A powerful and fluid display from Maradona’s men has seen Argentina’s price outright for the World Cup slashed once again.

As long as 10/1 before the tournament kicked off, they’re now in to 5/1. Although some might argue that South Korea are not of a high enough standard to test the better teams in the competition, many big hitters have found the opposite to be true so far - just ask Spain, France, England and Brazil, who all struggled to avoid embarrassment in their first games.

History tells us that World Cup winners do not have to start the tournament as they intend to finish it, and picking up momentum for the knockout stages is more important than performances in the group stage itself. This point will help England, France and Spain to come to terms with their precarious positions, but Argentina appear to have clicked early. Hopefully not too early, as happened in 2006.

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The fluid counter attack which led to their fourth goal, and Gonzalo Higuain’s hat-trick, summed up what this team are trying to achieve. Any doubts regarding Maradona’s coaching skills and aptitude will have been put to bed for the time being, certainly in Argentina anyway.

So they’re now joint favourites at 5/1 with Brazil and Spain. From what we’ve witnessed so far, neither of the other two teams could cope with their attacking flair and movement, so this price may only get shorter as the tournament progresses.

World Cup Outright Odds

Trying to pick where the goals might come from in Sunday’s World Cup action is about as easy as finding a politician with a clean expense account….

Sunday opens with England’s Group C opponents Algeria and Slovenia meeting on Polokwane. Algeria’s form in 2010 is as unpredictable as Lady GaGa’s wardrobe with wins over Uruguay and the Ivory Coast interspersed with heavy defeats to the Republic of Ireland, Malawi and Serbia.

The Desert Foxes’ entire strike force scored just 14 goals last season, and their second highest international goalscorer is defender Antar Yahia with five goals. If you combine that with the fact that opponents Slovenia only conceded four goals in ten European qualifying matches, I’d think more than twice before backing an Algerian goalscorer in this one.

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Rafik Djebbour is probably the most likely to find the net, although there won’t be many tempted by the 200/1 on the AEK Athens striker winning the Golden Shoe. If you fancy a bit of a punt, Portsmouth left-back Nadir Belhadj could offer a little bit of value at 15/2 in the ‘anytime goalscorer’ market.

I really fancy Slovenia to cause one or two upsets in South Africa and striker Milivoje Novakovic is the man to provide the goals. The Cologne striker has 18 international goals and is 11/2 to open the scoring in this match. At 125/1, with 3 goals being enough for an ‘each way’ pay-out in the tournament top goalscorer market in 2006, Novakovic may also be a cheeky outside bet to win the Golden Shoe.

Coach Matjaz Kek also has the option of 21 year old Groningen striker Tim Matavz from the bench, and 15/2 on the youngster scoring the last goal of the game also has some appeal.

Sunday’s second match sees an interesting clash between Serbia and Ghana.

Whilst Ghana matches invariable feature goals - they haven’t featured in a competitive 0-0 draw for 29 matches - it is difficult to pinpoint where they might come from. The Black Stars will almost certainly concede - they shipped four to a poor Japan side recently - but the 125/1 against their leading striker, Asamoah Gyan, top scoring in South Africa demonstrates how hard goals may be to come by.

Don’t back their midfield to pop up with goals either - the entire midfield only scored 6 league goals between them in the 2009/10 season - and three of those were from Portsmouth’s Kevin Price Boateng.

Serbia, however, have some excellent attacking talent and coach Raddy Antic is likely to pair the giant Nikola Zigic with Ajax’s Marko Pantelic. Birmigham City’s newest recruit, Zigic, gives Serbia a real aerial presence up front, whilst Pantelic scored 16 goals in just 23 starts for Ajax last season.

Pantelic is your best bet in the Top Goalscorer market at 100/1, although a set-piece might do for Ghana in what promises to be a close game. Centre halves Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic are 25/1 to open the scoring.

In a mouthwatering evening fixture, three time champions Germany take on Australia in Durban.

Far from the pragmatic, efficient Germany of old, the 2010 squad looks youthful and attack-minded. With Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira expected to anchor the midfield, the attaching quartet of Lukas Podolski, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Miroslav Klose will provide quite a potent offensive threat.

