Manchester United will be playing Japanese club Gamba Osaka in the semifinals of the Soccer Betting Club World Cup in Japan on Thursday. The other semifinal match on Thursday will be South American champ Liga de Quito vs. Mexico’s Pachuca. The winners will play on Sunday while the losers will play a third place match, also on Sunday.

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Manchester United has not played yet in the tournament, having received an automatic bid into the semifinals. Manchester United is coming off a scoreless draw in Premier League action against Tottenham on Sunday. Manchester United qualified for this semifinal spot in the Club World Cup by beating Chelsea in the Soccer Betting UEFA Champions League final. The match on Sunday against Gamba could be more difficult than most people believe for Manchester United simply because of the travel. Manchester United is about a 2/5 favorite on the three-way Manchester United soccer betting against Gamba while Pachuca is about a 5-4 favorite on the three-way line against Liga.

Read more on Soccer Betting Preview: Manchester United Playing in Japan

The top two teams in the Soccer Betting Premier League, Chelsea and Liverpool, resume play in the Champions League this week. This is a key week for both clubs as they meet for the first time in Premier League play on Sunday but first they have Champions League work to do on Wednesday. Liverpool faces Atletico while Chelsea plays AS Roma.

Chelsea has the easier game since they are at home while Liverpool goes on the road to face Atletico Madrid and they will not have striker Fernando Torres. The winner of Wednesday’s match would vault into the lead halfway through Group D play. It is likely that both Liverpool and Atletico will advance regardless, since PSV Eindhoven and Marseille have done very little. The match means a lot more to Atletico because reports have it that a loss on Wednesday to Liverpool would cost Atletico head coach Javier Aguirre his job.

Liverpool is expected to have Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Yossi Benayoun in the lineup on Wednesday. Dirk Kuyt will take the striking role with Torres out of the lineup. “This is the big one in our group, to win would be a very strong statement. We know Atletico are a very strong, tough side but it is another challenge and one we will rise to,” Kuyt said. Atletico’s top striker Sergio Aguero may not play due to muscle problems. Atletico will also be without defender Tomas Ujfalusi due to injury.

Soccer Betting News: Champions League Action Resumes this Week

Argentina was shocked in the Soccer Betting World Cup qualifying 1-0 by Chile on Wednesday and coach Alfio Basile decided he had seen enough and resigned the next day. The resignation was a surprise to some including the president of the AFA, Julio Grondona. The AFA tried to convince Basile to stay but it was not to be. Possible replacements for Basile include Argentina’s youth coach Sergio Batista, River Plate’s Diego Simeone and Miguel Angel Russo of San Lorenzo. Argentina has some time to find a coach since the team doesn’t play again until November 19th in a friendly against Scotland. The next game in World Cup qualifying for Argentina is in March when they play Venezuela. Argentina has a talented squad that includes Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme and Sergio Aguero but they have not played well recently. The loss to Chile was the first loss ever to Chile in official competition. With the loss Argentina dropped into a tie with Chile for third place in South America. It is not a disaster though since the top four automatically qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Since 2006, Argentina has not been that good under Basile. They have 14 wins, eight ties and six losses. They finished second to Brazil in last year’s Copa America tournament.

Soccer News: Argentina Coach Resigns after loss to Chile

Qualifying for the Soccer Betting 2010 World Cup in South Africa continues on Saturday as a number of high profile teams are in action. Portugal welcomes back Cristiano Ronaldo while Spain and England look to remain at the top of their groups. France and Germany are in need of wins in their groups.

Spain is looking good with six points in European Group 5 as they lead Turkey and Belgium by two points. Spain has not lost in 25 games and will look to continue their unbeaten streak at Estonia and Belgium.

England has started World Cup qualifying strong and could remain unbeaten with wins against Kazakhstan and Belarus. Coach Fabio Capello has left Michael Owen off the squad for those two matches while recalling Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Manchester City manager Mark Hughes was happy that Wright-Phillips was rewarded. “It is just reward for an outstanding start he has made to the resumption of his City career,” Hughes said, “He came back to a club he knows well, he is playing with a smile on his face and both Shaun and the club are benefiting from that.

Read more on Soccer Betting Preview: World Cup Qualifying Continues Saturday

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is expected to be out of action for a few months with a knee injury he suffered in Ghanas World Cup qualifier against Libya. The injury is a major blow to Chelsea who was expected to compete with Manchester United for the Soccer Betting Premier League title this season.

“He has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo an operation as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided. We expect this to happen in a week’s time,” Chelsea said, “A return to full fitness is not expected for several months.”

In other Chelsea news, the team may end up regretting the decision not to sign Robinho. He signed with Manchester City and is vowing to make Chelsea pay for not signing him this summer. The two teams meet for the first time on Saturday. It was thought that Robinho would join Chelsea after deciding to leave Real Madrid but he couldnt come to terms with Chelsea on a deal and Manchester City ended up making a better offer.

Soccer News: Chelsea’s Michael Essien out for Months

World Cup champion Italy is in action on Saturday as they begin qualification for the Soccer Betting 2010 World Cup. Italy shouldn’t have any problems as they play Cyprus on Saturday and Georgia next Wednesday. Head coach Marcello Lippi is back to try and repeat the 2006 World Cup run. “Lippi has the same charisma and the same determination as two years ago,” Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro said. “We know that we have to qualify for the next tournament as defending world champions and we will have more responsibility.” Italy should also have Luca Toni back in the lineup on Saturday.

