2010 FIFA World Cup Tips

Betting Guide to Holland

Perhaps that old destructive nature has started to creep back into the Netherlands, just as it appeared that Holland were finally a collective that would push on towards World Cup glory together. Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie has been complaining about the fact that he got substituted in Holland’s last sixteen victory over Slovakia. He was visibly unhappy at the time, insisting that Wesley Sneijder should have been taken off instead of him. Now coach Bert Van Marwijk has the task of trying to unite the Dutch side as they chase a place in the World Cup final. All too often Holland have failed to put their talents to good use when it matters, usually falling into some disarray off the pitch at tournament football, which then causes them to crash out. Historically, the Dutch always start well at tournaments, and then bottle it on the big occasion. Even during their impressive qualification run and build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Van Marwijk kept stating that he is imploring and drilling into the players the need to stay calm and to show a togetherness. The in fighting has been a problem will Dutch sides in the past, and all was looking to be plain sailing until Van Persie launched an angry outburst. Holland unquestionably have the talent worthy of winning in Europe and on the World stage. Whether they can put everything together for three more matches remains to be seen, as they have yet to display with any consistency, the beautiful game they have come to be known for. Not that they have been troubled in the World Cup so far this time, they haven’t, winning all three of their group games comfortably. But the Netherlands look as if they have not hit top gear, and going into a quarter final match against Brazil, that is exactly what you would need.

Holland came through their World Cup qualification with a 100% record, and they are on a long unbeaten run of games, which should put them in good standing in terms of confidence. While confidence is a necessary part of football, the Dutch are usually over confident to the point of arrogance, another of the qualities which are often their own undoing. Holland are famous for Total Football, but they are looking well short of that great title, even though they are clearly one of the stronger teams in Europe. Tournament football has never been their forte though, and like Spain, they are still chasing their first ever World Cup title. They certainly have the individual talent to do it, with Robin Van Persie himself, and the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. Do they have the team to do it though? Their back line is solid enough, yet they have rarely been tested against top opposition. Cameroon exposed a lot of holes when playing and pace, and managed to get in behind the Dutch defence on several occasions. It is little things like this which keep Holland from being favourites in tournaments, even though they have some of the most impressive form around. They are not as good as Brazil, but they good give Brazil a good game if they can get enough of the position, but they are nowhere near as potent up front as Brazil are, the same level of threat just is not there. Holland, when the stressful times come and backs are against the wall, probably do not quite have the team nor the team spirit to win out.

Tactics: Holland’s Total Football approach lies in the fact that they let their midfielders and forwards link up by instinct. While there is obviously a formation to start out with, there is not so much of a rigidity in the workings of it. It is a very South American style which the Netherlands play, with the key man in the creative number ten position, being Sneijder who links up the midfield and sit in behind lone striker Van Persie. Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt patrols the flanks then, as well as filling in in centre midfield. Interchangeable is the word for Holland.
 
Coach: Bert Van Marwick – is not a person who is afraid to go his own way, but he does keep the ethics of Holland’s impressive style of football. Has relied on his experienced players a lot through his reign, and took a huge gamble in taking Mark Van Bommel with him, who has become pivotal in the middle of the park for Holland. The only thing wrong with Holland, is that is hard to see a back up plan if they go behind, and Marwijk hasn’t got a lot on the bench to change things up.

Holland World Cup 2010 Stats

Results
Holland 2, Slovakia 1
Holland 2, Cameroon 1
Holland 1, Japan 0
Holland 2, Denmark 0

Goals: 7 For, 2 Against
Cards: Y8, SY0, R0
Top Passer: Mark Van Bommel (238 passes, 78% completion rate)
Most Fouls: Wesley Sneijder, 8

Last 10 Match Holland Form:  DDWWWWWWWW

Probable Route to Winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Brazil (Q/F), Uruguay (S/F), Spain (F)

Holland Betting Tips

Stage of Elimination
Quarter Finals: 2/1 at Ladbrokes
Semi Finals: 6/1 at Bet365
Winners: 10/1 at Ladbrokes
Runners Up: 11/1 at Ladbrokes

To Reach Final
No – 1/5 at Bwin
Yes – 3/1 at Bwin

Holland’s Top Goal scorer at StanJames
Robin Van Persie 3/1 (1 goal)
Arjen Robben 5/1(1 goal)
Wesley Sneijder 4/6 (2 goals)
Dirk Kuyt 4/1 (1 goal)
Klaas Jan Huntelaar (1 goal)

Holland Betting Tip: Total Goals: 8-9 for 3/1 at Ladbrokes

Germany v Ghana Betting Odds

Germany to win: 4/7 at Ladbrokes
Draw: 10/3 at Boylesports
Ghana to win: 11/2 at Bet365

Germany

At the end of the English season, Chelsea’s Michael Ballack was brought down in a rough tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng in the FA Cup final. The subsequent injury kept Germany’s captain from taking part in South Africa 2010, and now his country will take on Ghana in the battle for top spot in Group D. Not only that, Germany will come up against Boateng at the heart of the Ghana midfield, but Boateng will face his brother Jerome, who is in the German squad. While the Germans are not out to look for any revenge, it could mean that there will be an extra effort going into the midfield tackles, as the two side battle for supremacy. Germany, after losing their second group match to Serbia 1-0, need to take all three points from the match to ensure qualification. They currently sit one point behind Ghana in Group D, but there is a big threat coming from Serbia who will be expected to take maximum points in their final match against Australia. This leaves things very tight for the two qualification places from Group D, and the blow of losing to Serbia will probably have injected just a little more determination in to the German side.

