International friendly betting - Republic of Ireland vs Paraguay

For many teams the friendly games being played this week provide an opportunity to finalise plans for the World Cup this summer by trying out fringe players, different formations, different strategies, etc. For Ireland, such games are merely reminders of what they lost at the hands of France and the hand of Thierry Henry and a chance to give their fans something to cheer about before a summer of watching others take place in sport`s greatest competition.

Paraguay, however, will be in South Africa come June and showed in their qualifying campaign that they can be a force to be reckoned with as they beat both of South America`s leading lights, Brazil and Argentina. Despite this, home advantage and the likelihood of a strong side being named has seen Ireland made favourites for the game at 8/5 (bet £50 to win £80 profit) with Boylesports, leaving Paraguay as underdogs at 19/10, with the draw at 9/4.

As the match odds show, the game is expected to be close, and the bookmakers have made a 1-1 draw the favourite score at 6/1. A 1-0 win is 7/1 with Victor Chandler for both teams and 2-0 to the hosts is 12/1, with Canbet offering 13/1 on the same score for Paraguay. The same firm are also best price on 0-0 at 15/2 but one thing neither side lacks is firepower, with players of the calibre of Robbie Keane, Oscar Cardozo and Roque Santa Cruz all expected to make appearances.

Keane, the Republic of Ireland`s captain and all-time leading scorer, has been made favourite to open the scoring tonight at 6/1. The Tottenham star has spent much of this season on loan at Celtic, where he scored a very impressive twelve goals in only sixteen appearances. He is followed in the betting by Oscar Cardozo of Benfica and Roque Santa Cruz, who scored the winning penalty in Paraguay`s last match, both at 13/2 with Bet365.

The half-time/full-time market further reflects how evenly matched today`s teams are. The bookmakers offer 4/1 on draw/draw and on either side to win both halves and draw/Ireland is slightly shorter at 5/1 than draw/Paraguay at 11/2.

Paraguay may be going to the World Cup, unlike Ireland, but go as real outsiders, priced at 80/1 for a shock triumph in South Africa this summer.

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