Miroslav Klose is a true international football great. His 48 goals in 96 internationals is as good a record as anyone, and ten of those goals have come at he highest level. Klose netted five times in 2002 and then won the Golden Shoe in his ‘home’ World Cup of 2006. With three or four goals likely to be enough for an each-way payout, I’d be backing Klose each-way at 30/1 all day long. It’s one of the value bets of the tournament.

Australia are likely to be missing influential midfielder Tim Cahill for this clash, which will make goals tough to come by. With just three strikers in their squad - including Nikita Rukavytsya who has never scored an international goal and Harry Kewell who will lead the line for the Socceroos - it’s difficult to see where their goals may come from.

Brett Emerton may be the best chance of an Aussie goal, and the Blackburn midfielder is 22/1 to score first. I expect Germany to win this one to ‘nil’, however.

World Cup Player Previews

World Cup Betting - Top Goalscorer Odds

There are some mouthwatering matches on Sunday with our first chance to see two of England’s Group C opponents, before two of the Three Lions oldest sporting foes go head to head….

Slovenia v Algeria

Any Slovenian fan who watched Algeria’s catastrophic 3-0 defeat to lowly Malawi at the African Cup of Nations would have marked this down as the easiest three points the central European minnows would ever earn in international football. The Desert Foxes were simply awful that day and their narrow elimination of eventual Cup of Nations winners Egypt to qualify for South Africa looked like a terrible travesty.

Even though Algeria recovered to reach the semi-finals in Angola, their performances left much to be desired. They score just one goal in the group stages before eventually reaching the semi-finals where they had three men sent off in a bad-tempered 4-0 defeat to Egypt.

The Algerian’s main problem is that most of their squad play very few games for their club. Playmaker Karim Ziani played just 5 matches for Wolfsburg last season whilst their entire strikeforce scored just 14 club goals last season between them. Coach Rabah Saadane has also axed his captain, Yazid Mansouri, citing the 32 year olds’ poor form.

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Slovenia, however, have a tight knit, settled squad and team. The only real surprise in their World Cup party was the inclusion of youngster Tim Matavz after a promising season with FC Groningen and Matjaz Kek has an experienced squad of hard-working professionals.

I actually fancy Slovenia to be one of the surprise packages of 2010 and the 10/1 on them being eliminated at the quarter-final stage looks an interesting long-shot. All is not well in the Algeria camp and the 5/4 on a Slovenia win is very tempting.

Serbia v Ghana

Ghana were one of the more impressive sides at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year and many people felt the Black Stars were Africa’s best hope of reaching the later stages of the tournament. However, the loss of Michael Essien to injury cannot be overstated and Milovan Rajevac’s side will do well to emulate their last 16 performance in 2006.

What you will guarantee with Ghana is goals. They haven’t been involved in a 0-0 draw in 29 competitive matches and so the 11/8 about 3 or more goals is good value. Their defence is suspect, even though they have two hard working central midfielders in Steven Appiah and Derek Boateng protecting the back four. A youthful strike force also has potential with Asamoah Gyan likely to lead the line with NAC Breda striker Matthew Amoah in reserve.

Serbia are many people’s dark horse for the tournament and feature a number of high profile stars from top European sides. Nemanja Vidic, Danko Lazovic, Nikola Zigic, Branislav Ivanovic and Dejan Stankovic have plenty of Champions League experience and they boast a highly experienced coach in ex-Luton player Raddy Antic.

However, Serbia’s recent form has been indifferent, and they also arrived at the World Cup in 2006 as many people’s tip, before being losing all three group matches. This is a tough one to call - bet on goals and, perhaps, a narrow Serbia triumph at 6/5.

Germany v Australia

Two of England’s oldest foes - and possible last 16 opponents - meet in Durban in an intriguing tie. Germany field a younger side than they have done for many years, although will still be replying on the experienced Miroslav Klose to provide the goals. Youngster Mesut Ozil could be a World Cup revelation as might Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, also expected to start in an attacking line-up.

Australia will once again be solid and organised, but the Socceroos may have problems finding goals to add to their graft. With Harry Kewell playing as their main striker, the midfield are going to have to chip in with goals and the likely absence of Tim Cahill for this game could cost Pim Verbeek’s side dearly.