Coach Joachim Low saw his side get off to a blinding start, crushing Australia 4-0. But a missed penalty by Podolski, and a red card for Klose in their second match, saw them lose initiative in Group D. The winner and runner up from Group D will go up against the qualified sides from Group C, England’s group, so there is a huge amount of interest here, as there is a hint of a Germany v England match up in the second round if results go a certain way. Germany will know that they need to push on, and they will be prepared for a physical battle from Ghana. Low has assembled the youngest squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and they play with a lot of adventure and enthusiasm, qualities which could trouble any side. It should certainly trouble Ghana, as Germany will carry the bigger goal scoring threat into the match, with Brazilian born Cacau likely to start up front in the absence of Klose. There does not seem to be any panic coming out of the German camp about their situation, and they will be confident. They have the youthful legs and energy to run all day, but will that missing touch of experience which would have come from Michael Ballack, cost them dearly?

Germany World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W1, D0, L1
GF/GA: 4/1
Cards: Y5, R1
Most Shots: Lukas Podolski, 9
Top Scorer: Four players, 1
Shots/On Goal: 31/14
Fouls Committed: 29
Total Passes: 1188
Pass Completion: 79%

Ghana

Do Ghana have the fitness levels to keep up with Germany when it comes down to the closing matches of this vital World Cup match? There is probably not another team which have higher fitness levels than the disciplined Germans, and that really could pay off in the long run for the European side. While Ghana have one of the youngest sides at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they are drafting in two of their most experienced heads for the crucial encounter. John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah should be back at the heart of the Ghana defence after missing their draw against Australia. The draw against the 10 men Aussies could come back to haunt Ghana if they lose to Germany, for that will, more likely than not, cost them a place in the second round. Ghana top Group D by one point over Germany, but need a win to be assured of getting through, as Serbia will be a major threat in the final qualification places in the group. Ghana just have the edge in the standings at the moment, and will enter the match knowing that a point will see them through, but they cannot rest on their laurels and sit back too much. There is a fine line between success and failure.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has built a solid Ghana team and has put a lot of faith in his youth, who he used freely at the African Cup of Nations this year. Ghana reached the finals there, but lost to Egypt. Realistically there will be a lot less pressure on Ghana to get through, than there will be on Germany. It is Germany with all of the World Cup history to protect, and Ghana are still considered to be one of the strong emerging nations on the world scene. Both sides are young, energetic and it should be a tough physical encounter. Ghana are not naturally as expansive as the Germans should be, but they will dig in deep and will perhaps have to soak up a lot of pressure, as Germany will be pushing harder for the three points. One point will suffice for Ghana, but it may not secure them top spot if Serbia win as expected. Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is a hard worker up front, and he will be charged with exposing the Germany back line. It won’t be easy and there is an air of unpredictability due to the inexperience of both sides. This should have been a good match up between Germany’s Michael Ballack and Ghana’s Michael Essien. Both Chelsea men are missing from the tournament, and which team will miss their influential captain the most?

Ghana World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W1, D1, L0
GF/GA: 2/1
Cards: Y5, R0
Most Shots: Asamoah Gyan, 11
Top Scorer: Asamoah Gyan, 2
Shots/On Goal: 38/9
Fouls Committed: 37
Total Passes: 968
Pass Completion: 75%

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: This could be a tight match with a huge amount at stake. From a World Cup betting point of view, you would naturally lean towards Germany, as they have shown more as an attacking side than Ghana have. Ghana are a solid, tight team though and will be hard to break down. A draw is a plausible outcome here but would lean towards Germany for the win.
Germany -1.75 for 21/10 at Bet365

Current Germany v Ghana Odds:

Spain

Now that they have been deposed as tournament favourites, what side of Spain will the World Cup see next? They head into their second Group H fixture on the back of a surprise defeat by European combatants Switzerland in their opening fixture. The Spaniards looked comfortable enough, as well as confident, but they simply could not break down the wall that Switzerland had put up in front of goal often enough. When they did, they either found keeper Diego Benaglio in inspired form, or that the woodwork was not a Spanish supporter either. The sucker punch for the Spanish came when a long ball down the pitch was flicked on by the Swiss forward, and in the ensuing scramble in the Spanish penalty area, Gelson Fernandes poked home to put Switzerland on the path to one of the most unlikely World Cup upsets of 2010. Now Spain must show their title credentials by bouncing back to form with a convincing victory over central American side Honduras. Three points are now vital for the Spanish, and despite their loss, they will be expecting to take a firm grip on all three of them.

