FOOTBALL: SPREAD BETTING

THERE WAS little to suggest in their match against France that South Africa will set the nets billowing against Denmark today. Bafana Bafana had just two shots, neither on target, against the hosts. That makes IG's quote of 2.4-2.9 for their total goals in the tournament a must-sell. It is so out of sync with Sporting's opinion - 1.5-2.0 - that a buy with them results in a profit of 0.4 made by exerting no more energy than that required to make two phone calls.

The cushy group France have found themselves in means Barthez and Djorkaeff are favourites in Sporting's "End to End Index" which pairs a goalkeeper with an outfield player and rewards a clean sheet or a goal with a point. Barthez should have have no problem with his part of the equation, so it's up to Djorkaeff to keep his end up.

Sporting clients have a chance to prove themselves shameless, getting a better price on the "Sheikh and Vac" market if they sing the advert. It's an impossible market to gauge as it takes in Saudi Arabia hitting the bar, headers in their own area and the number of minutes their substitutes are on. Your betting strategy may need shaking up but this will hardly put the freshness back.