You really think it's not possible Brazil threw the Germany match?

I just saw something scarily interesting on Deadspin...

(Actually, it's on Deadspin's sister soccer/World Cup site, Screamer.)

The article itself is about an anti-gambling advertisement which has been circulating (also circulating in poster form) during this World Cup.

Several youths are chit-chatting about the Cup, and who they think will win.

Brazil and Argentina (Messi specifically, in the latter case) are gleefully touted...

Then the action turns to a kid named "Andy", who wants no part of the discussion.

Finally pressed, he says he hopes Germany wins the Cup, because his gambling-addicted father took all of Andy's savings and bet them on the Germans.

(The article basically makes note of the irony:  Now, Germany have to be considered massive favorites to win the Cup on Sunday over Argentina.)

But that PSA, though valid and wonderful, is not the reason I'm pointing in that direction.

I can make little cause as to the veracity of the photo I am about to present.

If true, it all but confirms the suspicion I've had that the match was thrown.

How do I say that?

It's a $20 bet.  $20 US, made by somebody (purportedly) on an international online sportsbook.

The bet was as follows:

NOT ONLY was Germany to win the match by exactly seven goals to one, but Sami Khedira of Germany was to score at least once during the match.




The odds given this gambler for that action were TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN TO ONE.

He just won over $46,000 -- on $20.

--

Now, if this is real (and, as of the moment, I have no veracity on it), imagine the trillion-dollar underground industry in Asia...

Yeah...