The biggest event in all of sports is just a few weeks away. Time to put our soccer betting caps on and start prepping for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. We'll start our group stage analysis with – you guessed it – Group A. Odds to win the group are listed in brackets beside each team.
France (EVEN)
The French are considered the class of this group but their sportsbook odds suggests bettors aren't totally confident in them. They barely qualified for the tournament, needing Thierry Henry's controversial handball goal against the Republic of Ireland to do it. Along with Henry, France has another great offensive talent in Frank Ribery, but this isn't as deep of a team as we've seen in recent World Cups.
Mexico (+350)
Mexico has to soldier on without its all-time scoring leader, Jared Borgetti, but it still has a solid, consistent team with good athletes like Giovani Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and Andres Guardado leading the way. Mexico's ceiling isn't too high but its floor isn't too low, either.
Uruguay (+400)
Many betting advice experts – myself included – like Uruguay's chances in Group A. Unlike, say, North Korea in the Group of Death, Uruguay arguably doesn't have a superpower to contend with now that France has slipped. Its midfield leaves a bit to be desired but Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez are solid offensive players. Diego Godin is a strong presence on defense, too.
South Africa (+600)
Every host nation in World Cup history has survived the group stage, and South Africa will have wild crowd support, but the betting consensus is that there's a first time for everything. South Africa may well be the first host to flop in the group stage as it simply doesn't have the same caliber of talent as its peers in Group A, save for Steven PIenaar.
Free pick: France and Uruguay. France's handful of elite players should step up and Uruguay should outgun Mexico with its strikers. This should be one of the closer groups overall, however. France is no lock.
