Curacao v Ivory Coast: Back busy keeper Room at 9/5 & 5/1 Bet Builder treble

Curacao keeper to be busy again

Click here for Curacao v Ivory Coast odds
Thursday 25 June, 21:00 kick-off
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Live on BBC Two

A goal against Germany and then a point against Ecuador, it's been a dream debut for Curacao so far, could they go one further against Ivoery Coast? Odds of 17/118.00 on an almighty upset Curucao victory suggests not.

Ivory Coast are 2/131.15 to win and confirm their first ever place in the World Cup knockouts although a draw, which is 15/28.50 here, will secure second place in the group.

It's been a story of late goals for the Elephants so far, scoring a last-minute winner to beat Ecuador but then conceding in the 94th minute to lose 2-1 to Germany - and who knows how the pressure will tell if Curucao produce another reaguard action.

Germany ran out 7-1 winners after an even half hour, but against Ecuador goalkeeper Eloy Room set a new World Cup record as he made a whopping 15 saves - Ecuador hitting the target on those from 27 goal attempts.

It does seem unlikely that Curacao will be able to hold out again, and once they do go behind they tend to lose pretty heavily - losing by 3+ goals in three of their last five games, although ironically they've scored in four of those so a heavy loss could actually promote the chances of both teams to score - which is 31/202.55.

But Room will be busy either way - whether that's making a ton of saves again or picking the ball out of his net, or both! So with all the match odds skewed in Ivory Coast's favour there's better options for a main bet with the Curacao keeper.

The Africans hit the target with just six of their 24 attempts at goal so far this tournament, and if their lack of clinical finishing continues then Room will be able to keep out a decent percentage of what should be another bumper total - Curacao have already allowed 53 efforts on goal already. Room could have another busy day.

There's an OddsBoost on the Sportsbook for Room to have 8+ saves at 6/17.00 for those wanting to go big, and given the last two games you couldn't rule that out.

Back 12/53.40 Curacao hero & 5/16.00 Bet Builder treble

Amad Diallo is 1/12.00 anytime goalscorer and Franck Kessie 9/52.80 as the two Ivory Coast players to find the net so far - but maybe this is the highly-rated Yan Diomande's time to shine and score a goal at 11/102.11.

Livano Comenencia scored Curacao's historic goal against Germany and is 11/112.00 to score again - he leads the team in both shots and shots on target so looks thier main man - especially if Jurgen Locardia is injured.

It's always fun backing the underdogs and Comenencia has been excellent - hitting the target in both games so far, so the 12/53.40 on Comenencia to have 1+ shot on target again really appeals.

Comenencia is also 6/52.20 to have 2+ shots, which has also landed in both games and is a safer play for a single or as part of a Bet Builder.

One of the more eye-popping stats so far of the World Cup is that Tahith Chong leads the way in fouls drawn with 11 (as of the end of Tuesday's games) and he's 4/51.80 to suffer 3+ fouls again.

He obviously knows how to draw a foul, often as Curacao try to break or hold the ball up - and if they frustrate Ivory Coast for any length of time then Chong could keep that run going.

Curacao have given away more fouls than Ivory Coast (21-17) but when you consider the Blue Wave have hardly had the ball those numbers aren't too bad - plus they share fouls around more, with Ivory Coast having the only two players in either squad with four fouls so far.

One of those is skiper Franck Kessie, who will be leading from the front, in that engine room battle ground, and almost assured of another 2+ foul outing at 5/61.84.

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