World Cup Betting
Just seven nations have ever lifted the World Cup crown since its inception eighty years ago. Unusually, all of them will be in attendance in South Africa and with it 8/13 that a previous winner will triumph in 2010 it’s worth considering the challenge of the previous World Champions.
Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) – 5/1
If eighty years of World Cup performances are taken into account, the trophy will be lifted in Johannesburg on 11th July by a Brazilian or the captain of an African nation.
Whilst the ‘home’ teams may perform well, it’s impossible to look past Brazil to be the World Champions in 2010. They were performing terrifically with the likes of Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Elano, Maicon and Dani Alves before Ronaldinho started hitting top form for AC Milan. With a previous World Cup winner at the helm they are the team to beat in South Africa.
Italy (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006) – 12/1
If you rewind four years, Italian football was in the midst of a huge domestic scandal and leaking players from Serie A to Europe’s major leagues. No-one gave Italy a hope in Germany – except me, I think – and of course they went on to lift the trophy for the fourth time.
A similar low-key Azzuri squad arrive in South Africa this summer. With plenty of time to play themselves into form (they should see off Slovakia, Paraguay and New Zealand without breaking sweat) they could very well be a dark horse in 2010.
Germany (1954, 1974 and 1990) – 14/1
Having watched Joachim Löw’s side ruthlessly and professionally beat Russia in Moscow back in October, I was impressed how experienced but youthful Germany are. Goalkeeper Rene Adler is just 25 and new ’star’ Mesut Ozil is just 21 years old. If you then consider that midfield general Bastian Schweinsteiger is still only 25 (73 caps) and striker Lukas Podolski is just 24 (69 caps) they have a number of young players with great international experience.
Add to this the nous of Michael Ballack, Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich and you have a solid, professional unit with no shortage of flair. I really fancy Germany to do well in South Africa.
Uruguay (1930 and 1950) – 80/1
It has been forty years since the once mighty Uruguay had a decent run in the World Cup. Their semi-final appearance in 1970 was the last time we saw the Charrúas in the latter stages of a World Cup – since them two ‘last sixteen’ defeats have been the best they could manage.
This time around it could be different, though. With the top European strike force of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, backed up with Juventus’ Martín Cáceres, Villarreal’s Sebastián Eguren and Fenerbahce’s Diego Lugano, Uruguay have a stronger squad than for some time. With France, Mexico and hosts South Africa alongside them in Group A, I fancy them to qualify at 11/10 and with a potential second round match with local rivals Argentina they could, finally, have a run in a tournament they dominated in the early years.
England (1966) – 11/2
The time is right for England to eclipse their recent quarter-final exits in major international tournaments. A solid side, great manager and no shortage of decent talent mean England are third favourites to bring home the World Cup in July.
However, question marks against their ‘big match’ performances (the Three Lions have lost to Spain, France and Brazil under Capello) and the fact they will probably run into the Brazilian juggernaut in the semi-finals mean a last four place is probably about as much as they can expect.
Argentina (1978 and 1986) – 9/1
Imagine that England appointed Paul Gascoigne as national team coach and then lost 6-1 to Belgium in a World Cup qualifier. Their qualification went down to the last day of the campaign when a recalled Teddy Sheringham scored a 92nd minute winner to send the team to South Africa, shortly before Gazza abused some journalists and received a two month ban from all football.
Ridiculous? It is basically a synopsis of Diego Maradona’s fourteen months in charge of Argentina.
To say that his tactics, selection and behaviour was erratic would be a gross understatement. Despite boasting (at least on paper) probably the best array of talent in world football, Argentina have been a shambles under Maradona. They do have time to put it right before South Africa and whilst I don’t expect them to win the World Cup, there is unlikely to be a dull moment.
France (1998) – 12/1
With Thierry Henry’s ‘main de dieu’ guiding France to the World Cup finals, there are two trains of thought. One is that their unbelievable fortune in getting to South Africa means that they are bound to win the tournament (seeing as they shouldn’t even be there) and the other says that they’ll flop disastrously as they’re a terrible team led by a hopeless manager.
The reality is probably somewhere in-between. I don’t rate France as a team to be wary of – the Irish all but beat them – but they have one or two individuals that could cause some problems. They were lucky to reach the final in 2006 and they have no Zidane to get them out of trouble this time around.
