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Statistics show World Cup odds can be deceptive

Posted on 18/10 by HS Jackson Jnr

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 Bet-au.com has a definitive guide to the World Cup Betting Odds online now. With updated odds, previews and free bets.


Being labelled as World Cup betting favourites well in advance of the competition does not always fare a team well, statistics show.

Both Brazil and Spain have been at the top of the betting for South Africa 2010 for months, with both sides qualifying weeks before their group fixtures drew to an end.

World Cup odds at Betfair have Brazil and Spain both on 6.00 and as joint favourites to lift the trophy in South Africa next year.

But Brazil were also favourites with many bookies before the 2006 World Cup in Germany but failed to shine and went out to France in the quarter finals.

Italy, who were in a clutch of seven teams with shorter odds, but who were largely unfavoured, ending up as champions last time around.

A good qualifying campaign does not necessarily lead to success, as Germany found out in 1998 when they came through the initial stages undefeated only to lose to Croatia in the quarter-finals that year.

Spain also cruised through their qualification games for World Cup 1998, but fared even worse that year, failing to make it out of the group stages.

A stuttering qualification campaign has actually led some sides to considerable success – Fifa's stats book shows Germany, who won Italia 90, struggled during qualification and made it though by coming second in their group; they went on to win the tournament proper.


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