2014 World Cup Free Picks: Greece vs. Ivory Coast

4 p.m., Tuesday, June 24 – Esatdio Castelao Fortaleza (ESPN2)

Match Betting Lines

Greece are solid +280 underdogs up against an Ivory Coast team favored at +110. The draw can be had for +260 while the total is listed at 2.5 goals.

Greece

It doesn’t take much to make you not enjoy watching Greece play football. Yes, they earned their spot at this tournament like everyone else, however this team consistently resorts to negative, defensive-minded play and it really is a drag to enjoy. No goals from two matches, and I don’t really see a result that could leave them with anything but three losses and a group stage exit.

Ivory Coast

A draw should be enough to get the Ivorians through to the knockout stages but I don’t think the West Africans will leave it to chance. They know Japan will be going for three points, so winning here will be an easy means to book their ticket to the Last 16. Ivory Coast has played well in each match thus far, and I expect them to improve upon their three team goals scored. Look for more success as they do enough to emerge from this group alongside winners Colombia.

Match Analysis

Greece can potentially advance from this group despite their stagnant play, and with that I see them finally opening things up a bit and going for a win. They simply need it. Their defensive brand of football will only secure them an early flight home. Ivory Coast will embrace an up-and-down style here, and the heat in the northeast city of Fortaleza will be a big advantage to the African nation.

Key Injuries, Suspensions, Yellow Cards

Kostas Katsouranis will be suspended for this match following his two yellow cards against Japan. I expect Ivory Coast to field their same starting XI, and look for Greece to employ a slightly more attack-minded line-up.

Tony’s Pick

Greece is going to go for the win. So will Ivory Coast. Advantage Ivory Coast. The Greeks will do well to score their first goal of the tournament, however they are playing right into the hands of Ivory Coast with their need to win or essentially go home. Ivory Coast net two more times, and they earn a win in the process, 2-1.

Doc’s Sports has full coverage of the 2014 World Cup and more articles throughout this summer’s major soccer tournament. Strike Point Sports is one of the top soccer handicappers with their success on the big tournament stage. From the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, SPS earned $100 clients over $8,200 in profit from these four major events. This summer’s World Cup is going to be another moneymaking opportunity, and they are looking forward to their soccer selections and another winning tournament.

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