Germany to win to nil at 13/10 looks like decent value. And, with 10 of Australia’s last 19 competitive matches being goalless at half time, the 9/5 on offer on this match being 0-0 at the interval looks like a decent bet. The draw/Germany on the half time/full time market at 3/1 also looks good value.

World Cup Match Previews

World Cup Match Betting Odds

Saturday is a terrific day for fans of the great strikers as we get to see three of the top eight men fancied to win the Golden Boot.

Diego Maradona looks likely to pair the La Liga duo of Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi up front for Argentina’s opener against Nigeria. With support from the flanks in the form of the supremely talented Angel di Maria and the Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez, there may well be goals for the strikers in this one.

Whilst most of the focus will be on the diminutive Barcelona genius Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain is the more interesting of the two front men. A more direct, traditional striker, the 22 year old scored an astonishing 27 goals in just 28 Real Madrid starts last season. He is great value at 18/1 to win the World Cup Golden Shoe, a price that will surely tumble with a goal or two in this match. However, Higuain will win just his sixth cap against Nigeria and so is lacking in international experience - especially on this sort of stage.

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Messi’s 34 goals last season won him the La Liga Pichichi award for top goalscorer and the world’s best player is 10/1 second favourite to top score in South Africa. There remain suspicions however that Maradona hasn’t quite worked out how to incorporate his natural heir into his starting XI. With defenders likely to concentrate on stopping the 22 year old playmaker, I think there may end up being more chances for his strike partner over the next few weeks.

The 9/2 on Higuain opening the scoring looks the best pick, with the 7/1 on the Real Madrid man scoring two or more goals another interesting bet.

The other of the three leading strikers to feature on Saturday is Wayne Rooney as England open their campaign against the USA in Rustenburg.

Here’s a trivia question for you. Which England player has scored the most international goals since 1 January 2009. Rooney? Lampard? Defoe? No. England’s top striker during that period has been Peter Crouch.

Indeed, Rooney is only joint second in the list as he and Frank Lampard have each scored 6 goals in the last 18 months. Jermain Defoe is just one behind on 5, with Steven Gerrard on 2.

Rooney is 11/1 third favourite to emulate Gary Lineker in 1986 and win the World Cup Golden Shoe. He is England’s talisman, and certainly the Three Lions’ best chance of progressing far into the tournament. However, it should be remembered that Rooney hasn’t scored a goal in a major international tournament since the Euros in 2004 and England’s goals over the last couple of years have been spread around the side more than you might think.

Crouch has already outscored Rooney 3-0 for England in 2010 and so, as ridiculous as it might sound, the 40/1 on the lanky spurs striker winning the Golden Shoe might actually represent better value than backing Rooney.

With Paddy Power offering your money back on losing bets if Rooney scores at any time in the England v USA match, a first goalscorer bet on Crouch at 11/2 or on a more attack-minded Steven Gerrard at 15/2 look great value.

In the third match of the day, South Korea take on Greece in Port Elizabeth.

South Korea have been on a terrific run of form over recent months and I really think they have been underestimated in group B. They have immense enthusiasm and no shortage of international experience, although they may well be without leading striker Lee Dong-Gook for this clash.

Greece will play their defensive, organised game that worked so brilliantly for them at Euro 2004, although bear in mind that on Greece’s one and only previous World Cup qualification they lost 4-0, 4-0 and 2-0.

Mind you, Theofanis Gekas was Europe’s top scorer in World Cup qualification and is 6/1 to open the scoring here.

I would be astounded if Greece score enough goals to do well in the tournament, and the 150/1 on Europe’s leading marksman in qualification gives you some idea of the task facing Otto Rehhagel’s side. I think South Korea might well make the knockouts, and Monaco’s Chu-Young Park is the pick of their frontmen. Back Park to be South Korea’s first goalscorer at 9/2.

World Cup Player Previews

World Cup Betting - Top Goalscorer Odds

European Champions should Roll Over Swiss

Spain, so often the ‘nearly’ men of European football, finally came good at Euro 2008 and have hardly put a foot wrong since. Though surprisingly beaten by the USA in last year’s Confederations Cup, Vicente Del Bosque’s side strolled through qualification for the World Cup with an unblemished record and their form in recent warm-up games suggests they have every chance of justifying favouritism in South Africa. Let’s face it, any team that can afford to leave the likes of Cesc Fabregas on the bench has to be pretty special, though the want-away Arsenal skipper may get a rare start alongside Xavi in Spain’s engine room against Switzerland if the latter’s Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta fails to recover from a muscle strain picked up in the Spaniards’ 6-0 demolition of Poland last week.

