Venue: Mangaung/Bloemfontein, South Africa
Group F kicks off its second round of group stage play with a match between Slovakia and Paraguay. The match will take place at Manguang and kicks off on June 20th at 13:30 local time.
Paraguay are the favourites to win this game with most bookmakers offering evens on this outcome. That’s not to say there are long odds on Slovakia, the best price for them to win is 11/4 with Bodog (US Friendly) or Expekt. The draw is offered at pretty short odds too at 12/5. This suggests that while Paraguay should, on paper, be the better team, there is still some room for Slovakia to upset them.
A 1-1 draw or Paraguay winning 1-0 both attract similar odds. Bet365 and Sportsbook (US Friendly) are offering the same price, 11/2, on both eventualities. Slovakia 1-0 and a 0-0 draw both fetch 8/1, again, the best prices and again, from Bet365. At William Hill, a 2-0 win to Paraguay is also 8/1, as is 2-1 to Paraguay back at Bet365. This is not a game that is easy to call, when results that cause Paraguay to win, lose and draw all attract the same odds!
Oscar Cardozo is the favourite to score the first goal. Odds for him from Victor Chandler are 17/4. He is followed by Roque Santa Cruz and Lucas Barrios, both at 11/2. The Slovakians join the field at around the 15/2 mark, with their favourites being Stanislav Sestak and Erik Jendrisek – again, the prices are the best prices currently available and are offered by Victor Chandler.
Prediction
I think Paraguay are a somewhat underrated team in this group who may even upset Italy, so I can certainly see them beating Slovakia in Manguang. I predict 2-0 to Paraguay, which will get you 8/1 with William Hill or Sportsbook.