Spain have an enviable array of talent throughout the whole side, and there is really no question about their ability. They played very well, sticking to their passing game against the Swiss, the break through just never came. It happens sometimes, but just because it is only the second time Spain have lost in nearly 50 matches, does not mean that they have turned into a bad side overnight. It does not mean that they are not worthy contenders for winning the 2010 World Cup. Far from it, as they will still be one of the main teams to beat. Probably more so now, as throughout tournament football, one of the prevailing nations which make it to the final, usually will have to overcome a piece of adversity. Whether that is surviving a penalty shoot out, or having victory taken away in the group stages by an underdog, something usually happens in a tournament that tests the fortitude of the squad. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has all of the right aces in his pack to go on and win the tournament from this position, so nothing had changed. Well, maybe it has. Maybe the defeat will have made Spain stronger.

They will know more than ever know that there is no room for complacency,  not matter how strong a favourite you are when starting a match. Sometimes things just go wrong, and the truly good sides, the ones that can beat the world, will bounce back and learn from their mistakes.  This is how good teams become great. The mighty Spanish beast has been wounded, but they are not down and out. They have two matches left to control their own destiny, and when have a side packed with stars like Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, Alonso, Torres and Pique, there really is not need to panic. They simply need to brush themselves off, and maybe now some pressure will have been eased off their shoulders.

Spain World Cup Betting: Argentina have moved ahead of them in World Cup odds to win the tournament, and Brazil are level on odds with them. Maybe the football world will start looking at alternatives to Spain now to lift the trophy, and that will make the Spanish journey just a little bit easier. They have a chance to bounce back now against the group’s weakest side, Honduras, in a match which many will still back Spain to come good. They need to come through this well, and run in a few goals to take confidence into a tricky last match against South American’s Chile. Worth backing them at a good winning margin of a couple of goals.

Spain World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D0, L1
GF/GA: 0/1
Cards: Y0, R0
Most Shots: Xabi Alonso, 4
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 24/8
Fouls Committed: 8
Total Passes: 683
Pass Completion: 77%
Last 5 Form: WWWWL

Honduras

No one has really paid the Central American side much attention at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, that is because along with the likes of New Zealand and Algeria, they were perceived to be the whipping boys of the tournament. They did not do much to change that perception of them, as they struggled to make much of an impression in their first match against Chile. Starting the group as rank outsiders mean that Honduras were there to make up the numbers, and not much was expected of them. But against Chile, they showed a strong fighting quality which never completely discounted them from the match altogether. They were the weaker side on the day, and had to cede a lot of ground and possession to Chile. They also had to ride their luck, and thank the inspired form of their goalkeeper, as the score line would have been a lot worse. Now they must face another barrage of attack, as they will come up against the likes of Iniesta and David Villa, as the Spanish players look to redeem themselves. This match may simply be about how long Honduras can hold out for. Chile cut them apart on more than one occasion, and you would expect more of the same from the powerful Spanish side.

Honduras World Cup Betting. For as long as they will have to defend against Spain, it is tough to see them coming close to even holding on to a draw. The gulf in class should be that big, and with Spain needing to perform, the chances are they will open up and put at least a couple past Honduras. Probably the only way to bet on Honduras would be to find a big plus in the Asian Handicap market which still offers some value. Then you will back them to defend for their World Cup lives.

Honduras World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D0, L1
GF/GA: 0/1
Cards: Y1, R0
Most Shots: Ramon Nunez, 3
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 7/2
Fouls Committed: 15
Total Passes: 348
Pass Completion: 58%
Last 5 Form: LDDLL

Spain v Honduras Betting Odds

Spain to win: 1/7 at BetFred
Draw: 8/1 at Bet365
Honduras to win: 25/1 at Victor Chandler

Asian Handicap Betting tip. It’s always a little tougher to get great value when such a heavyweight goes up against a minnow. But if you work on an average of two to three goals, and turn that into a minus for Spain, then you should be in the right zone for this one. May as well go all out on this one.
Spain -2.25 for 11/8 at Bet365
 

Spain V Honduras Odds:

Brazil draw level with Spain in World Cup Odds

After Spain’s loss to Switzerland, both they and Brazil now can be taken for the same price to win the World Cup, 11/2 at SkyBet. Sunday’s big World Cup match sees the mighty Brazil v Ivory Coast, in what should attract a wealth of World Cup Betting. Brazil opened their 2010 account with a 2-1 victory over North Korea, in a game which saw them dominate, against a hard working Asian side, which was a lot more disciplined than most people would have imagined. The North Koreans went into the match not promising anything spectacular really in the battle between the World’s best side and the lowest ranked team in the tournament. However, the North Koreans gave a good account of themselves with 10 men behind the ball most of the time, but hustled and harried the Brazilians, closing out all the space on the pitch, so that the Brazilians were very limited. Not until right back Maicon broke the deadline early in the second half did the Korean resistance break, and then had the gusto to steal away down the other end of the pitch with a couple of minutes to go to get a consolation. While the scoreline was close, the game wasn’t really. Brazil were never in any danger of letting it get away, and for a World Cup opener they will be happy. The Brazilians had a quiet build up to the tournament, not playing anywhere near as many international friendlies as other nations in their preparations, so coach Dunga was happy to get that one out of the way and move on. Brazil are a little unique under Dunga, who named his squad and starting eleven, well in advance of the FIFA deadline. The squad numbers run from 1 to 11 in the side which he put out, indicating that he knows who his best eleven are, and he is not afraid to let the rest of the squad now. You really have to earn your stripes to make your way into the current Brazilian side. The strengths of Brazil were on show in their opener, the creative passing, and the speed and adventure of the full backs. The movement off the ball was as good as the movement on it, and while Kaka had a quiet game, one man who didn’t was striker Robinho. The Manchester City forward looked simply amazing with the ball at his feet. He deliberately took the ball into tight situations, and with mesmerising trickery always got the ball to fellow player. The space he created was magnificent, and his pass to release Elano for the second goal was sublime. His was one of the best performances of the first round of matches. Now Brazil expect to have a lot more space against the Ivory Coast on Sunday, which should suit their passing game even more. The Koreans pretty much shut up shop for most of the match, but the Ivory Coast will pose a threat up front. This is a good test for Brazil against an awkward side, but nothing they should not be able to handle. Dunga is confident, and the players looked confident, respectful of their opposition and delighted with their win. There was no complacency, no bravado, just a quiet efficiency with an air of menace bubbling under the surface. Brazil will know that the Ivory Coast probably will present them the most problems off all of their group rivals, as they will face physical challenges that Korea and Portugal won’t bring.

