Canada draws first knockout blood; Henry up to second

The knockouts are under way, and the first ball was an odd one for Henry: his Canada beat his own South Africa 1-0. With both teams his, he was always sending one into the last 16 and one home - and it was Canada that went through. The last-16 bonus lifts Canada’s haul to +10 and hauls Henry up to second on 48, quite the arc for a player who sat bottom of the table a week ago.

Two more R32 ties play today, and both are loaded. Emily’s Brazil meets her own Japan - another all-their-own clash, so one of her two strongest knockout teams is guaranteed out by tonight. And Tega’s Germany faces Richard’s Paraguay, the favourite’s tier-4 against Tega’s best hope of a deep run.

The table: Richard 61, still well clear, then Henry 48, Sophie 48, Pete 46, Emily 45, Ella 42, Nichola 37 and Tega 34.

Odds watch

The first knockout result hardened the favourites. Richard firmed to ~3.55 (28%, +5.1pp) on Argentina, now back atop the title board at 25.7%, with Ella ~4.4 (Spain, 22%) and Nichola ~5.3 (France, 19%) the others in the huddle and Emily ~9.4 the day’s other riser. Then the familiar split: Henry climbed to second on the table but drifted hardest in the betting (8.5%, -4.8pp) - Canada banks real points but won’t win the World Cup, so as the genuine contenders firmed, his price eased. Tega drifts to ~57 on the longest board, her run resting on Germany getting past Paraguay later today.