World Cup 2010 betting - Ivory Coast vs Portugal In-Running Commentary

A disappointing game. This World Cup has failed to live up to expectations so far and today`s dull display sums it up really. Portugal are now 35/1 with Paddy Power to lift the trophy this summer, while the Ivory Coast follow at 50/1. Spain remain favourites at 4/1.

FULL TIME: Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal

92.36: All sorts of late pressure from the Elephants. Corner kick.

90.50: Drogba played in but decides to cross rather than shoot himself and finds no-one. Unselfish, but that was the Ivorian`s moment.

88.30: Simao`s corner is poor and it doesn`t even reach the near post. 12/1 now for an Ivory Coast win, with Portugal at 8/1 and the draw 2/11 with Totesport.

83.19: The Ivory Coast break but Dindane is offside and another attack fizzles out without any work from the goalkeeper. Both stoppers enjoying peaceful nights so far. Total goals now bought at 0.2 and sold at 0.4 with Sportingindex.

81.15: It`s now just 1/2 that we will not be seeing a goal in this one and the tournament has been disappointing in that regard. Whether that is down to the ball,the altitude, or just bad luck, we have to hope it will pick up shortly.

79.31: Portugal`s main man lines up one of his trademark free kicks but can`t get it to dip quite enough and fires it over the bar. Totesport now go 4/1 that his side can find a winner, while the Ivory Coast are generally 7/1.

71.34: Ronaldo has the ball in the net but the whistle had long since blown for a Bruno Alves foul. Portugal are 4/1 to win this 1-0, while the Ivory Coast are 11/2 to nick it themselves.

68.03: Drogba`s appearance has seen his side`s odds shorten to 4/1, while Portugal are now 11/4 with Betfred and Bluesquare. Kalou, by the way, was the man who made way for his Chelsea team-mate.

65.00: The arrival of Didier Drogba is greeted with a roar of approval and the buzz of vuvuzelas. Ronaldo, however, is still favourite to score the next goal, at 7/1 with Bet365.

61.20: Ivory Coast out to 9/2 on with Betfred, while Portugal drift to 12/5 with Canbet. The draw is the favourite result at 10/11 with Stan James and Bluesquare.

57.40: Chances for both sides as Liedson`s header is comfortably saved before Gervinho`s cross is deflected just over.0-0 lengthens to 11/8 as the game looks as if it could (touch wood) get exciting.

54.55: It`s 1/11 now on Betfair on Under 2.5 total goals and the exciting game we had hoped for just isn`t materialising.

53.28: Kalou shoots from outside the box, looking to place it in the corner, but the shot lacks the power to trouble the keeper.

49.51: Didier Drogba is warming up on the sidelines. Not good news for Portugal, for whom Deco whips in a great free-kick that somehow manages to evade everyone in the box. Ladbrokes and Canbet now offer 7/4 on the men in green and white.

47.53: Close from the Ivory Coast as Kalou just fails to get his head a good cross from the right. More open start to the second half but 0-0 still only 11/5 on Betfair.

At half-time, the Ivory Coast are 4/1 with Betfred, while Portugal are generally 6/4, with the draw at 11/8 with Bet365.

Half-time: Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal

44.35: Plenty of noise in the stadium, especially when Ronaldo touches the ball, but it`s now only 13/5 on Betfair that we won`t see a single goal.

42.10: Ivory Coast corner swings in over the head of Toure. Portugal look to break but the passing is getting sloppy as we approach half-time. Drogba must be getting restless on the Elephants` bench.

40.23: It may take a moment of individual magic to break the deadlock here and if anyone can do it, it`s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still 9/2, now with Bet365, to do the honours.

36.23: Now 4/1 with Boylesports that the game finishes Over 2.5 goals, with Sportingindex selling at 1.35 and buying at 1.55. Still few chances.

32.13: Kalou dancing around with the ball but can`t find an incisive pass and Portugal resorting to long-ball tactics, which is quite unlike them.

30.03: Not much action to tell you about after a bright start. The draw is now 7/4 on Betfair and 0-0 is now the favourite score on the exchanges at 4/1.

26.54: Still quite feisty as Eboue goes down under a rude challenge from Pedro Mendes. Sportingindex sell bookings at 85 and buy at 89 (10 points per yellow and 25 per red).

22.32: Things are heating up now as Ronaldo and Demel both enter the referee`s book. It could turn into one of those games if they`re not careful out there. 5/1 on Betfair that the game stays goalless.

19.00: The Ivory Coast definitely on top so far and Portugal seem to be struggling to get on the ball. Still 6/5 to win it on Betfair.

14.53: The World Cup so far has not seen many particularly open games but there are already signs that this could be a real spectacle. Both sides attacking well, and Kalou shoots just over the bar. 11/5 on Betfair that we see at least three goals.

10.48: A great cheer goes up as Ronaldo takes control of the ball and the Real Madrid man turns and hits a thunderbolt onto the post from almost thirty yards out. Stunning strike, but still 0-0 and 5/1 with Boylesports to stay that way.

07.50: Portugal coming into the game now. Their captain strikes a free kick into the wall from a long way out. 1-0 to his side is the favourite score at 11/2 on Betfair, fllowed closely by 1-1 at 6/1.

05.04: The Ivory Coast have started the brighter of the two sides but they are still 16/5 on Betfair to cause an upset. Ronaldo, unsurprisingly, has been made 9/2 favourite with Paddy Power to open the scoring this afternoon.

01.53: We`re under way and those expecting a goal-fest today may be disappointed, as the game is 1/2 on Betfair to finish under 2.5 goals. Open start so far, though.

14.50: The first thing you`ll notice is that Didier Drogba, cleared to play in an arm cast earlier today, is not in the starting line-up for the Ivory Coast, who may lack fire-power without the Chelsea star.

Team news:

Ivory Coast: 1-Boubacar Barry; 21-Emmanuel Eboue, 4-Kolo Toure, 20-Guy Demel, 17-Siaka Tiene; 10-Gervais Kouassi, 5-Didier Zokora, 19-Yaya Toure, 9-Cheik Tiote, 8-Salomon Kalou, 15-Aruna Dindane.

Portugal: 1-Eduardo; 3-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Bruno Alves, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 23-Fabio Coentrao; 8-Pedro Mendes 16-Raul Meireles, 20-Deco, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 10-Danny, 9-Liedson.

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

14.49: Cristiano Ronaldo`s Portugal take on the Ivory Coast today in Group G. Portugal are 6/5 favourites for the game, leaving the Ivory Coast at 3/1, with the draw at 12/5 with Ladbrokes.