Betting Preview of Soccer World Cup 2010
With the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in the not so distant future, teams are trying to qualify at a frantic pace for the first ever World Cup in Africa. As of the first round, 23 of the 32 teams have qualified for the world’s most prestigious soccer event, most notably Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Spain, who have all qualified for at least nine straight World Cup events.
Both Spain and the Netherlands had cake walks to their qualifying process, finishing a combined 19-0-0 to earn their spots. Both teams are serious contenders to win it all in South Africa next year. At +500 to win the World Cup, Spain has the most star power of any team, boasting a tournament high six Ballon d’Or nominees, or European Footballer of the Year: Cassilas, Fabregad, Torres, Iniesta, Villa and Xavi.
The qualification process was not so easy for the other World Cup entrants. England (+680) finished 9-0-1 but had to fight through a tough group that included Croatia and Ukraine. Midfielders Lampard and Gerrard are expected to lead the English to a hopeful World Cup victory.
Other European automatic qualifiers included Italy (+1600), Serbia (+7500), Germany (+1250), Denmark (+14500), Switzerland (+27000) and Slovakia (+37000). Italy are the defending champs from 2006, while Germany last won in 1990. Slovakia is a two time runner up in 1934 and 1962, but last qualified in 1990 for the World Cup. Serbia, Denmark and Switzerland combine for six World Cup quarterfinals over the years – not exactly new to the event.
In South America, Brazil (+510), Chile (+4850), Paraguay (+8000) and Argentina (+950) all qualified, with Uruguay (+20000) on the outside looking in pending a playoff with Costa Rica. Uruguay now faces a home and away match against Costa Rica on November 14 and November 18, the winner of which will earn a spot in the World Cup. Needless to say, it would be a massive upset if Costa Rica emerged as the winner.
Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s best player, leads Argentina (+950), who have been failing to live up to their potential so far, qualifying on the last day with a win over Uruguay. Once World Cup contenders, Argentina has soccer fans across the world scratching their heads after bad losses to countries like Bolivia. Out of South America, Brazil is the likeliest to win the World Cup, having already torn through their qualifying process as well as featuring a laundry list of superstars like Robinho, Alves, and Ballon d’Or nominees Cesar, Fabiano, Maicon, Kaka and Diego. Brazil have qualified 19 straight World Cups, winning five times, the last coming in 2002.
In North America, Central America and the Caribbean – known as CONCACAF – the United States and Mexico both cruised to qualification. Honduras (+88000) had to sweat out the third berth, as Costa Rica tied after a USA goal in the 95th minute to tie and give Honduras the win after their victory over El Salvador. It was Honduras’ first World Cup appearance since 1982 and the most dramatic finish of any qualifier by far. Uruguay and Costa Rica now face off to determine who will receive the final qualifying spot between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL – the South American teams.
Both the United States (+11000) and Mexico (+13500) are capable of making noise in the World Cup, as both teams have star power. The US features Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore, who last played for Villareal in Europe. Mexico boasts Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela, who both recently played for Barcelona and Arsenal. Neither team will have a good chance of winning the World Cup, but a quarterfinals appearance would be a successful journey for either country in 2010.
Asia’s qualifiers include South Korea (+45500), Korea DPR (+100000), Australia (+12500) and Japan, with Bahrain and New Zealand in a playoff to determine the final spot. None of these teams are expected to make an impact in South Africa, despite the fact that Australia made it to the Round of 16 in 2006, losing to eventual winner Italy, 1-0. In fact, the Aussies were seconds away from deciding the game with penalty kicks before Totti netted a goal at the 95th minute.
Though teams in Africa are traditionally the doormats of the World Cup, this may change with the event being hosted on their soil. If Cameroon (+12000) qualifies, they possess one of the world’s best strikers in Samuel Eto’o, who also plays for Italy’s Inter. The team with the best shot of making a splash in the World Cup, though, is Ivory Coast, with a pair of Ballon d’Or nominees in Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba. Ghana (+6500) has also qualified, and Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Cameroon and Gabon are all fighting for a spot. South Africa are an automatic qualifier due to hosting the event, and are not expected to qualify for the Round of 16 once the World Cup begins. Ranked 85th in the world by FIFA, South Africa (+11000) are the second worst team to have qualified for the World Cup, the worst being Korea DPR (+100000) at 91st in the world. Not surprisingly, Korea DPR qualifying was the first time since 1966, the longest drought of any team.
Overall, the two teams most likely to reach the World Cup finals are Spain and Brazil, which should come as no surprise to anyone with a finger on the pulse of international soccer. Both teams are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the FIFA world rankings, and Brazil’s rich soccer tradition includes five World Cup championships, the last coming in 2002. The United States spoiled what could have been an epic 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup between the two countries, ultimately losing to Brazil 3-2. Other possibilities for the World Cup include Ivory Coast, England, Germany and defending champions Italy.