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That game saw the return to action of Fernando Torres, but the Liverpool striker still isn’t a certain starter against the Swiss with David Villa in irrepressible form, and it’s not as if Del Bosque doesn’t have options in what is arguably the strongest all-round squad, on paper, in the tournament. If Spain does have a weakness, it could be at the heart of their defence where Carles Puyol isn’t getting any quicker and Gerard Pique can be prone to the odd lapse in concentration, but it will take a better team than the Swiss to exploit them.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has won the Champions’ League twice as a coach but has his hands full if he is going replicate that success on the international stage with Switzerland, especially with doubts surrounding the fitness of captain Alexander Frei. Frei is the golden boy of Swiss football and scored five times in qualification, as did Blaise Nkufo, as they topped their section ahead of Greece and Latvia. Their form has been patchy lately, to say the least. Defeats by Costa Rica, Uruguay and Norway were glossed over somewhat by a draw with Italy but their main problem is both of their first-choice strikers have been around a long time without suggesting they are in the top bracket and, with playmaker Hakan Yakin also in the veteran stage, it’s unlikely the Swiss are going to see enough of the ball to trouble Spain.

The Spanish to win by exactly two goals (11/4) looks the bet here and this is another of Paddy Power’s Bore War! Money-Back Specials in which losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast singles will be refunded in the game ends 0-0.

World Cup Betting Preview - Why Spain will win the World Cup

World Cup Betting Odds - Spain v Switzerland

It’s the turn of Groups B and C to take centre stage on Saturday as England finally begin their eleventh attempt to regain the World Cup.

England v USA

You would have had to be holed up in a nuclear bunker somewhere not to know that England finally begin their World Cup campaign this Saturday when they face the USA in the opening Group C fixture.

England are firm favourites to win this match - as short as 1/2 in some places - but there is a suspicion that many people have underestimated the USA. They are just six places below England in the FIFA rankings, and beat Spain last year on their way to the Confederations Cup Final.

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Saying that, the USA’s recent form has been shaky and a defence featuring representatives from Watford, Chivas and Rennes doesn’t look terribly watertight. Bear in mind also that in 2006 no team from outside Western Europe beat a Western European nation in open play, and so we can safely back England to avoid defeat in this one.

England’s preparations for the tournament have been beset by injury and selection issues, but by Saturday evening we will have some idea of how Fabio Capello is going to set his England side out. With Gareth Barry missing from this match through injury, there will have to be some pack-shuffling by the England coach with Steven Gerrard expected to play a more central role.

England haven’t won all three group games at a World Cup since 1982, and so a draw in this one wouldn’t be a bad result. 0-0 is 17/2 and 1-1 is 6/1.

South Korea v Greece

In one of the more open groups, the battle is surely on to decide who will join 1978 and 1986 champions Argentina in the knockout stages.

To say that Greece’s European Championships win in 2004 was an aberration would be like saying that current fiscal situation is ‘a bit of a problem’. A team that has failed to win any of their other 12 matches in a major tournament came from nowhere to take the 2004 title and Greece have similar hopes ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

The last time Greece qualified was in 1994 when they failed to score and were spanked 4-0 by both Argentina and Bulgaria, and 2-0 by Nigeria. Despite being more organised than they were then, I fear for Greece’s chances again in 2010.

I think that South Korea have been underestimated in the betting ahead of the 2010 tournament. They are 9/4 to qualify from Group B which looks far too long to me. Whilst they may not be the most talented group of players in South Africa, their industry and stamina is a key factor and they have huge experience with eight of their squad boasting fifty caps or more.

Even though they haven’t beaten a European side at a World Cup outside their own country, I think they are terrific value at 9/5 to overcome an ageing, uninspired Greek side.

Argentina v Nigeria

And so, the month long rollercoaster ride that will be Argentina’s World Cup campaign gets under way in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon. Whilst they boast one of the most talented squads in the tournament, with Diego Maradona in charge, anything could happen….

