The key match in Group G just happens to be the opener for Portugal and Ivory Coast in 2010 World Cup odds on Tuesday.
The winner of this match is the team likely to advance along with Brazil from Group G. Portugal is the favorite in World Cup betting in this match, especially since Ivory Coast is dealing with the injury to Didier Drogba.
Portugal is +110 on the three-way line with Ivory Coast +230 and the draw at +220. The total is 2.5 with the under at -160. This is the second World Cup for Ivory Coast as they didn’t make it out of the group stage four years ago. They may not make it out this time either as they would have to get past either Portugal or Brazil. That is why this match is so critical on Tuesday.
The chances of Ivory Coast making it out of this round may have ended when Drogba was injured in a friendly against Japan. The team has not ruled him out of this game but it seems unlikely he will be able to make an impact even if he does play. Ivory Coast is managed by Sven Goran Eriksson and they are going to need him to come up with a great game plan if they are to defeat Portugal without a healthy Drogba.
This is the fifth World Cup for Portugal. The team is led by Cristiano Ronaldo who used to be the best player in the world. He does not hold that title anymore as Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the best. Portugal has an excellent defense led by Alves and Carvalho but how far the go in the World Cup depends upon Ronaldo and his ability to score big goals. Portugal does have some other players who can score though as Simao led them in qualifying.
There is an equal amount of pressure on both teams in this match. Portugal is aware that they must take advantage of the Drogba injury and win this match. Ivory Coast realizes that a loss to Portugal would probably put them into a must-win situation against Brazil and that is a spot that no team wants to be in. It should make for a high intensity battle on Tuesday.