FOOTBALL: SPREAD BETTING

IF THE Netherlands are confirm the pre-tournament whispers they must do it tonight with the Group E whipping boys, South Korea, providing the opposition.

Their goalless draw against Belgium was less than heartening as Marc Overmars confirmed many a prejudice in disappearing after being kicked a couple of times while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink showed a lack of true international class so it's up to the returning Bergkamp to set the seeds on their way.

Buy the Dutch supremacy and take a look at South Korea's Performance numbers. They are unlikely to keep a clean sheet, or score, and with bookings seemingly inevitable they could end up with a negative number.

A buy on the total tournament goals for the Netherlands - Sporting quote 6.8-7.6 - may prove on the low side come 10pm.

Who isn't looking forward to Iran's collision with The Great Satan, a.k.a. the USA? Iran conceded 29 free-kicks against Yugoslavia yet managed not to receive a card of any colour. Fifa's instructions to referees are changing daily and that clean record could change dramatically tomorrow.