicap odds having them at the price they are +0.25 it should pay to play it slightly safe when backing Paraguay, still at really good odds in the Asian Handicap.