Georgia is a team that has had to change its schedule because of the problems back home with Russia invading. They will now play against Ireland in Germany. Captain Kakha Kaladze is not happy about playing a home game at neutral site. “I and many of my teammates continue to ask ourselves why this decision was taken,” Kaladze said, “There is no civil war in Georgia. We are not dangerous. What would happen if we played in the Tbilisi stadium? Nothing. It would only be a festival for thousands of people that are suffering.”

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Spain begins their World Cup qualifying at home against Bosnia-Herzegovina but will be without forward Fernando Torres who is injured. He will also miss the match against Armenia. He was injured last Sunday as he tore his hamstring while playing for Liverpool. Spain will also be without midfielder David Silva. Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque will be looking for a strong start from his squad as the Euro champs don’t want to run into any trouble in qualifying. “We want to give our best and change our mind-set because while the European Championship was very nice, it is already gone and we need to concentrate on the present,” Spain midfielder Marcos Senna said.

Read more on Soccer News: World Cup Qualifying on Saturday

A great Euro 2008 final could be in the cards on Sunday as Spain takes on Germany. Spain has been playing superbly, unbeaten in their last 21 matches in all competitions while Germany has the big game experience. Spain could be without David Villa who is the leading goal scorer in the tournament but they have a lot of depth and Cesc Fabregas is a nice replacement.

Spain is -.5 goal (+135) with a total of 2.5 under (-150) at SBG Global
Three-way line – Spain +135, Germany +210, Draw +210

The matchups are interesting all across the field in Euro 2008. Germany’s Philip Lahm against Spain’s Sergio Ramos should be interesting and the matchup in goal could decide the game. Spain’s Iker Casillas has been excellent while Germany’s Jens Lehmann has been somewhat shaky. The midfield battle will be fascinating to watch with Germany’s Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger having to deal with offensive talents like Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso. “I don’t think there’s a clear favorite,” Alonso said.

Read more on Euro 2008 Final: Spain vs Germany

The only rematch in the Soccer Betting Euro 2008 so far will take place in Thursday’s semifinal as Russia takes on Spain.

The two teams met in group play when Spain routed Russia by a score of 4-1. Since that loss the Russians have turned it on with victories against Greece, Sweden and the Netherlands. One of the biggest reasons for the improved play for Russia has been the return of Andrei Arshavin, who missed the first two games due to suspension.

Spain is -.5 goal (Even) with a total of 2.5 under (-150) at SBG Global
Three-way line – Spain even, Russia +235, Draw +235

Spain has a high powered attack that has outscored teams in Euro 2008 but Russia doesn’t seem fazed by the offense. Russia didn’t back down from the high scoring Netherlands and doesn’t expect to slow down against Spain. “Russia will play their normal way. We don’t play defensive football, we like to attack. But it doesn’t all depend on us. Let’s see how the Spaniards do.â€� Arshavin said, “Maybe it makes it harder for us that we play such an open kind of football…

Read more on Euro 2008 Semifinal Betting Preview: Russia vs Spain

Germany subdues Turkey 3-2 in their semifinal match of the Euro 2008 at St. Jakob-Park Basel.

Turkey, who came from behind to beat Switzerland and the Czech Republic in the group stage and Croatia in the quarter-finals, appeared to have pulled off another remarkable comeback, but with seconds of normal time remaining left-back Philipp Lahm exchanged passes with Thomas Hitzlsperger before curling the ball past Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber to send Germany into raptures and into the Euro 2008 finals.

“It unleashed all that joy. It was my most important goal,� said Philip Lahm, especially with it coming immediately after a major error. “In the moments leading up to 2-2, I certainly looked bad. It happens to me, too.�

With two goals in the final five minutes, the match could have gone either way, but after three stunning comeback victories in a row for Turkey, it was Germany’s day. The changes were all in midfield or attack. Yet Turkey, so sterile for so long against Croatia, started briskly and dangerously.

Read more on Germany’s Philipp Lahm hit the game winning goal for Germany and into the 2008 Euro finals

If Turkey is able to win against Germany in the Soccer Betting semifinals of Euro 2008 it will be considered a monumental accomplishment.

Turkey will be without six players and possibly more in Wednesday’s football match. “Of course having lots of injured players is hard but the players who fill their places will give their utmost,� Turkey forward Semih Senturk said. Turkey will be without goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, who was given a red card at the end of Turkey’s win over the Czech Republic and is serving the second game of his two-game suspension. Defender Emre Asik is out and midfielders Tuncay Sanli and Arda Turan are also suspended after picking up two yellow cards each.

In addition to the suspensions, Turkey will be without forward Nihat Kahveci who is out with a thigh injury. He scored twice in the win over the Czechs. Emre Gungor is also out with an injury and Servet Cetin and Tumer Metin are doubtful. The only positive is that captain Emre Belozoglu might have a chance to play but that decision won’t be made until just before the match begins.

Germany is -1.5 goals (+115) with a total of 2.5 under at SBG Global
Three-way line: Germany -300, Turkey +750, Draw +325

Germany is in great shape on the other side. Coach Joachim Loew has everyone at his disposal for Wednesday’s match.

Read more on Euro 2008 Semifinal Betting Preview: Turkey vs Germany