Soccer: World Cup Betting Preview

[Tinfish]

The World Cup finals officially kick off June 9, and run through the final match scheduled for July 9. Once again, it will be the most watched event in the history of sports and there will be plenty of different wagers and props on every game to satisfy gamblers.

Let’s start off by looking at the group play followed by some sound betting strategies for pre-tournament futures and bets. This is how the groups will shake out in order, with a few comments about each national team.

Group A

Germany (World Rank 19, Odds to win group -260, Odds to come in first or second in group -1000) – Squad playing at home has historically fared well. The Germans only potential problem is a less than perfect defense.

Costa Rica (26, +2075, +490) – Paolo Wanchope and a strong midfield give the Ticos a strong shot to get out of this group.

Poland (29, +370, -160) – Strong European side with good qualifying results, but has looked terrible recently in international friendlies.

Equador (39, +1100, +240) – Great at home where they play in high altitude, terrible anywhere else.

Group B

Sweden (16, +200, -250) – Loaded with top-flight European league stars Ljundberg, Larsson and Ibrahimovic, this team is a great choice to steal this group.

England (10, -140, -560) – On paper they are loaded. But with injuries to Rooney and Owen, who will put the ball in the net?

Paraguay (33, +730, +135) – A popular choice to advance, but will just miss out because of the strength of Sweden and England.

Trinidad & Tobago (47, +6600, +1600) – The question is not whether Trinidad & Tobago will advance, it is whether they will manage a single goal. Worst side in the tournament.

Group C

Argentina (9, +120, -300) – Loaded with talent, flying under the radar and, coming off a recent World Cup disappointment, heavily motivated.

Netherlands (3, +150 -225) – High-scoring team that often forgets to defend, but can put the ball in the net with the best of them.

Serbia & Montenegro (44, +875, +220) – Great defense that allowed only one goal in qualifiers, but can it score against top sides?

Ivory Coast (32, +800, +260) – Superstar Didier Drogba of Chelsea leads Ivory Coast to its first World Cup. The team will have a very tough time in this “group of death”.

Group D

Portugal (7, -120, -600) – Extremely strong team coming off a horrible showing in 2002. It should win this group easily and go far in tournament.

Iran (23, +1400, +380) – A tough, physical side that will give Mexico problems and do just enough to surprise the world and advance.

Mexico (4, +150, -325) – It will miss advancing and make headlines for not scoring goals.

Angola (57, +1600, +500) – First timer Angola enjoys the party, but leaves without a win.

Group E

Italy (13, -110, -400) – The historically slow starting Azzurri shake off the cobwebs of the match fixing scandal back home and win a tough group.

USA (5, +700, +180) – Tough defense, great goaltending, solid midfield – but can the USA score enough? Yes, they will squeak into the second round.

Czech Republic (2, +190, -200) – Similar to the Netherlands in that the Czechs are high scoring but often don’t play defense. They will be exposed too many times at the back and this will cost them.

Ghana (48, +1300, +420) – Considered by most to be the best African qualifier, this difficult group draw spells a short trip to Germany for Essien and company.

Group F

Brazil (1, -370, -1500) – Who is going to beat this team? The tournament favorite loaded to the gills with talent, Brazil’s second team could go deep into the World Cup.

Japan (18, +1750 +340) – Japan surprises and gets out of the group with great technical skill, speed, and ball control.

Croatia (23, +550, -120) – Croatia has an amazing history in the World Cup, but this team just can’t continue that success.

Australia (42, +1400, +190) – Socceroos pin their hopes on Viduka and company to make a strong showing after a 32-year absence. Not much hope.

Group G

Switzerland (35, +400, -140) – A strong defensive side that will grind you down. A great value at 4-1 to win the group.

France (8, -250, -700) – Champions in 1998 and flops in 2002, which French side will show? This team could go far if its players can get it together.

South Korea (29, +1000, +165) – Had a great showing in 2002 at home, but playing on European soil will spell an early exit for this talented Asian team.

Togo (61, +1700, +400) – Largely unknown and making its first appearance, Togo will have to really surprise to even win a game.

Group H

Ukraine (45, +230, -200) – Shevchenko leads a loaded side into the World Cup, and is a strong bet to win the group.

Spain (5, -175, -700) – Perennial underachievers should do enough to get out of this group, but don’t look for the Spaniards to go far afterwards.

Tunisia (21, +1000, +200) – Improving squad hopes to hit its stride at the right time, but tough draw sends it home in the third.

Saudi Arabia (34, +4000, +800) – This World Cup will be no different than most for Saudi Arabia, an early exit. One win would be a great achievement for this side.

Suggested Future Bets:

Brazil to win World Cup at +280
Costa Rica to advance out of Group A +490
Sweden to win Group B +200
Portugal to win Group D -120
USA to advance out of Group E +180
Switzerland to win Group G +400
Ukraine to win Group H +230


Using the group qualifiers, this is how the knockout stage will progress:

Sweden vs Costa Rica
Germany vs England
Argentina vs Iran
Netherlands vs Portugal
Italy vs Japan
Brazil vs USA
Switzerland vs Spain
France vs Ukraine

Germany vs Argentina
Sweden vs Portugal
Italy vs Spain
Brazil vs Ukraine

Brazil vs Portugal
Italy vs Argentina

Brazil vs Argentina

Brazil WINS!!

[go Yankees]

why is Group C the "group of death" and not Group E, with the nos. 2, 5 and 13 teams in the world?

[Shibby]

I'll be watching this. It's not very often I get to see soccer games and these will be great. I know some people can't stand to watch it, but it's not much different than an American football game. You two teams battling back and forth on a field to get the ball across the line on the other end. It does take some knowldege of the game though to know what looks like a possible big play and what's just a "mid-field two yard first down"(an NFL analogy).

[Shibby]

I just finished watching the Costa Rica vs Germany game. Germany won 4-2. Germany pretty much destroyed Costa Rica. Costa Rica's second goal came from an obvious off-side that the ref just missed.

[coffee-guy]

I just finished watching the Costa Rica vs Germany game. Germany won 4-2. Germany pretty much destroyed Costa Rica. Costa Rica's second goal came from an obvious off-side that the ref just missed.

VERY good game - I watched most of it while doing cardio so I wasn't listening to the details but there were some really good goal shots taken...