After some bookie-friendly results came the moment that the whole of the trading floor had dreaded this World Cup. No, not my rather drunken appearance with a Vuvuzela on Sunday night, but Portugal's second Group game versus North Korea. After a very timid start against the Ivory Coast, many were wondering if Portugal had anything real to offer in this competition, but step up the punter who bought the game's Total Goal Minutes at 132 for £30 and C.Ronaldo's GMs at 34 for £100. Now Portugal aren't expected to do much and remarkably Ronaldo hasn't scored on the international stage for two years (except with the ladies, he loves the ladies). In a re-run of one of the most famous World Cup matches in history, the sides were only separated at half-time by Raul Meireles's 29th minute goal. But a team talk of Eusebio proportions by Fergie's ex number two, Carlos Queiroz, led to Portugal producing a scintillating second half display. After goals from Simao (53), Almeida (56), Tiago (60) and Liedson (81) came the moment which every spread bettor dreams of. North Korea toyed with the ball at the back in 87th minute and it broke to an onrushing Ronaldo who only had the keeper to beat. The ball sat up, but in true Ronaldo style he controlled it with his neck before slotting home. Incredible scenes! Tiago still found time to put the final nail in the Korea DPR coffin two minutes later. Both bets yielded a total profit of £14,990, a feeling a world away from being on the plane back to see Mr. Jong-il.

This column is not about me but I'd like to take this opportunity to mention the fact that I still haven't had a winning bet on this World Cup. So far I'm 15 from 15, all losers! I'm not sure how much more I can take and I really sympathise with the guy who took a big view on France in this World Cup buying their Total Tournament Goal Minutes at 350 for a stake of £5. Me, the client and Nicolas Sarkozy are probably the only three people in the world who thought that France would actually do something this World Cup. Their squad (on paper) is still good, with a top quality keeper, left back, midfield maestro and the best player I've ever seen in the flesh (who may be past it now but just look how good he was). But what we stupidly didn't think about was their ability to implode like a schizophrenic trapped at a JLS concert. Just who do they think they are?! Realists will say that implosion was a massive possibility given the fact that their coach is a complete idiot. And it pains both myself and the client to say that those voices were right. A 0-0 draw against Uruguay put us on the back foot. A 2-0 loss to Mexico gave the bank manager itchy feet and the 2-1 defeat to the hosts gave us a consolation prize similar to coming second in a game of quick draw in Arizona around 1881. 70 goal minutes was all a team like that could muster. £1,400 the loss. Merde!

Jabulani 2010 Our Specials markets offer something different to punters and many took an interest in our 'Dodgy Keepers' market (a spread on the number of times keepers punch the ball during the tournament). With number ones expressing concern about the unpredictable flight of the ball, it was assumed by many that keepers might opt to play it safe rather than attempt to gather and risk a Green-esque moment. From the original price of 102-108 the spread rose steadily to 112-118 after a flurry of buyers. However, now well past the half way stage we have only seen 61 punches thus far. Are we wrong about the Jabulani or has it meant for a greater number of wayward efforts? Who knows! Either way the spread is now down to 94-97.


YouTube Based Banter

The flair, the stance, the strike. Ladies and gentlemen I give you the Eastern Ronaldo.