Maradona’s squad and team selection bring a new meaning to the word ‘bizarre’. Defender Ariel Garce made the plane to South Africa after Maradona saw the Colon defender at an Argentinean World Cup winner’s party in a dream, whilst the former number 10 has put a lot of faith in the 35 year old Juan Veron and the 36 year old Martin Palermo.

Maradona’s plan is to play four centre backs in defence (Samuel, Heinze, Otamendi and Demichelis) with Veron and Mascherano flanked by the talented Angel di Maria and Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez. Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain have been preferrred up front to Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito and Kun Aguero.

Whilst Argentina may be the 7/1 third favourites, I just think that Maradona’s erratic and bizarre management will ultimately be their undoing. Would we give England any chance if Gazza was in charge of the national side?

Nigeria have failed to capitalise on promising performances in the World Cups of 1994 and 1998 and looked a shadow of their former selves at the African Nations Cup in 2010 - even if they did reach the semi-finals. The surprise sacking of coach Shaibu Amodu has left new manager Lars Lagerback with little time to organise his squad and the loss of inspirational midfielder John Obi Mikel has been another blow.

Whilst the Super Eagles have some decent quality up front - Everton’s Yakubu, former Newcastle favourite Obafemi Martins, Peter Odemwingie and the Portsmouth pair of John Utaka and Kanu - their defence looks to be their main weakness.

Argentina should win this one reasonably comfortably and I like the 11/2 on a 2-0 win. Mind you, with Maradona in charge, it’s impossible to predict what might happen next…

World Cup Match Previews

World Cup Match Betting Odds

So, after what seems like an eternity of waiting, the 19th FIFA World Cup finally kicks off in South Africa on Friday. After a change for the 2006 tournament, the host nation (rather than the defending champions) will play in the opening match and so the 2010 tournament kicks off in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon with South Africa versus Mexico.

South Africa v Mexico

In eighteen previous World Cups, the host nation has never failed to get past the first round of the tournament, although 2010 could well be the year when that cycle is finally broken. Lest we forget, had they not been hosting the tournament, there is no way that South Africa would have been anywhere near the Finals and FIFA rank Bafana Bafana as the 83rd best team in the world.

Home advantage will clearly help South Africa, as it did in an encouraging performance at the 2009 Confederations Cup. Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side reached the semi-finals last year before a narrow defeat to Brazil and there is much hope that the hosts can get a good early result and build up some momentum.

However, the fact remains that South Africa simply don’t boast the quality needed to escape from Group A. 16 of the squad ply their trade in a weak domestic league, whilst the remainder - with the exception of Everton star Steven Pienaar - play for second rate European outfits including Genk, Maccabi Haifa and Portsmouth.

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Mexico, on the other hand, have a decent World Cup record, having qualified for the knockout stages at the last five World Cups. They have generally underperformed in tournaments outside Mexico, but they should be strong enough to see off South Africa, even with their passionate home support.

The hosts’ problem will be goals. They have failed to score in 7 of their last 11 competitive matches and their strikeforce of Bernard Parker, Kaltengo Mphela and Siyabonga Nomvethe isn’t going to strike fear into anyone. They have also failed to win 9 of their last 11 matches against teams ranked in FIFA’s top 50.

Home advantage has skewed the odds for this match in South Africa’s favour, and so a Mexican win at 6/4 looks like absolutely terrific value.

Uruguay v France

France are no strangers to stunning underperformance at a World Cup. As reigning champions in 2002, they failed to score a single goal as they were eliminated at the first hurdle by Senegal, Denmark and, interestingly, Uruguay. And, if you believe what you read in most of the newspapers, the majority of pundits expect Les Bleus to make an early exit from the tournament once again.

Uruguay, however, are being touted as potential dark horses to go far in the tournament. A solid side with plenty of top level European experience, La Celeste are expecting to perform well in South Africa and have high hopes of adding to their two previous World Cup wins.

Let’s bring a sense of perspective, here. France clearly aren’t the force they once were - although we did say that before the 2006 tournament when they went all the way to the final. Furthermore, their coach, Raymond Domenech, is possibly the least popular man in France and has the aura of a man who has no idea what he is doing.

Saying that, France can still call on the likes of Evra, Gallas, Sagna, Malouda, Gourcuff, Ribery and Henry, amongst others.

