World cup 2010 thread

[Rod Flanders]

I know its early but I wanted to start this thread to see who people think will win the world cup. I will be on antepost.

Spain = Pure class all over the pitch and they have to be favourites in my opinion.

Brazil = World cup wouldnt be the same without Brazil and they have a good chance though they are very fragile at the back.

Argentina = If Maradonna gets it right they are more than capable of winning it with the players they have.

Germany = So good at getting results when they need them, cant be written off.

My antepost prediction is SPAIN

I will also have a few bob on the Germans.

[Timstertoo]

I'd say England, Portugal and the Netherlands can be contenders too.

I realise Portugal had a hard time getting there but they do have a pretty good team.

We (the Netherlands) won every match in our pool and seem to have gotten better in defending.

Although we didn't score in our practice matches I think it's hard to deny that we have a worldclass offensive line. (Sneijder, van Persie, Robben, Kuijt, vd Vaart, van Nistelrooij, Huntelaar to name but a few and the list goes on)

Apparantely we can even afford to not bring Seedorf, who has won the champions league 4 times with 3 different clubs. I really don't get why every Dutch coach doesn't put his name on a white piece of paper first and then starts thinking.

[FrankTheTank]

I have this nagging feeling about Brazil that wont go away...Definitely fragile at the back at times but for once have a decent keeper in Julio Cesar. Also still the only team to win a world cup in another continent.

Will Spain blow up again? certainly wasnt expecting them to be beaten by the USA at the Confederations Cup.

Germans will always be there or thereabouts.

Argentina have all the ingredients, but Maradona probably isnt the man to be leading them.

Could England actually do something this World Cup...strong squad but the jury is still out. No team has won a world cup with a dodgy keeper...except Brazil.

[Torrezno]

Will Spain blow up again? certainly wasnt expecting them to be beaten by the USA at the Confederations Cup.

As a Spaniard, I fear that they will blow it again, despite the excelent current play level, but everybody is dreaming again in our country ab out it...

[refer80]

Agree with Torrenzo,Spain i feel always under achieve.Portugal will do well,but for me the dutch are the ones.

[Timstertoo]

Agree with Torrenzo,Spain i feel always under achieve.Portugal will do well,but for me the dutch are the ones.

Well don't bet your house on us doing well. We'll play football from another planet in the pool, then we get a great opponent in the quarter finals we'll shred them to bits and lose from a very average team after that.

Or we get an average team in the quarter finals and everyone will be only talking about who are possible opponent will be in the semi's and get beaten with a very depressing 1-0

The only way we might win is if we play the Portugese in the quarters, the Germans in the semi and the Italians in the final. As those will motivate us enough to keep playing our best game.

[Scalper]

If Capello can keep our best players fit then we will take some stopping, this is the first England team I thought was capable of achieving something since Euro 96.

[Emkayracing]

Market reads; Brazil / Spain 5.8, England 8.4, Argentina 12, Germany 14.5, 17.5 Bar (Netherlands, Italy)

Even though I shall be laying England there is absolutely no point in doing so yet because the mug punters will be out in force nearer the time. 8.4 will not hang around if they get an easy-ish group and then the Carlsberg-swilling three Lion brigade will want to throw their money away - so let them.

Last time around I backed Argentina at all prices down to 10 pre-tournament, they beat Serbia & Montenegro 6-0 and they found themselves at the head of the market. Greened up, got out and the rest....

Nobody gave either France or Italy much hope last time around and I note that every team mentioned in this thread so far is quoted in the above list of seven.

If only it was that easy

[FrankTheTank]

Nobody gave either France or Italy much hope last time around and I note that every team mentioned in this thread so far is quoted in the above list of seven.

I actually backed Italy last time in my 'mug punter' days didnt know about betfair at the time...probably my last ever straight bet on a World Cup

[Rod Flanders]

Market reads; Brazil / Spain 5.8, England 8.4, Argentina 12, Germany 14.5, 17.5 Bar (Netherlands, Italy)

Even though I shall be laying England there is absolutely no point in doing so yet because the mug punters will be out in force nearer the time. 8.4 will not hang around if they get an easy-ish group and then the Carlsberg-swilling three Lion brigade will want to throw their money away - so let them.

Last time around I backed Argentina at all prices down to 10 pre-tournament, they beat Serbia & Montenegro 6-0 and they found themselves at the head of the market. Greened up, got out and the rest....

Nobody gave either France or Italy much hope last time around and I note that every team mentioned in this thread so far is quoted in the above list of seven.

If only it was that easy

john mccririck was on soccer am and he says the 6/1 sky bet are offering on england winning is a total disgrace. if england touch 7's on betfair ill be laying them for big money, they wont win it.

[Emkayracing]

To clarify, a mug punter is a sheep... The type of person who backs horses because Pricewise or Templegate suggested they do so

There will be a huge national gamble on England to win the World Cup, that much is for certain.

It's a layers market (The outright) whichever way you look at it. Spain have always been found wanting in the World Cup, they were impressive in the Euros but you cannot carry two year old form into another competition. Brazil should be clear favs in my opinion because I believe that they would be favs to beat any of the other six teams at the head of the betting in 90 mins. England are England - they could beat Brazil then lose on pens to Ghana , Argentina need to improve (But you have to assume that they will) and Germany are a great 'Tournament' team (Sneaking through is always on the cards). I can't see the Netherlands turning it on in South Africa and Italy may also come up short.

It's a wasted exercise sticking your neck out with 'I think ____ will win' at this stage - get the group draws and work out a few possible scenarios from there.

Personally I would lay Spain at 9 and be happy doing so, if people want to take 4.8 it's up to them

[FrankTheTank]

To clarify, a mug punter is a sheep... The type of person who backs horses because Pricewise or Templegate suggested they do so

haha i wasnt that bad but i just backed them for the sake of keeping it interesting for myself used to back horses just on the name as well...how clever

[Knight Rider]

Lay England on the days "The Sun " newspaper decide to either ....

1)cover their entire front page with the national flag and the words "C'mon England"

2) Do a doublepage spread in the back pages where they compare each player of the current team with each in the 1966 winning side using some dodgy "out of 10 " rating system

[Scumbag trader]

Lay England on the days "The Sun " newspaper decide to either ....

1)cover their entire front page with the national flag and the words "C'mon England"

2) Do a doublepage spread in the back pages where they compare each player of the current team with each in the 1966 winning side using some dodgy "out of 10 " rating system

classic

[jibiko]

'I Am Sure the Game Was Manipulated'
Interview with Match-Fixing Investigator Declan Hill
(about World Cup fixed games)

p.s. Excuse me for the double post but it's an interesting article
and it's worth to mention it here.