GERMANY vs SPAIN (EURO 2008 FINAL)

<2.93> <2.85> <2.30>

finally, we're here. the final of euro 2008. as the both of us have tipped spain to win the tournament before it began, we stand to get $30 from $5 at 6.00 odds. so in order to "cover our backside", all we have to do is lay $5 wager on germany to win euro 2008, which currently offers odds of 2.10, meaning we earn no matter what, it's just whether we earn $0.50, or $20. hopefully spain wins, so we net the bigger payout. however, let's look at the match alone without talking about pre-tournament predictions. ballack is doubtful, frings should make it, while david villa is almost certainly out. those are the only injury concerns for both coaches. fabregas should step in for villa, meaning torres is a lone striker, a role in which he excelled in for liverpool. ballack and frings, despite injury reports, will definitely play. in such a tight game, all 3 outcomes are very likely, so i'm gonna go with spain to win in 90 minutes. the germans like to play a pressing game with a lot of offensive pressure, but will struggle to impose themselves as spain will keep the ball all the time, with their excellent ball-retainers like xavi, fabregas, iniesta and silva. also, i think torres' mobility should be hellish for the likes of metzelder and mertesacker, who have less mobility than an 80-year old in a wheelchair missing 3 of its wheels.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on spain @ 2.30 = $11.50
$5 on under 2.5 goals @ 1.70 = $8.50

If you've followed my tips so far, you'd be wishing for Klose to score a hat trick while Spain wins 4-3, so take final score 3-4, 3-5 and 4-5 at odds of 100, 300 and 300 respectively. Then you'd win Klose top scorer, Spain outright tournament winner, as well as final score! Nah just kidding it won't happen.

Anyway, most of you probably didn't follow my tips, not knowing that I am THE Euro2008 guru. So this match as it is: Villa out, Fabregas in. Torsten Frings back for Germany. It's going to be a midfield battle. The thing going for Spain is that Metzelder and Mertesacker aren't mobile defenders. They can handle big strong guys like Luca Toni, Ruud van Nistelrooy, but against Torres who makes diagonal runs it's going to be tough for them. However, the thing is that Torres has been shitty lately, and that the energy of Torsten Frings will make it difficult for the Spanish to pass it around like they did against Russia. Sergio Ramos will be able to handle Podolski, MVP with 3 goals 2 assists, with no problem as he did Yuri Zhirkov. However, Bastian Schweinsteiger will be able to exploit the spaces left behind by Capdevila. I think it is a very evenly matched up match, and it seems like most Singaporeans are dumping their money on Germany. Well, it's going to be a 1-1 draw, and Spain will win in extra time.

- Roland's prediction:
$10 on Spain Champ Winners @ 1.63 = $16.30 (if you have the one at the start of the tournament, then don't need to bet on this one, take Spain @ 90minutes)
$5 on 1-1 draw @ 6.00 = $30.00
$5 on draw @ 2.85 = $14.25
$5 on Under 2.5 @ 1.70 = $8.50