Brazil World Cup Betting. Even though this will be a step up in terms of quality for them, you would still fancy Brazil to win. There have been upsets at the World Cup 2010 so far, but Brazil falling would really be the biggest. They are organised, strong in defence, and tactically sound. With more space to play they will be even more dangerous, as the Ivory Coast will play a more expansive game than the North Koreans, naturally. Outright betting on the win should be a safe enough bet, and look for anytime goal scorers for Fabiano and Robinho.

Brazil World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W1, D0, L0
GF/GA: 2/1
Cards: Y1, R0
Most Shots: Robinho, 6
Top Scorer: Elano, Maicon, 1
Shots/On Goal: 26/10
Fouls Committed: 9
Total Passes: 715
Pass Completion: 83%
Last 5 Form: WWWWW

Drogba ready to start and star for Les Elephants

Talisman Didier Drogba could well start the match as his country goes into battle against South American champions Brazil. Drogba, who’s arm was broken prior to the World Cup, came on for 25 minutes in their dour 0-0 draw against Portugal and did not seem to be troubled by his surgery-repaired arm. That will bring much good news for the Ivory Coast as they look to take on their toughest challenge of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Ivory Coast looked a much more stable side under ex-England boss Sven Goran-Eriksson. There were questions whether Eriksson’s pragmatic and cautious approach would be a good fit for the golden generation of the Ivory Coast’s players, but you could see his influence over his side, as the Ivory Coast were happy to sit, consolidate and hope for the one break which would bring them success. But not even the introduction of Drogba could make the break through in a match which was sadly devoid of goalmouth action, and failed to live up to the promise of an exciting Drogba v Cristiano Ronaldo match up. Eriksson will again put out a side which will try and contain the Brazilians, knowing that a second point for them would not be a disaster in the group, with the North Koreans still to come from them. Les Elephants showed a much tighter, more solid defence against Portugal than they had showed at the African Cup of Nations, and that can be credited to Eriksson. They will that defence to remain calm and steady as the Brazilians will attack them from all angles of the pitch. There is the potential for this to be one of the most exciting matches of the second round of matches, and has the potential for plenty of goals. But the Ivory Coast will probably try and suffocate the Brazilians early on, ceding ground to the more talented side. But with Drogba in the team, he gives good options for going long up front, and he will battle hard against the Brazilian defence, which contains probably the best central defender in the world, Lucio. That will be a fascinating battle to watch, and could be one of the main keys to the game. There is a lot at stake for Les Elephants, as the likes of Drogba are likely to be around for the next World Cup. This generation of players have promised a lot down the years but have failed to deliver. Will Eriksson be the missing link, and lend the World Cup another upset by plotting the downfall of Brazil?

Ivory Coast World Cup Betting: The Ivory Coast would probably be very happy with a draw from this one to be honest, and therefore backing them at a Draw No Bet, would be a brave but very interesting bet. Brazil look solid enough to beat the African nation, but you never know with Drogba on the pitch. It may only take one chance for him, and with the defence looking a lot more organised, there are just the faint callings of an upset. Brazil will press hard in order to ensure qualification from the group, and this could be a real battle. Always worth looking at Didier Drogba for an anytime scorer, especially if he is from the start, as he is the free-kick taker and the biggest menace in the Ivory Coast side.

Ivory Coast World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D1, L0
GF/GA: 0/0
Cards: Y2, R0
Most Shots: Several, 1
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 5/1
Fouls Committed: 18
Total Passes: 458
Pass Completion: 76%
Last 5 Form: DLDWD

Brazil v Ivory Coast Betting Odds

Brazil to win: 4/6 at Bet365
Draw: 14/5 at Boylesports
Ivory Coast to win: 5/1 at Totesport

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Not a lot of choice around on this one really, as Brazil are clear favourites to win this match, and quite comfortably looking at the World Cup odds here. The 4/6 outright price above is not too bad on them to win the match really, but for a little more you can shoot for them winning by two goals, and if they only manage to win by one, you’ll get your stake back. Decent value.
Brazil -1 for 13/10 at Paddy Power
 

