Brazil, Ivory Coast clash in Group G

Soccer Betting Lines

06/19/2010 - Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The schedule gets no easier for the Ivory Coast as it gets ready to face Brazil in its second Group G match at Soccer City on Sunday in the FIFA World Cup.

A 0-0 draw against Portugal in the opening game has left the Ivorians with one point, while Brazil survived a surprisingly tough match with North Korea to win 2-1, leaving it on top of the group.

"Every team has to play efficiently, in attack and in defense," said Brazil manager Dunga. "Overall we played well, especially in the second half, because in the first half we didn't get our game together and didn't manage to pass the ball quickly."

Brazil's first-half performance was less than impressive, but it did enough in the second half to win and can now take control of the group with another victory on Sunday.

There were few chances for either side in the Ivory Coast's game with Portugal, but manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes that his Ivory Coast team played well enough to take all three points.

"It was a very tense match, but honestly I think that if one team was going to win it, it should have been us as we had more chances," said Eriksson. "I'm satisfied with our performance, our discipline and our organization throughout the 90 minutes. I would have preferred to take three points, but Portugal are a great team and holding them to a draw is satisfying in itself."

Much of the focus leading up to the opening game was on star striker Didier Drogba, whose status was uncertain because of a broken arm suffered on June 4.

"As for Drogba, he told me that he'd prefer to stay on the bench, but that if I needed him I could count on him," Eriksson said. "That's exactly what I did."

Drogba didn't start the game but he entered it in the 66th minute, although his impact was minimal.

It has yet to be determined how much Drogba will play against Brazil, but if the African side wants to take anything from this game, they need to be better in attack.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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