World Cup Betting: Brazil no outright favourites to win tournament
TODAY’S matches enable punters to see two sides widely backed to win the tournament: Brazil are now 888sport’s outright 7/2 favourites, while Holland, who entertain Slovakia, are a surprisingly lengthy 7/1 according to bet365.
It’s the Dutch who are in action first and they arrive at the knock-out stage in fine form having won their last seven to remain undefeated in 2009/10.
Little wonder they’re bet365’s 4/9 favourites to win inside 90 minutes and 1/6 (Betfred) to qualify.
The last team to beat Holland was Australia in September 2008 – 22 matches ago – and few punters expect Slovakia to reverse that trend, hence their 8/1 price (Victor Chandler) to win.
Indeed, Slovakia’s remarkable 3-2 victory over Italy was only the second time they’ve scored more than two goals all season; they’re an astonishing 66/1 with 888sport to win 2-0.
Punters are focusing instead on the Dutch, rated by Totesport as a 5/1 shot to secure a 2-0 victory and at 9/1 by Jaxx.com to rattle in three without reply.
William Hill offer 11/10 about Holland being in front at the end of both halves and Ladbrokes chalk 10/3 against them winning by two clear goals.
Later today, Brazil host fierce South American rivals Chile, a match they kick off as Partybets’ 1/2 favourites to win, whereas their opponents, shorn of key players through suspension, are Totesport’s 6/1 underdogs.
Yet only Spain breached Chile’s defence during the group stages which suggests this will be no cakewalk for the tournament favourites and Stan James’s 4/6 odds for the match to yield fewer than three goals should not be ignored.
However, Chile offered little in attack during the group phase and Paddy Power’s 2/5 for Brazil to retain a clean sheet has obvious appeal.
In keeping with their other appearances, Brazil have been well backed by an army of punters.
They are Betdaq’s even-money choice to be in front at half-time and 11/10 with Ladbrokes to hold an advantage at 45 and 90 minutes.
