World Cup Betting
England Betting
England are 11/2 third favourites to win the World Cup in South Africa. With a kind draw, a decent climate and no shortage of homegrown talent, Fabio Capello’s side go into a World Cup with the best chance of success for some years.
However, there is one major problem which could undermine England’s chances of success in South Africa: their goalkeeper.
Even now, just a matter of weeks before a World Cup tournament, England do not have an experienced, settled number One. Injury, form and selection have kept most of the contenders out of action this season. How satisfactory is it that the third favourites don’t know who they’ll select in goal for the most important football tournament there is?
Robert Green is the main contender and the West Ham stopper is 2/7 to be selected in Capello’s 23 man squad. Whilst he is a talented keeper, his team sit amongst the relegation contenders in the Premier League and he hasn’t excelled in his eight games for England to date. In October he became the first England goalkeeper ever to be sent off in an international fixture as his side lost 1-0 to Ukraine.
Whilst he may be a decent enough domestic player, he has very little experience in European or international football. Throwing him into a World Cup with under a dozen caps to his name looks a very risky strategy.
At the other end of the spectrum is the 40 year old David James. James looked to have secured the number One spot for England, starting the first thirteen internationals under Capello. However, injury has blighted James over recent months and with Capello vowing that he will only select players who are 100% fit, time is running out for James. He hasn’t started an England international since April 2009.
James is 1/4 to be selected for South Africa and if he can regain full fitness and get a decent run in Portsmouth’s side, he may well win back his starting place by the time the tournament comes around. Relying on the fitness of a 40 year old for your World Cup campaign is hardly reassuring, though.
The bookie’s third favourite to make Capello’s 23 man party is Birmingham City’s Joe Hart.
With twenty-one u21 caps, Hart is one of the most talented products of the England youth set-up. He has been in terrific form since his loan move to Birmingham City in the summer, helping the Blues to eighth in the Premier League table. Whilst young (he is just 22) he is playing regularly and has had the chance to impress Capello with his consistent performances. I expect to see Hart in an England jersey in the spring friendly matches as he stakes his claim for a place in the South Africa squad.
Of the remaining contenders, the most likely to get the nod is Manchester United’s Ben Foster.
Long touted as an England number One, everyone expected Foster to step into Edwin van der Sar’s shoes at United before being installed as his country’s stopper. However, poor form for United has seen Foster drop to third in the pecking order and it’s unlikely Capello will select someone not playing regular club football.
Foster’s days at United look numbered and he is likely to have to move to resurrect his international chances. That’s not going to happen before the summer, however, and despite some promising appearances in an England jersey it looks increasingly likely that he will miss out. You get the feeling that Capello would love Foster to be his first choice, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s selection policy isn’t making that easy. Have you seen anything in Foster’s appearances that would encourage you to play him at a World Cup? No, me neither.
Of the remaining contenders, Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland are 11/4 and 11/1 shots to make Capello’s World Cup squad. Robinson has rarely featured under Capello whilst Kirkland, whilst talented, has been hampered by injury for several years. It would take injuries to other contenders for Robinson to play in his second World Cup.
So, England go into a World Cup with goalkeeping choices including a 40 year old, an inexperienced but solid Premier League performer, an untried 22 year old and someone who is third choice for his club side. It’s a long way from the days of Gordon Banks, Ray Clemence, Peter Shilton and David Seaman, and this uncertainty and lack of outstanding performer could well hinder England’s chances of reaching the latter stages in South Africa.
