WORLD CUP WINNER

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Brazil	3.50	3.50	3.25	3	3.25	3.70	3.65	3.60
England	8	8.50	7.50	9	9	9	9	8
Germany	9	8.50	9	9.50	8	8	8	9.50
Argentina	9	10	9	10	9	8	10	8.50
Italy	10	10	9	11	9	9	9.50	10.50
France	12	15	13	15	11	12	13.50	15.50
Holland	13	15	13	15	14	13	15	13
Spain	15	15	13	17	14	16	15	16
Portugal	23	26	21	26	20	20	21	22
Czech Republic	29	26	34	26	28	22	29	31
Sweden	41	34	41	41	40	40	34	38
Mexico	41	51	51	51	50	30	34	41
Ukraine	67	41	67	67	75	50	41	56
Croatia	67	67	67	67	80	70	67	66
Ivory Cost	81	101	51	101	80	100	101	78
USA	81	101	81	101	100	-	81	75
Serbia & Mont.	81	101	101	101	100	100	101	86
Poland	126	81	101	101	100	100	126	96
Switzerland	126	101	151	151	150	100	101	101
Australia	126	151	81	151	150	100	151	116
Paraguay	201	251	201	201	150	150	151	151
Korea	251	251	201	251	200	200	151	190
Japan	301	301	201	201	250	200	151	183
Ghana	301	301	251	251	200	150	201	221
Ecuador	301	301	401	251	200	200	251	187
Tunisia	301	301	401	401	250	250	251	251
Togo	751	751	501	501	500	400	501	351
Costa Rica	751	501	501	751	500	500	751	421
Angola	751	751	751	751	300	350	501	401
Iran	751	751	501	751	750	350	501	451
Saudi Arabia	1001	1001	751	1001	1000	400	751	561
Trinidad & Tobago	1501	1501	1001	1001	1500	600	1001	901

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Couple of stand out prices for me right now are France (20/1), Czech (30/1), Sweden (67/1), Mexico (81/1), Ireland (140/1).

France currently sitting in 4th position with a game in hand which could potentially take them joint top. You can never discount a side that consists of players such as Henry, Trezeguet, Giuly, Viera etc.

Ok they are not playing too well at the minute but come the World Cup and if as expected they were to qualify then this could be a juicy price just now.

Czech and Sweden are both second in their respective leagues. Czech we all know from the European Championships are a terrific technically gifted side who should've possibly went on to win the tournament.

Sweden are a solid outfit and are always tough to beat. They have some good players who are getting better game by game such as Ibrahimovic and they should be in the running come the start of the tournament.

Mexico i have added purely on their run they went on where they only lost once in around their last 25 international matches. Showed against the Brazilians and Argentinians they are capable of matching them for 90 minutes on the pitch where they beat Brazil and went out on pens to Argentina. Hard side to break down and they should go well.

Ireland are my outside bet. Whether they qualify for the finals is another matter but truth be told they should've been out of site by now to be honest. Two draws against Israel have messed them up a bit as they conceded a goal in the dying seconds to draw 1-1 away, then they were 2-0 up and cruising before throwing their lead away and drawing again.

In Duff they have a player capable of breaking down any defence and in Keane upfront they have a goalscorer for them that will play out his skin for them for the entire match.

[Beanie]

Thought you hated these long term bets Kiko?

Good post all the same

How'd you rate the US chances? As usual riding high in the Fifa rankings, and often full of surprises at the big tournaments.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

In a couple of words Beanie - no chance

The US is getting better each year and the quality of the MLS league now is vastly improving with some top players coming through the ranks for them which can only be a good thing for the National side. A lot though are rather young so i think next year will come to early for them but in the next few years i expect the US side to improve drastically and will soon enough be on a par with some decent European and South American sides.

In Beasley, Donavon they have an attack that can cause some damage to other sides but the rest of the side is rather thin with real quality to cause any waves in here.

Not a fan of the long term bets but since i am taking over here i will have to at least have some threads for people to read and get involved with.

[Peter Orchard]

I took some USA back in March @ 150 but the market is slow moving and they're around 130 now but there's loads of time.
I can't believe that a team ranked so high at FIFA can be such an outsider but I bought it as a trading object and if and when they qualify for Germany they'll be well tradeable.

