Holland v Brazil
Spread punters may dispute that the current Dutch side are as good as their 'total football' predecessors in the Seventies, or even the European Championship winning class of '88. But Bert van Marwijk's team certainly boasts enough talent to make it past Sporting Index's World Cup spread favourites Brazil - at 60-63pts on the outright index - in this exciting quarter-final tie.
Although Holland never lifted the trophy, together with Brazil they were certainly the most exciting team to watch in the 1970s and the two opponents appeared in every final between '70 and '78 between them. The sides have met a total of nine times and spread buyers of Brazil's supremacy at 0.4-0.6 could be surprised at the closeness of the head-to-head record - the Samba Boys have won three to the Netherlands' two, with four draws.
Buyers of the total goals spread at 2.5 will have been impressed by both teams' clinical finishing; Robinho in particular showing the sort of form that Man City are still hoping to see in the Premier League. However, sellers might have been paying more attention to the defensive abilities on show. Brazil look uncharacteristically solid at the back - steely organisation instilled by Brazil coach and former defensive midfielder Dunga - while Holland's central defenders look almost bored as Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel in front of them let little past. In each of their four games, both Brazil and the Netherlands have conceded just two goals each.
The shirt numbers spread is set at 22-25, with the supremacy 4-7 in Brazil's favour. Outright numbers spread sellers may think they have little to worry about other than the number of goals, as van Marwijk fielded players numbered 1 to 11 in the previous round against Slovakia. However, they should beware. To the delight of buyers in that match, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, numbers 11 and 10 respectively, contributed 21 to the spread make-up. The biggest danger to sellers, or asset to buyers of the shirt supremacy spread, is Brazil's Nilmar. The number 21 was brought on 15 minutes before the end against Chile and scored five times in his five starts in qualifying.
Those looking for a Brazil player's performance spread or goal minutes to buy are spoilt for choice - even centre-back Lucio looks dangerous running with the ball. Facing some of the players he goes against each week as a Sevilla player, Luis Fabiano's goal minutes spread is set at 21-24. His three goals have come in the 25th, 50th and 38th minute and each would have delivered a profit - his two goals against the Ivory Coast made-up 75 spread minutes in that match. Spread buyers of the time of the first match goal at 39 minutes will note that Brazil have been fairly late starters, averaging 51.25 minutes in South Africa until their first match goal, while the Dutch have waited 38.25 minutes on average.
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