World Cup betting odds and tips

World Cup Group Stages

  GROUP A

Group A sees hosts South Africa take on 1998 winners France along with Mexico and Uruguay with France billed as favourites to finish top and qualify for the second round at a price of 11/10.
The bookmakers are tipping Mexico to join the 2006 runners-up in advancing from Group A at a best price of 10/11 whilst Uruguay are priced at 11/10 and South Africa a long shot at 9/4.
Group A World Cup Betting Tip: The key fixture in this group will be on 22 June when Mexico face Uruguay with the winners potentially picking up the runners-up spot behind France and with Mexico far from convincing in a weak qualifying stage I’d back Uruguay to join France in the last sixteen.

  GROUP B

Despite being unimpressive on their route to South Africa, Argentina go into the competition as strong favourites to qualify for the last sixteen as Group B winners. The likes of Messi, Tevez, Aguero and Higuain, when on form, can take a part the best in the world and so Nigeria, Greece and South Korea must beware.
Nigeria are second favourites to qualify at 11/10 closely followed by Greece at 5/4 and South Korea at 3/1 but I think that Greece, with the help of Europe’s top scorer during qualification Theofanis Geka, could just sneak passed their opponents and into the second round.
Group B World Cup Betting Tip: A price of 8/15 for Argentina to win the group looks a sure bet but who will take the other qualification place is far from obvious.

  GROUP C

Group C is perhaps the most clear cut of all with England and the USA both strongly fancied to reach the second round with the opening match between those two likely to determine who will win it. The battle for second place should be won by the USA who are priced at 10/13 to make the second round with Slovenia and Algeria big outsiders at a price of 15/8 and 4/1 respectively.
Group C World Cup Betting Tip: Fabio Capello’s men strongly favoured at a price of 4/11
A price of 10/11 on Germany finishing top looks a safe bet with Serbia favourites to qualify behind them at a price of 5/4. Australia seem to have been ruled out of the running for qualification to the last sixteen at a price of 5/2, behind Ghana who are at 11/8, and so a bet on the Socceroos making the last sixteen could well be worth considering.

  GROUP D

Group D World Cup Betting Tip: Germany are a sound bet to reach the second round in a relatively weak group. 
Group E is hard a one to predict with Holland, Denmark, Cameroon and Japan all capable of booking a place in the second round. Holland appeared to shake off their tag of big tournament underachievers and the host of world class players in their side means they are favourites to qualify at 1/4 which looks a safe bet. Cameroon were ruthless during qualifying and so they are second favourites at 11/10.

  GROUP E

Group E World Cup Betting Tip: Hard to predict, with Holland putting on a decent show at Euro 2008, but Denmark’s world cup experience could be crucial and they could be a good bet at a price of 6/5 whilst Japan may also have something to say about it with odds of 11/4 being offered.

  GROUP F

Holders Italy are nailed on to qualify for the second round as winners of Group F at a best price of 1/2 with Slovakia and Paraguay set to fight it out for second place and so the fixture between these two on 20 June could be crucial. New Zealand have done fantastically to reach the finals for just the second time in their history but at a price of 12/1 it is unlikely we’ll be seeing them beyond the group stage.
Group F World Cup Betting Tip: Italy will definitely make it through, but from then it will be a fight between Slovakia and Paraguay.

GROUP G

Group G has been dubbed the group of death and that is certainly the case for North Korea who I imagine would just be happy to score once in their three fixtures against Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal. At 4/6 Brazil should be certainties for the second round with the match between Ivory Coast and Portugal on 15 June likely to decide who will join them.
Group G World Cup Betting Tip: Brazil are sure to get through, but given Portugal’s poor qualifying campaign and the Premier League quality throughout the African side, a bet on Ivory Coast qualifying at 10/11 is worth considering.
4/1 favourites Spain make up part of Group H and the Euro 2008 winners are unsurprisingly favourites to finish top of their group at a best price of 1/3. Who will join them is a lot less clear cut with Chile second favourites to qualify at 8/11. Honduras will no doubt just be glad to be in the world cup for the first time since 1982 but they are unlikely to advance from the group at a price of 5/1. Switzerland however, were impressive in qualifying and with players like Alexander Frei, Philippe Senderos and Marco Streller they have every chance of making the last sixteen and odds of 6/4 should be taken into account.

  GROUP H

Group H World Cup Betting Tip: Spain are the favourites, and are bound to get through, and to join them, Switzerland have been rather impressive in qualifying.