With NBA Finals Lakers vs. Celtics picks, some American bettors may be overlooking the beautiful game, the FIFA World Cup. It starts Friday morning at 7:30 EST.
Some World Cup power rankings are out:
5. Netherlands: Awesome squad with an amazing playing style, I think this year might be it. However every four years we say the same thing…
4. England: Their chances rely on the coach as Fabio Capello has won it all in soccer.
3. Argentina: Their attack is just simple and out of this world, but their coach could be their down side.
2. Brazil: Think about this, they are Brazilians and nobody plays offensive football prettier and better than them, and now coach Dunga has taught them how to defend.
1.Spain: Their golden generation arrives at this tournament knowing that they can win big games. Spain is packed with playmakers, great playing style and a great coach. Finding a low spot is almost impossible with this team.
More of this article and more World Cup previews are on BetMarketWatch.com
Some of the best previews out there, especially for bettors, are from ScoresOddsPicks Senior Writer Shea Matthews.
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.
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Now for the latest odds to win the World Cup from BetED
Spain | +400 |
England | +650 |
Brazil | +400 |
Argentina | +650 |
Italy | +1200 |
Germany | +1000 |
Holland | +900 |
France | +1800 |
Portugal | +2600 |
Ivory Coast | +4000 |
Chile | +6600 |
Ghana | +8000 |
Paraguay | +8000 |
USA | +8000 |
Serbia | +5000 |
Cameroon | +10000 |
Nigeria | +15000 |
Denmark | +15000 |
Uruguay | +8000 |
Greece | +15000 |
Switzerland | +20000 |
Australia | +17500 |
Mexico | +6600 |
South Africa | +15000 |
Slovenia | +25000 |
Slovakia | +25000 |
Japan | +30000 |
Honduras | +100000 |
Algeria | +45000 |
South Korea | +20000 |
North Korea | +150000 |
New Zealand | +200000 |