Current Brazil V Ivory Coast Odds:

Profit and Loss on World Cup Betting Strategy

Here we take a look at the values of the most simple of World Cup betting systems, backing the favourite in a match. Now, there are differing degrees of favourites in a two horse race, such as World Cup football betting. There are the outright favourites such as Spain over Switzerland, which offer very little in the way of odds, and there are the closely matched teams squaring off against each other, say Algeria v Slovenia, where the favourite will only be marginally better priced than the other one. Still, when browsing around the best bookmakers for World Cup betting, you can generally draw a fair idea of who is expected to win, without even going into any in depth study of matches, such as looking over stats, form, injuries, history and that kind of thing. The first round of group matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, rarely caught fire in terms of goals, but that is because this is the biggest and most important football tournament on the planet, and teams are always a little more cautious in their opening matches. With only three group matches, losing your first one can leave you with a real uphill struggle to qualify. So naturally sides tend to err on the side of caution, while getting used to the atmosphere, the conditions and of course, shaking off those first match nerves.

So how did the favourites get on in the first round of matches at South Africa 2010? How safe would your money have been if you had simply backed each one of them to win. Not great, would be the answer to that. The thing is, with backing strong favourites, you really need to lay a bigger wager down in order to get returns, so there often is more to lose. The way to play World Cup betting on favourites, is usually best done in building accumulators and exploring multi-bet options to increase your returns. Anyway, let’s take a look over the facts and figures from the opening group matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. All of the favourites in betting are in bold with prices listed on this site in match previews.

Favourites in Bold, assuming £10 bet on each match (= shows profit & stake return)
South Africa v Mexico, 1-1 (lost)
Uruguay v France, 0-0 (lost)
Argentina v Nigeria, 1-0 (won at 1/2) = £15
Korea Republic v Greece, 2-0 (won at 2/1) = £30
England v USA, 1-1 (lost)
Algeria v Slovenia, 0-1 (lost)
Germany v Australia, 4-0 (won at 8/15) = £15.33
Serbia v Ghana, 0-1 (lost)
Holland v Denmark, 2-0 (won at 8/15) = £15.33
Japan v Cameroon, 1-0 (lost)
Italy v Paraguay, 1-1 (lost)
New Zealand v Slovakia, 1-1 (lost)
Ivory Coast v Portugal, 0-0 (lost)
Brazil v Korea DPR, 2-1 (won at 1/9) = £11.11
Chile v Honduras, 1-0 (won at 4/6) = £16.67
Spain v Switzerland, 0-1 (lost)

Outcome:
£160 staked, £103.44 returns = loss of £56.56

If you had backed all of those sixteen favourites then you would have bombed out on ten of those bets. That is a high percentage of losses. To put it into figures, you would have won just 37.5% of your bets, had you simply decided to back the favourites in each match. The six bets you would have won on were Argentina, Korea Republic, Germany, Holland, Brazil and Chile. You’ll probably notice something about the names in that pack. Four of those teams are the top four shortest priced nations win the World Cup outright, so they were strong favourites in their matches, and therefore did not offer such great value. So even your winnings would not have been great in relation to the stakes wagered on all of this. Where did it all go wrong? Well, the aforementioned cautiousness of opening tournament matches to start with, forcing some of the favourites into hard fought drawn matches, teams like England, France and Italy. Plus, who foresaw Switzerland beating Spain, or New Zealand holding Slovakia?

Let’s flip this on its head and look at betting on the underdog. What would have happened if you had played all underdogs in the opening round of matches? You would have won even less bets, but that is not the whole story, for you would have won a healthy profit. Only four underdogs actually won out of the sixteen matches, giving you only a 25% win rate. But, here is the rub. Take Switzerland for example. They were fantastic odds of 15/1 to beat the European Champions and that equates into big profit. In the example below, looking at these first sixteen results, it was only Switzerland’s out-of-the-blue, literally against-the-odds-win, which made a profit here. So there is profit to be made, but of course, it is at a higher risk. In this summary, the better option would have been to bet on all the underdogs, as you would have come up with a profit, as opposed to taking a loss on all of the favourites.

Favourites in Bold, assuming £10 bet on each match (= shows profit & stake return)
South Africa v Mexico, 1-1 (lost)
Uruguay v France, 0-0 (lost)
Argentina v Nigeria, 1-0 (lost)
Korea Republic v Greece, 2-0 (lost)
England v USA, 1-1 (lost)
Algeria v Slovenia, 0-1 (won at 13/10) = £23
Germany v Australia, 4-0 (lost)
Serbia v Ghana, 0-1 (won at 14/5) = £38
Holland v Denmark, 2-0 (lost)
Japan v Cameroon, 1-0 (won at 11/4) = £37.50
Italy v Paraguay, 1-1 (lost)
New Zealand v Slovakia, 1-1 (lost)
Ivory Coast v Portugal, 0-0 (lost)
Brazil v Korea DPR, 2-1 (lost)
Chile v Honduras, 1-0 (lost)
Spain v Switzerland, 0-1 (won at 16/1) = £170

£160 stakes, £268.50 returns = profit of £108.50

Before you go planning your World Cup betting strategy for the rest of the tournament, there is something which needs to be considered. The nature of the games will change for the rest of the group matches. Teams will be settled, and experience does count for a great deal in tight situations, as it usually only takes a flash of inspiration from a star player to make all the difference. Teams which are favourites have more of these stars in their teams, naturally, and therefore more of a chance of pulling through. Tournament football is heartbreaking, exhilarating and rewarding all at the same time. As you can see, winning upsets do not happen all that often, but they do. At the World Cup, you will usually see the same old faces in the latter stages of the tournament. But can you spot a dark horse ready to cause more upsets at South Africa 2010?