Also took
Ivory Coast @ 150
Sweden @ 60
Belgium @ 300 (good WC pedigree but uncertain to qualify now)
Senegal @ 130 (looks doubtful that they'll be in Germany)

Already bought and sold France but I hear Zidane and Makalele have made themselves available again.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

That Sweden bet is a great IMO.

They are such a solid outfit. No real superstars in their side compared to most National sides but they have players who will run and support each other all day long. They have a habit of going well in tournaments and WC 2006 could be just in time for Ibrahimovic for example to peak for this tournament.

I stated in the French group thread about them returning and how it can only be a good thing for the French. They have missed the creativity and the engine room of the two of them. Seen lots of French reports calling them both the savours of French football.

Great isn't it - after waiting so long for the season to start we are basically going to have 2 years of straight top quality football

[Peter Orchard]

Cameroon who have appeared in 5 WC finals took on Egypt, a side with nothing to play for, and the home win formality will secure them a berth in Germany next year.
1-0 up and they decide to sit back. Typically, the Egyptians equalise.

Meanwhile Ivory Coast are winning their final qualifier to take 'em to the top of the league.

Cameroon get a penalty in the 94th minute. E'too declines to take it but the other guy misses. Referee blows for full time and Cameroon fail to qualify.
I don't think I've ever seen anything so incredibly naiive before.

It keeps the futures bet alive but I saw Ivory Coast against the French not so long ago and though that was only a dress rehearsal, I see the Africans being easily outsmarted in Germany by the better sides.

They could beat England, of course
(9,60 to win the Jules Rimet is a joke surely, and propped up by some very expensive (and misplaced) patriotism is my guess.)

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Well thats the latest odds taking there and it seems we have got some very nice prices earlier on Peter although there are a few im surprised haven't dropped so much.

Czech available at 60s now at Betfair. I fancy them to go to Finland and get at least the draw i think it is they require then in a play off match i would fancy them against most of the teams that look like being there.

Might have a little nibble again

[Beanie]

Not entirely sure if this is the right place for it, but a huge well done to Togo for making it to the finals. Was reading a peice in the paper about their fairly horrific recent history, and the stories of football slowly beginning to make a difference and start to unite the country, giving people something to be positive about, is really good to hear.

(I reserve the right to change my tune when I'm settling down in front of the box next year with only Slovenia v Togo on the box )

[Peter Orchard]

I think the Africans will play some entertaining football in Germany.
Two things that go in their favour:
1. The surprise factor - ala Senegal last time.
2. The decent pitches they'll be able to play on quite unlike the terrible uneven pitches they're used to in Africa.

Still, I think they'll come up short against the more "savvy" teams and I, personally, don't see an African world cup champion this time either.

[Peter Orchard]

One thing more.
We know how difficult it is for teams from the other half of the globe to win this trophy and yet I can't help feeling the 27,00 for Portugal and the 65,00 for Mexico are mixed up.

[GETT1NLOTS]

Holland are a good price at 12.00

They're from the right continent, have a great set of players and are performing well as a team for the first time in ages.

[mord]

i already have Ivory coast - @500, @600 - now @150 for LAY
Ghana @300, @320 - now @260 for LAY all on BetFair

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Latest there now after the draw. A World Cup Predictor thing here with the BBC...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/...06/default.stm

Below is my predictions and by going through it i really do believe there are some laying opportunities in backing USA, Czech, Sweden and Austrailia especially and then hoping they qualify and see their odds plummeting and laying off.

USA i said earlier i thought they had no chance but i have since changed my mind. They have the quality in their starting 11 although defensively could prove their downfall.

I also thought their squad wasn't the best but since seeing them in action with a reserve side against Scotland for one they look like they certainly are going to be taking a solid squad with them.

A big thing for them would be to top this group as Brazil should win their one meaning second has the tough game of them in the second round.



So i will be placing the following bes hoping to lay off.

USA @ 100/1
Czech @ 35/1
Sweden @ 50/1
Austrailia @ 125/1

[rhys jones]

What are you drinking mate?

Holland & Italy 13/1

Not even in your last 16

Only 6 teams can win World Cup 2006.

The 2 sides above and Brazil obviously, Czech Republic, Argentina & England