Jim Haysom | This Is Your Life an internet professional in digital advertising

FIFA World Cup 2010 Betting Odds South Africa Pre-Draw

It's only about 8 hours away, and the FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa draw takes place to select the teams for the Group stages for next summer's football spectacular.  I can't wait.  Is this finally England's chance to avoid 'Group of Death' and get to the final and end the 44 years of waiting to win the FIFA World Cup again?

I'm not a massive betting man, but am surprised that pre-draw, England are in fact 3rd favourites to win it.  Christ, have we ever had it so good, or are people thinking the Golden Generation are going to finally bring home the treasures on what is likely to be their last attempt?  Albeit that Spain and Brazil stand in our way with equal betting odds, our route through the qualifiers was decent enough and Fabio Capello has instilled some increased confidence in the team.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and when Charlize Theron co-hosts the draw in front of millions, if not billions of people around the world, you are sure that the betting odds will change post-draw.  Depending on just how lucky each of the teams are to avoid the Ivory Coast, Portugal and France (the so-called European teams likely to upset those in Pot 1), we'll see some interesting odds being touted.

Below are the screen grabs taken at 8am today from OddsChecker.com.  Ignore the yellow lines, this was just from the Snagit scrolling down the screen.  Click on the thumnails to view a larger image.

FIFA World Cup 2010 Betting Odds for the Winner (Pre-Draw)

FIFA World Cup 2010 Betting Odds for the Finalists (Pre-Draw)

FIFA World Cup 2010 Betting Odds for Top Goalscorer

It's always the case that once a team wins, you are thinking afterwards, "JFC, I wish I put on a tenner on that team to reach the final, or win".  Take Greece in Euro 2004 , they went into the competiton with odds of 150-1.  This would have been a nice bunsen burner!

If the Ivory Coast go into a week group, who's to say that Didier Drogba doesn't bang in a couple of hat-tricks?  I'd be confident that the guys from the African Nations will certainly put a few away, credit to Chelsea FC nurturing these goal hungry players.  Given that last World Cup in Germany 2006, Miroslav Klose got the golden boot for 5 goals.  Come on, seriously, are you saying that was the worthy of such a title.  At least in 2002 Ronaldo got 8 goals, and Brazil went on to win it.  Get some interesting FIFA World Cup statistics here.

The newspapers have been speculating who would be England's best possible draw and worst draw, their Group of Death.  The Sun newspaper are saying;

England's worst possible draw: USA (B), Ivory Coast (C), France (D)

England's best possible draw: New Zealand (B), Algeria (C), Slovakia (D)

We'll have to see.  If we do draw France or even Portugal in the same group, it will be certainly an entertaining first week in June next year.  With England seeded for the tournament, we will avoid the likes of Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Holland, who pose the biggest threat, but France and Portugal cannot be reckoned with.  Who wants to play against 'Le Cheat' or 'The Winker'.

The pots for the World Cup 2010 draw are as follows;

Pot 1: South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain

Pot 2: Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, USA, New Zealand

Pot 3: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

Pot 4: Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland

The range of betting odds pre-draw is quite surprising.  You can almost bet on anything!  If you check OddsChecker.com and you'll see everything you'd expect from Winner, to Reach the Final and even England Player to be sent off.  Below I've pasted links to the main ones so you can have a flutter yourself...

To Win World Cup 2010
Top Goalscorer
To Reach Final
Continent of Winner
To Host 2018 World Cup

England Specials

England Top Goalscorer
Stage of Elimination
Pot 2 Oppenents
Pot 3 Oppenents
Pot 4 Opponents
Group Stage Oppenents
Next Players To Be Sent Off
England Fans Player of the Year
England to be Knocked Out Stage

And a classic, To Start Opening World Cup Match in Goal.  Only wish there was one for "Will Lampard and Gerrard combo in midfield be a success this year?"   But if we think it will, it might be worth a punt on the following;

To Progress Further Than Brazil
To Play Brazil In Final

Anyway, I'll write another blog post at the weekend, to compare the odds.  Then we can be as sick a parrot if New Zealand win it.

Good luck England!