One other betting option to consider, is the Draw No Bet option. Six of the matches which ended in drawn matches would have lost your outright bet on the favourite, but if you consider the Draw No Bet, then you will have had some coverage. Although the odds would have been shorter, you would have at least got your stakes returned for them being held to a draw. This is a good option to consider for the rest of the group stage betting, as underdog teams will still be scrapping for all of their worth in the second batch of group stage matches.

World Cup Betting on Argentina Clearer as Top Spot is in Sight

The two winners from the first round of matches in Group B go head to head, as the battle for top spot will take priority on Thursday. Picking up a second win for either team in this match, will pretty much ensure a place in the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The second matches for the participating teams at the World Cup, should see teams be a bit more attack minded, even though Argentina gave a good account of themselves in their opening victory over Nigeria. Yes, they only won the match 1-0, but it answered a lot of questions about what coach Maradona was going to be able to deliver in terms of formation and personnel. The scoreline should have flattered Argentina a lot more, as they had plenty of opportunities, but ran into Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama who was in inspired form at the back. Argentina showed a creative balance in their passing game, and star player Lionel Messi could have bagged himself a hat trick on any other day. After receiving a lot of criticism about not bringing his A-game to the National side, Messi seemed to have the ball at his feet for most of the match, as the Argentineans played quite an expansive system, and were deserving of more rewards. After worries about the unpredictability over Maradona’s coaching ability, Argentina looked pretty solid and stable, and the living World Cup legend makes only one change to the side for the South Korea match. Ex Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Sebastian Veron drops to the bench, in place of Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez. This is actually a move of caution as Veron tweaked his calf in the second half against Nigeria, and the veteran midfielder will be rested.

Argentina World Cup Betting: So, Argentina will start as favourites for this one, as they are the side packed with the stars. Victory in the first match will have settled some nerves for them, and they should grow stronger through the tournament. Messi really stepped up to the plate, and there is every chance that he will open his World Cup account. Players don’t get mentioned as favourites for the Golden Boot for no reason, and Messi is up there on merit, and he is 4/5 at Stan James to be an Anytime Scorer. Packed with talent like Messi, Higuain and Milito, Argentina to win by 2 goals is not a bad shout priced at 10/3 at Bet365, while Argentina to win by one goal is also well priced at 5/2 with Coral. Should Argentina win? Yes, of course, and they should be the dominant force in terms of possession on the day. They missed so many chances that the law of averages should mean that they will be a little more accurate in beating the keeper this time out.

Argentina World Cup 2010 Stats:
Played: P1, W1, D0, L0
GF/GA: 1/0
Cards: Y1, R0
Most Shots: Lionel Messi, 8
Top Scorer: Gabriel Heinze, 1
Shots/On Goal: 20/7
Fouls Committed: 7
Total Passes: 597
Pass Completion: 75%
Last 5 Form: WWWWW

South Korea Mobility and Speed Pays Dividends

South Korea got their campaign off with their first ever World Cup win outside of their own territory. It was a comfortable 2-0 win over an un-ambitious Greece side, that earned coach Hun Jung-Moo and his squad the vital three points. That victory should put them in the driving seat to grab one of the top two spots in the Group. One interesting titbit of information, is that Hun Jung-Moo marked Maradona as a player at Mexico ‘86, when the Argentineans ran out 3-1 winners. Will history repeat itself as the two go up against each other as coaches at the World Cup on Thursday? South Korea looked sprightly, and full of attacking adventure in their opening fixture, ready to take their chances. They were actually one of the teams going into the World Cup which were carrying some great form, and they have hit the ground running. Their enthusiasm and creativity still remains one of the bright sparks in otherwise edgy opening fixtures for the nations. South Korea showed pace and that could be the weapon which will hurt Argentina. Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung was influential in midfield as expected, and the nation will again look to their hero to carry them forward. The likelihood is, that even if they get pressed back by the Argentinean passing game, the South Koreans will still be able to carry a bit threat of attack in breaking forward at speed. For Korea it is all about speed and mobility, which undid the Greeks, and which will cause a threat to the Argentinean back line. This is an intriguing match up, with a clear lead at the top of the group at stake. Both sides would probably be happy with a draw, but we should see a bit more of an open game here.

South Korea World Cup Betting: Their main man is Park Ji-Sung, so look for him to get plenty of the ball, and carry a large threat towards goal. He is decently priced around 9/1 at ExtraBet as an anytime scorer, but a better bet would be number ten, Park Chu-Young 5/1 at Ladbrokes in the same market, as he had the most shots on goal in the first match. Argentina are edging this one on fixed odds outright World Cup betting, but South Korea probably shouldn’t be discounted quite as easily. They will create chances. Will they take them?

