Against All Odds: Wily Greeks to outfox Costa Rica

The Greeks should make the last eight

Two of the surprise qualifiers for the knockout stage meet in the last 16 tonight and Paul Robinson thinks Greece will edge Costa Rica.

Costa Rica v Greece
Sunday June 29, 21:00
Live on ITV 1

Costa Rica provided the shock of the tournament when they finished as winners of Group D having been written off before a ball was kicked. Victories over Uruguay and Italy were good enough to see them through and while they could only draw 0-0 with England, their job had already been done.

The South and Central American nations have had the edge in this World Cup so far and 'Ticos' will be hoping that continues tonight. I wouldn't be so sure though as Jorge Luis Pinto's side really aren't that good a team and they looked a little 'leggy' in their match against England. They play a high-energy style and that could well be catching up with them already.

Greece somehow qualified from their group despite having a goal difference of minus two. To be fair to them though, they bounced back really well from the 3-0 loss to Colombia as they then held Japan to a 0-0 draw, after being reduced to 10 men in the first half. 

With everything resting on victory over the Ivory Coast, Fernando Santos' men showed their big tournament experience as they clinched a 2-1 win, courtesy of a Georgios Samaras injury time penalty. The Greeks actually performed very well in that game and while they aren't always easy on the eye, they know how to get the job done when it matters.

I'm very surprised that Costa Rica are the favourites to progress to the Quarter Finals, so with their price trading at around the 1.845/6 mark, I have to make them to qualify my lay of the day.  

Recommended Bet
Lay Costa Rica to Qualify v Greece @ 1.845/6 

2014 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 173 pts
Returned: 187.60 pts
P/L: + 14.60 pts (after commission)
(2013 P/L: + 3.80 pts)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)