Holland v Slovakia Free Bets, Monday 28th June, 3pm
The Netherlands were available at 14/1 to win the World Cup three months ago, although they have been cut to half that price since the tournament began. Indeed, Boylesports – £20 Free Bets and Coral – £20 Free Bets go as short as 11/2 that Holland win the competition for the first time in their history, although you can get 7/1 (bet365 – £200 Free Bets) that Bert van Marwijk’s team are celebrating come 11th July.
Not that the Dutch have been mightily impressive so far, although the group stages are all about getting through to the last sixteen and they passed with flying colours on that score. Maximum points were achieved against Japan, Cameroon and Denmark, something that means that they have a very winnable last sixteen encounter, although Brazil or Spain could lie in wait. Bet365 bookmakers offer 4/9 that they are victorious in Durban on Monday, just as they were against the Japanese a week earlier.
There’s lots to like about this Netherlands team, who tend to play conservatively with Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong protecting the defence and the manager employing four attacking players to try and cause damage. It’s a strategy that often makes Robin Van Persie look a little isolated in attack, although the Arsenal striker is the hot favourite (4/1 Stan James – £25 Free Bets) to open the scoring at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and set his team on their way to the quarter finals.
Like a disgruntled customer, perhaps RVP will get an improved level of service if van Marwijk decides that the time is right for Arjen Robben to play from the start against the Slovakians. It only took the Bayern Munich winger twenty minutes to show what he’s capable of achieving for the team in orange and Ladbrokes – £25 Free Bets offer of 6/1 about him scoring first looks extremely tempting.
Not that the Dutch simply have to pitch up to win Monday afternoon’s encounter, which threatens to be closer than the odds suggest. Slovakia were bottom of Group F ahead of the final round of matches, although the players did manager Vladimir Weiss proud with a 3-2 win over Italy in Johannesburg. If that result doesn’t give them confidence, then nothing will and they are available at 7/1 (Paddy Power – £20 Free Bets) to kick on from that result and beat another established name in world football.
The Slovaks have nothing to lose, especially as reaching the last sixteen of the World Cup represents such a magnificent achievement for them. Therefore, they will have nothing to lose when they take to the field in Durban, while they have the tournament’s joint-leading scorer in Robert Vittek. The striker might be a household name when the World Cup ends and bet365 offers 12/1 that he opens the scoring in this game.