South Korea World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W1, D0, L0
GF/GA: 2/0
Cards: 0/0
Most Shots: Park Ji-Chung, 6
Top Scorer: Lee Jung-Soo, Park Ji-Sung, 1
Shots/On Goal: 18/7
Fouls Committed: 14
Total Passes: 499
Pass Completion: 67%
Last 5 Form: WWLLW

Argentina v South Korea Match Odds
Argentina to win: 1/2 at Bet365
Draw: 7/2 at Boylesports
South Korea to win: 8/1 at Stan James

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: This could be a close game, with two open sides. Hopefully there are plenty of goals on show, with Argentina’s stars, and South Korea’s speed and mobility. Decent coverage on this one, is taking South Korea +1 at 13/10 with Paddy Power, as it offers defence coverage, backing South Korea for a plucky draw, and you’ll only lose if Argentina win by two clear goals.
 

One of the most important, yet one of the most difficult tasks when it comes to World Betting, is not sifting through the 32 teams and picking out a winner as an ante-post bet, it is keeping up to date with the current betting prices for the World Cup 2010. Once the tournament  has kicked off, the markets on football betting can rapidly change, and one bit of breaking news could massively effect what odds you can pick up. Naturally, the earlier you bet on a team ahead of a tournament such as this, the better the odds you will be able to get. Take European challengers Holland at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Their odds have shortened significantly, thanks to a very good build up to the tournament, and obtaining a 100% record in qualification. They have shortened from around 13/1 down to 10/1 at Bet365 at the moment, and shows the significant movement which can happen with football betting. So there is a need to stay up to date and informed to fortify your betting.

So how do you stay on top of the current betting prices for the World Cup 2010? Simply head to our Odds page in our Tips and Recommendations section and you will find all of the current odds the market for the World Cup Outright Winner, currently headed by Spain at a price of 5/1 at Bet365. The current odds are scoured from a wealth of online bookmakers, and are constantly updated to give you the latest live and best prices that you can get on the World Cup. So, if you are looking for the best current prices as you pick the nation who you think will lift the coveted Julies Rimet trophy on July 11th in Johannesburg at the World Cup final, then help is at hand. But while the Outright Winner market may not rapidly change, one of the main markets which will, is the current betting odds on the individual World Cup matches. These can be a lot harder to keep a track of, but not when you follow the 2010 World Cup right here, as all the prices you need is available in one place.

Now you can find all of the best prices for the upcoming World Cup matches from South Africa 2010, so that you do not have to worry whether you are picking up the best price for your wager or not. England v USA is one of the most intriguing matches of the first round of opening group fixtures, and a quick glance at the table showed that England are firm favourites to take maximum points from the fixture, with Paddy Power offering decimal odds of 1.53 at the time of writing. This is the advantage of being able to see the current betting prices for the World Cup 2010, right at your fingertips. After the World Cup outright odds, the individual match fixed odds outrights will be where the majority of wagers go on with online bookmakers covering South Africa 2010. It is hard to ignore the odds in individual match odds, as that is where a lot of profit can be picked up. Whether you back the favourites in a match heavily, or whether you put a wager on a tip for an outsider, you will need to know the best and latest prices to make the most of your money.

Our current betting prices for the World Cup 2010 are presented in decimal odds, in easy to read tables. If you are not familiar with how to read decimal odds, then all that you need to understand is that the figure you see, is the figure that the bookmaker will be paying out to you, stake included. Think of them simply as fractional odds plus one. So, fractional odds of 5/1 will be represented as 6.0 in decimal terms. Evens (1/1) would be represented at 2.00 and so on. So, if you put a bet of £1 on odds of 5/1 then you would get your £5 winnings plus your £1 stake back. It is exactly the same as in decimal terms of 6.0. You play £1 and you get a total of £6 back, just the same as the factional odds, as the stake is included. They can be easier to read, and all you have to do is multiply your stake by the odds and the result is what will be handed back to you by the bookmaker if you win.

The thirty two nations have gone through a lot of preparation to make the most of their World Cup chances? How have you, as punter prepared? Having the right information to hand can make a big difference in terms of profit and even more profit. World Cup odds of 4/1 will see your bookmaker handing over less than profit than if you had managed to pick up the same bet at 5/1. A £10 bet on that would make a big £10 difference in your potential winnings. Fortunately you do not have to visit every online bookmaker yourself, as you can find all the information of latest World Cup odds right here, in order to make your World Cup betting go more smoothly and more efficiently.
 

Outright World Cup Winner: It was with great interest with which I followed the qualification process for the 2010 World Cup, notably from Europe and South America, as the winner of South Africa 2010 is only going to come from one of those two continents. While the World Cup has been expanded in recent times, no other zone is going to put forth a serious challenger to win the tournament. While the qualification for South Africa 2010 finished some time ago, there are little pointers and stats that can be looked at in order to boost your chances of picking the winner out of the 32 teams. Realistically it is not 32 teams entering the competition, as the winner will only come from a select handful of nations. There have only been seven different nations win the World Cup, and that should narrow down your options, with the inclusion of Spain showing the most potential to put a new name on the trophy. Spain are the European Champions, yes, and have more talent than they know what to do with. It is from an embarrassment of riches from which coach Vicente del Bosque has to pick, and it is why they have been leading the way in betting for some time now. But the Spaniards are not my selection for a couple of reasons. I personally think that the choke factor will come into play again for the Spaniards, with the weight of so much expectation upon them. They have never been beyond the last four in the tournament, and I see them falling there. It may go against the grain of things, after they won the European Championships, but history doesn’t back up things going well at the World Cup for current European Champions. I like history when it comes to betting, it plays a huge influential part of my betting strategies.