Uruguay, meanwhile, finished fifth in the South American qualifying league behind Paraguay and Chile. They only reached the Finals after a narrow win over Costa Rica - hardly the most challenging of opponents - and they have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight competitive matches.

I don’t for one minute expect France to run away with the trophy but they do boast some real top quality players. Conversely, Uruguay are by no means the force some people believe them to be. 11/5 on the draw - this tie finished 0-0 in 2002 - might be the call.

World Cup Match Betting Previews

World Cup Match Betting Odds

There’s no hanging around on Friday as we get to see two of Europe’s hottest strikers in just the second match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Match 2 in Cape Town features an intriguing tie between 1998 champions France and 1930 and 1950 champions Uruguay. Whilst France are the 11/10 favourites, many experts believe that the French will come unstuck in South Africa, and may even struggle to qualify from Group A.

If Uruguay are to cause an upset, they will be looking to their dynamic and prolific front pair of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez.

After a disappointing spell at Manchester United, Forlan has flourished in La Liga. The 31 year old has won the European Golden Shoe on two occasions as well as picking up the Pichichi award for La Liga top goalscorer in both 2005 and 2009. He has scored 24 times for his country and is 66/1 to pick up the ‘top goalscorer’ award at the 2010 World Cup.

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However, Forlan has been overshadowed this season by a young striker destined to be plying his trade for a major Champions League side next season. Luis Suarez was signed by Ajax from FC Groningen in 2007 and has since developed into a prolific Eredivisie striker. The 23 year old netted an astonishing 29 goals in 48 Ajax appearances last season, including 35 league goals in just 33 matches.

Speculation is rife that Suarez will move to Barcelona, Arsenal or Manchester United after the World Cup and a good performance in South Africa will see his value rocket. He is 50/1 to win the World Cup Golden Shoe.

Whether either of these great strikers can pierce the French defence is another matter. Of the two, I’d take Suarez to cause Les Bleus’ defence some problems and he is good value at 7/1 to net the opening goal.

Whilst La Celeste can boast two of Europe’s hottest frontmen, France are having the opposite problem. Thierry Henry has looked woefully short of form and fitness of late and it is questionable whether the Barcelona striker will even star for France in South Africa. With Karim Benzema a surprise omission from Raymond Domenech’s squad, the pressure looks to be resting on the shoulders of Nicolas Anelka who is 40/1 to top score in South Africa.

I think France’s goals are likely to come from a range of sources, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Andre-Pierre Gignac, Franck Ribery, Yoann Gourcuff or even William Gallas chip in with a goal. As far as French goalscorers go, I’d steer clear.

In the earlier Friday match hosts South Africa take on perennial underachievers Mexico.

Whilst the home nations have an excellent record in World Cups - they always get past the first round - I can’t help feeling that South Africa’s odds have been terrifically skewed by their home advantage. They are ranked 83 in the world and in the absence of recognised marksman Benni McCarthy, I really can’t see where their goals are coming from.

It looks likely that coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will pair Bernard Parker and Kaltego Mphela up front. Parker failed to score any goals for Dutch champions FC Twente this season, whilst Mphela may be a local favourite, but it’s a great leap from 17 goals for Mamelodi Sundowns to the World Cup Finals.

You can get 200/1 on a South African striker winning the Golden Boot - Emile Heskey has lower odds, for heaven’s sake - which underlines how difficult Bafana Bafana will find goals to come by. Saying that, Mphela netted in their most recent friendly win - an excellent 1-0 triumph over Denmark - so perhaps the hosts might surprise us.

Mexico also start the World Cup on the back of a terrific friendly win - a 2-1 triumph over reigning champions Italy. Javier Aguirre has a flexible, versatile selection of strikers to choose from and so it’s difficult to know precisely who his first choices are. Arsenal’s Carlos Vela and Guadalajara’s Alberto Medina netted against the Azzuri, although West Ham’s Guillermo Franco is likely to get the nod against South Africa.

If things aren’t going well, Aguirre can also call on the veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco from the bench to add 118 caps of experience and guile to their attack.

Another man to watch out for is the 22 year old number 14 Javier Hernandez who will complete a £7 million move to Manchester United after the World Cup. The youngster has 7 international goals in just 12 caps and scored 21 in 27 starts for his Mexican club side last season.

