Odds to Win the 2010 World Cup
The 2010 World Cup begins this week in South Africa, and here at Cappers Mall, we're dissecting some of the juiciest World Cup betting lines, brought to you by BoDog Sportsbook.
Spain (4/1) is going to be the overwhelming favorite to take this event for the first time in the country's history. Not only do the Spaniards have the best striking duo in the world in Fs David Villa and Fernando Torres, but they also have one of the world's best goalkeepers in GK Iker Casillas. The Spanish absolutely blew through qualifying for this event and have looked great in their World Cup tune ups as well. There is not a doubt that they will get through Group H with at least seven points, if not the maximum nine, but there could be some trouble brewing right away in the knockout stages against the runner up of Group G, the "Group of Death."
However, as long as the team that finishes second in that group isn't Brazil (4/1), Spain should be okay. The Brazilians are the most decorated team in the history of this tournament, winning in five times, including in 2002. They have made it out of the first round of World Cup betting action every year since 1966, and this year should prove to be no exception, even without players like M Ronaldinho and F Adriano on the squad.
This is probably the best chance that England (8/1) has had at capturing glory in World Cup wagering since 1966 when the Three Lions won this event on their home soil. They are the fourth choice on the odds to win the World Cup, and for good reason. Group C shouldn't provide much of a challenge, particularly if the United States goes quietly in the first match of the tournament for each team, and aside from Germany, no one else in Group D should threaten the British either. Look for F Wayne Rooney to be in the discussion for the Golden Boot Award at the end of this tournament.
The defending champions of the World Cup are the Italians (14/1). Though this is a team that should easily advance into the knockout rounds of the World Cup, no one is expecting it to duplicate the production that it had in 2006 when it won it all. Italy only allowed two goals in that tournament. Both D Nesta and GK Gigi Buffon are back for the Italians, which should make this a team that is difficult to score against all tournament long.
