Tips & recommendations World Cup 2010
June 11th is the when the first ball will be kicked in anger at the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, so that means, if you get in early enough, there is plenty of time to scope out antepost betting scenes. There are plenty of options around for laying your money down upon right now, and it is the perfect chance to pick up some longer odds. The earlier the betting on a sporting event, the increased likelihood that you will get better odds. As it stands, thirty two nations are in with a chance (however great or slim) at winning the World Cup. Come the end of the group stages, it will be down to just sixteen, and therefore, odds will be slashed. As well as being a great time to pick out the Outright Winner for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it is also a good chance to pick up a great price on that elusive dark horse.
It is worth remembering though that the bookmakers are not about to give their money away freely, and teams which are listed at beyond 50/1 really are not going stand that much of a chance of pulling off a major shock, certainly not in the outright category. But with strong South American teams like Chile and Paraguay in the mix, upsets are more than possible at the individual match level. Prices for all of the group matches can be found at online bookmakers right now. With that in mind, part of placing your bets is about dreaming, though it’s not a particularly great idea to let your heart rule your head when it comes to money. But for the dream chasers out there, it can be a good time to put your money down early. There is nothing like planning ahead, and between qualification times and the World Cup itself, a lot can change with regards to a team’s fortunes.
The categories that you will be looking at as early fields of betting, will be the choice for the outright winner of the tournament, as well as the winners of the individual groups. It is during the group stages, there is a chance to perhaps pick one of the ultimate dark horses, a nation that is on the brink of qualifying for the last sixteen. In order to pick out someone from that category, look at the qualification records form Europe and across the world. With long gaps in international fixtures, form is all important, and simple stats like goals for and against can give a good indication of where a team is at. Also studying any past history between group rivals will help, as some teams hold good records against other nations. If you find a good attacking side in a group with predominantly defensive teams, this could tip the balance in favour of betting on an outsider to qualify. Remember, it has happened before with the likes of South Korea, and there’s every chance of an unexpected name or two getting to the knockout stages.
Unseeded teams France, Portugal and the Ivory Coast dangerously floating around the draw (with France having the most favourable group draw of all) now is the time to get your money down on the long shot. Look for the groups in which the top two are fairly secured of qualifying above the rest of the group, and pick from one of them. Their odds will be longer now than they will be once the group stage is over. If you are looking for tips on who to go for, then always look for pedigree. Nations such as Germany and Italy will usually go deep into a tournament, no matter the status of their team. They possess the big stage temperament which makes them a threat, even if they were not in form going into the tournament, or through qualification. These kind of teams generally produce when it matters.
Picking the outright winner for the World Cup 2010, will likely come down to just a handful of teams. Such is the strength of favourites, such as Brazil and Spain, unless you bet big, the return is not going to be that rewarding. Having said that though, with the favourites hovering around 4 or 5 to one in ante post betting, it still represents a good return on a favourites. Bookies are currently fluctuating between the two nations as the favourite to win the tournament come the final on July 11th, 2010. England and Argentina have shortened their odds since securing qualification, and then it is from the pack behind the favourites, the teams which start out around 10/1 which will include the likes of holders Italy, Germany, Holland and France, which will be the fun group to select from. If there is going to be a winner outside of the outright favourites, then this is where they will come from.
