Anyone playing a World Cup bracket contest will obviously look to the favorites heading into the tournament in a couple of weeks, and each team on this event’s list of favorites has a definite chance of winning the biggest tournament in soccer. Spain (+425): The Spanish won at Euro 2008, but they’ve never finished higher than fourth in the World Cup, and that was way back in 1950. Heading into the tournament, there are fitness concerns over a host of players like Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, but Spain still has enough weapons who are healthy, such as David Villa and Xabi Alonso.
Brazil (+450): The big news was Ronaldinho being left out of the squad, but five-time champion Brazil will still be a threat, led by Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano. Under Dunga, Brazil has been less adventurous going forward, but they have one of their best defenses in a long time, and keeper Julio Cesar had a great year in goal for Inter Milan. They’re favored in World Cup Group G betting
in the “Group of Death” with Portugal and the Ivory Coast, which is a good warm-up for the later stages of the tournament.
England (+650): England will be led by Wayne Rooney, who had an amazing season with Manchester United, and the midfield duo of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. The defense isn’t that quick in the middle with Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, but they’re solid positionally, although Ferdinand is prone to mental lapses, and many are wondering if the burden of the captaincy will change his game. The biggest question for manager Fabio Capello is in goal, where Robert Green, David James and Joe Hart are still battling for the No.1 spot.
Argentina (+675): Diego Maradona led the team to glory in 1986 as a player, and now he’ll aim to do so as a manager, and he has arguably the best player in the world in Lionel Messi, although Messi hasn’t played as well for Argentina as he has for Barcelona. He should have plenty of help as Diego Milito Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez all had brilliant seasons for their clubs. Many 2010 World Cup betting picks will include Argentina when it’s all said and done.
The Netherlands (+1200): The Dutch are the darkhorses in this group, and it’s strange to think that they have never won the World Cup, although their philosophy of “total football” lives on today. Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel all played in the Champions League final, and they’ll be counted on in South Africa. However, unless the Dutch can sort out their problems at the back, they won’t get past the top four.
Online sports betting pick: Argentina +675
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