Hernandez is a good value 11/2 to score the first goal in this match, and by the time the tournament ends it could very well look like United have picked up the bargain of the summer. He is 80/1 to win the Golden Shoe in South Africa.

World Cup Player Previews

World Cup Betting - Top Goalscorer Odds

It’s a measure of Brazil’s World Cup pedigree that the team of 2006 were roundly criticised after failing to reach a fourth consecutive final in Germany. Dunga and his squad are determined not to return to jeers this time around and appear worthy favourites, having apparently managed to blend their forwards’ natural flair with a more steely resistance that many of their predecessors didn’t possess. Goalkeeper Julio Caesar, full-back Maicon and central defender Lucio were all part of Inter Milan’s successful Champions’ League side and have clearly benefited from time spent under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage.

Kaka is still a class act in midfield, despite not yet hitting top form since his switch to Real Madrid, while Manchester City misfit Robinho seems to come alive when he dons the famous yellow shirt.

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That said, Brazil’s strike force does seem to lack a red-hot Ronaldo or a Ronaldhino in South Africa so it will be interesting to see how they cope when facing better defenders as the tournament progresses. The five-times champions could hardly have asked for a more comfortable start, however, than North Korea and Brazil’s odds of 1/9 reflects the apparent gulf in class between the two countries.

North Korea are appearing in only their second finals. They certainly made an impression in their first, dumping out Italy in 1966 before going out to Portugal in the quarter-finals in one of World Cup history’s most memorable encounters. But it’s surely asking too much for lightning to strike twice as the North Korean squad in South Africa not only lacks anyone recognisable outside their own insulated country but also tournament experience and they only qualified for the finals on goal difference having finished as runner-up in their group. Evidence of recent form is thin on the ground but they were easily brushed aside by Nigeria in a friendly last week and it’s impossible to see how they are going to push the favourites in any capacity.

Robinho has been among the goals lately and could be attractively priced at 16/5 to get another two or more against the North Koreans, who can still be backed at 15/8 even with a two-goal start on the handicap.

World Cup Match Betting Previews

World Cup Betting Odds - Brazil v North Korea

I don’t think I’d be going out on a limb if I suggested that Didier Drogba was prone to the odd theatrical moment on the football field. So not many people would have taken much notice when he rolled around in apparent agony following a challenge in the Ivory Coast’s recent warm-up game with Japan. But, surprise, surprise, it turns out the Chelsea striker had actually broken his arm and that is really bad news for his country’s hopes of emerging out of a first-round group that also contains Brazil and the Ivory Coast’s opening opponents, Portugal.

Now I know the memory can play tricks but I don’t remember any previous World Cup tournaments in which so many of the top players were carrying injuries or have missed out altogether. Michael Ballack, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Essien, Arjen Robben, Andrea Pirlo and Portugal’s Nani - all are either ruled out of the competition altogether or temporarily sidelined, suggesting those who perpetuate the theory that the stars of the game simply play too much football nowadays are justified.

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Drogba has rejoined his team-mates in South Africa but it would be an almighty gamble to risk last season’s Premier League golden boot winner against Portugal. However, the Elephants still look the strongest of the African nations in the tournament (Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue and Arune Dindane all played in the Premier League last season while Yaya Toure anchors the Barcelona midfield) and may have enough about them to stifle Portugal for 90 minutes (the draw is 9/4).

This game is another of Paddy Power’s Bore War! Money-Back Specials in which the stakes on all pre-match losing correct score, scorecast and first/last goalscorer singles will be refunded if the final score is 0-0.

The draw will be popular but I’m not sure it will be goalless. Nani will be a loss for the Portuguese but the rest of the squad is fairly established and, of course, they have a decent wildcard in Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid winger has the ability to win a match single-handed and Portugal are usually pleasing on the eye, but they are not renowned as prolific scorers and had a disappointing qualifying campaign, looking vulnerable at the back when up against physical forwards.

That may ultimately prove the achilles heel of Carlos Queiroz’s side in South Africa and I’ll go for either a 1-1 (5/1) or 2-2 (14/1) scoreline against the Ivory Coast in a game neither team can really afford to lose.

World Cup Previews - The “Group of Death”

World Cup Betting Odds - Ivory Coast v Portugal