Being an Englishman myself, my tip for the World Cup is an unpatriotic one, but it is with Brazil where my wager will lay (9/2 at Bet365). Why? I shall point you back to qualification. They played rivals Argentina, a match in which victory would ensure them qualification for South Africa 2010. They went to Buenos Aires and breezed out with a 3-1 win in a hostile, stranglehold of a situation. Why does this matter now? Because it shows what Dunga’s Brazil are all about. Dunga has been criticised for taking the flair out of Brazil. Everyone wants them to play the pretty stuff, but Dunga has a different way of thinking. He is abrasive with the press, and ignores outside interference and pressure on his team. After Brazil failed miserably at Germany 2006, the Selecao want their trophy back, and there is an ominous quiet presence about Brazil that is hard to ignore. So, Dunga’s Brazil may not approach games in the same way as Brazilian fans would expect, but the World Cup is all about winning. Ask Italy, it’s not how good you look doing it, it’s getting the job done. While they are more conservative, with a keen eye on their defensive duties, they are simply lethal at catching teams on the break. With full backs playing as wingers, they can break forward and outnumber and overhwelm defences which have been caught cold. They also have an un-Brazilian trait of scoring plenty now from set pieces, with the likes of Dani Alves and Lucio in the ranks. There are simply threats from all over the park, and they now have the confidence with some true quality at the back. Lucio and Maicon are simply inspirational in defence, and Brazil actually have a safe pair of hands in Julio Cesar. If Kaka in midfield is on top of his game, then he will run the show. Brazil are organised, calm, confident and hardy against whoever they face. Efficiency is the word for the new Brazil, and as long as Luis Fabiano stays fit and firing, Brazil, who are the only nation to win the World Cup outside of their own continent, could be taking home their sixth title.

World Cup Dark Horse:
I have been really torn over this one, as there are many good choices. Frankly, anyone outside of Brazil and Spain look like a dark horse to be honest, so strong are those two nations. I think there are two tiers to the dark horses, teams who can genuinely win the World Cup outside of the favoured two, and those Dark Horses for who, reaching the quarter finals would be a major success. Serbia fall into the second category, and it is hard to ignore the work they have done in securing a World Cup berth for themselves, and they look a good strong, technical side. They look the strongest bet as for dark horses, but others fall into the same category, such as Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Slovakia. A strong tip would be the Serbians though, as they have a relatively good draw. As for dark horses that could potentially cause a real upset, then Holland look very strong, Argentina have a wealth of talent but not a team, France have the players to cause a lot of damage but have the wrong coach, I’ve always enjoyed watching the Italians and I think they will be a lot stronger than people are expecting. But I would go for Germany (14/1 at BetFred), even with all of their injury worries, I think they are an incredibly well organised and efficient side who are quietly going about their business. I think they can seriously build a good run through the tournament, and should be watched out for.

Golden Boot Winner:
Yes, the likes of David Villa, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Luis Fabiano and Wayne Rooney will be the favourites, but my selection comes from left field a bit. Argentina and England won’t score enough goals to put their strikers in with a real chance, so the safer bet would be the Spaniards. However, I am plumping for Arsenal’s Robin van Persie (12/1 at Bet365) to set things alight. Holland have an easy group and the way they are playing at the moment, and firing on all cylinders, makes them a safe bet to be one of the tournament’s top scoring teams, and if that happens, then Van Persie will be in the thick of it. Out of the favourites, Fabiano is probably the most accomplished all round striker at the World Cup. He can do it all, on the ground, in the air, and stabbing home from the goal line, so he would be my tip there, especially as I’ve backed Brazil to win the World Cup, it will be his goals that get them there.

How The Tournament Will Go:
There is a lot of potential for some upsets in the Group Stages, there really are. Even though the seeded teams usually find a way to pull through, there could be some real scares along the way. I would not be surprised to see both Mexico and Uruguay pushing France all of the way in Group A, similarly Paraguay and Slovakia doing the same to Italy in Group F. I would also not be surprised to see all African nations fall at the first hurdle, as I think they are flattering to deceive in World Cup odds, and I think the African game is in for a real shock, a real wake up call, at World Cup 2010. The one I’m most interested in, is seeing if South Africa can keep the history of every host nation reaching the second round. There could be a couple of surprising names in the last sixteen, and I fancy South Korea and Slovenia both to sneak in. As for England, they just don’t have it in them unfortunately, and I hope I’m wrong. If things go to plan, they will have to beat Spain and Brazil along they way in order to do so, I cannot see that happening with the current crop of players. The World Cup final everyone wants to see is Spain v Brazil, and if on July 11th, that is the line-up, then it could be one of the most memorable World Cup finals for years.