Bez invests in a Spanish Villa

Remembered for his role in Kevin Keegan’s hugely entertaining Newcastle side during the mid-1990s, John Beresford played nearly 200 times for the Toon and was part of the Magpies team which finished as Premier League runners-up in consecutive seasons in 1995/6 and 1996/7.

‘Bez’ earned a pair of England ‘B’ caps in 1994 and the left-back also took in spells at Manchester City, Barnsley, Portsmouth, Southampton and Birmingham City before retiring in 2000. Here’s his World Cup Punt:

“I predict Spain to win because I absolutely love the way they play football and players like David Villa, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi are world class.  I really want a team to win that can play pure football, the way it should be played and that’s what Spain do – it’s about the talent rather than just being technical. And I think it will be Spain vs Brazil in the final.”

John Beresford’s charity choice is Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK
John is supporting the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, which raises vital funds for research into bowel cancer. The Fund was set up by Stephanie Moore MBE in memory of her husband, Bobby Moore, after his death from the disease in 1993, at just 51.  For more information, visit www.bobbymorefund.org.

Mr Betdaq
We’re now onto our fourth ex-pro and we’ve seen four different World Cup Punts. Viv Anderson’s choice, England, crashed against Germany and Alan McInally will be going up against Kevin Kilbane when Holland face Brazil tomorrow ensuring that we will have at least one Punter represented in the semi-finals.

To be fair to the others, their bets were made earlier in the tournament, but I think that John Beresford’s fancies, Spain, will make the final four too. Vicente Del Bosque’s outfit almost blew it at the first hurdle before recovering to secure progress from the groups, then in the second round at Portugal’s expense.

While next opponents Paraguay’s achievement in reaching the quarters for the first time shouldn’t be overlooked, they’ve yet to face a strong team in South Africa having met one of the worst Italian outfits in memory along with Slovakia, New Zealand and Japan – with the Slovaks the only side they mustered a victory in normal time against.

They have faced the European champs twice at the World Cup previously, holding them to a draw at France ’98 before suffering a 3-1 reverse four years later in the Far East. I cannot see them securing a maiden victory here – Spain have begun to show their true colours and a purring David Villa is leading the line magnificently. 

The winners of Argentina versus Germany will provide semi-final opposition, but I’d be confident of Spain bypassing that challenge. Like John, I can see a Spain-Brazil showdown, but think that the winners in South Africa will come from South America.

Latest odds on Betdaq:
World Cup Outright:
Brazil 12/5
Spain 3/1
Argentina 5/1
Germany 7/1
Holland 17/2
Uruguay 20/1
Ghana 40/1
Paraguay 50/1

Spain v Paraguay (90 mins):
Win Market
Spain 1/2
Draw 3/1
Paraguay 15/2

To Qualify
Spain 1/5
Paraguay 4/1