World Cup betting: Spain expected to brush aside Switzerland
PRE-TOURNAMENT favourites Spain and Switzerland are the final two teams to get their campaigns under way today as they lock horns in Durban and predictably it’s Vicente del Bosque’s side that are fancied to make a winning start, 888Sport pricing them at 2/7 to see off the stubborn Swiss.
Ottmar Hitzfeld’s troops, 12/1 with Victor Chandler to cause a huge upset, have been rocked by an injury to star man Alexander Frei.
However, they showed their resilience in qualifying by going unbeaten after a remarkable early defeat to Luxembourg and they can make Spain work for the points.
Switzerland will set up to be difficult to beat and they’re capable of frustrating their opponents in the early stages A drawn first half isn’t out of the question then at 7/4 with Betfred, while bolder punters can back the opening 45 minutes at 11/5 (Jaxx.com) to produce no goals or tackle William Hill’s 11/4 for the deadlock to be broken in the second period.
The best bet could prove to be a Spain success following an even first period, priced by Ladbrokes at 7/2.
Earlier in the day, Honduras tackle Chile and it’s the South American outfit at 4/7 with Partybets that can get the better of their Central American counterparts; Totesport’s 11/2 outsiders.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men finished in second place in qualifying, a point behind Brazil, and they should be able to handle the counter-attacking style of Los Catrachos to score a victory and simultaneously keep a clean sheet; a combination priced at 5/4 by bet365.
It’s a case of ‘as you were’ in Group A after both opening matches finished all square but it’s Uruguay, who drew with France, who will be happiest to have a point in the bag.
The South Americans, at 7/5 with Paddy Power, can build on that result as well by beating South Africa in Pretoria tonight.
