Brazil on Top of World Cup Odds, Second Favorite Unclear
A lot of records could be broken this World Cup. More people than ever before will tune into watch. Brazil is going for an unprecedented sixth championship. Hooligans everywhere could wreak havoc like never before. And more money will be gambled than on any sporting event in history. With all of the money flowing into gambling houses around the world, it is kind of interesting to see how people are wagering their money and the odds that are being given by the bookmakers in various countries.
One trend you can see is that Brazil is the favorite everywhere, but the second favorite is not clear and largely depends where the odds are being made.
If you look at the odds on this site, the American-based company has Brazil as the heavy favorite followed by Argentina, Germany, England and Netherlands.
Brazil 11/5
Argentina 9/1
Germany 7/1
England 15/2
Netherlands 14/1
Absent from the top five contenders is the United States but that hasn’t prevented many Americans from wagering on their compatriots to bring home the trophy.
If you look at the UK-based sites, you’ll find that Brazil is still the favorite but England is the second favorite. When I read stories that say how much money is being placed on England to win I can’t help but think that the bookmakers are trying to build up irrational expectations so they can clean up when England gets knocked out.
Brazil 9/4
England 6/1
Germany 7/1
Argentina 8/1
Italy 9/1
In Germany, it is the host country that comes in after Brazil.
Brazil 4-1
Germany 8-1
England 8.5-1
Italy 9-1
Argentina 10-1
To me this reflects the reality of the tournament. Brazil has earned the right to be labeled the favorite. There are also probably another 8 teams or so that can legitimately be considered a contender, but none is a clear second favorite.
That is why this year’s tournament is going to be so very interesting to watch. It is wide open and if you think you know how it is all going to play out, you’re probably going to be proven wrong.
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Comments
By Josh | June 8th, 2006 at 8:34 am 
The United States fourth in the World rankings… sorry but that’s just not right.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Dangerous | June 8th, 2006 at 9:51 am Argentina are not second favourite at 9/1 in your first example. Germany are at 7/1, eclipsing England marginally at 7.5/1 and then the Argies at 9/1.
Posted from United Kingdom
By Pedro P | June 8th, 2006 at 12:45 pm Wanna know what I think…? It’s never the favourite…
In 94, Brazil didn’t win in more than 20 years, didn’t have a super strong team, weren’t anywhere near the amount of brazilian players in big clubs in Europe at the time, but they won. Italy was also nothing special at the time, but they went 2nd.
4 years later, in 1998, it was ALL Brazil, plus the (then) super star Ronaldo. Nobody considered France realistically. France won and to the critics that said it happened cos Brazil was weak, they also won EC 2000.
In 2002, Brazil was looking very shaky throughout all the qualification, everybody said FRANCE!!! Germany had an extremelly poor Eurocup 2 years before and went to the final.
My point is: History shows us that what seems logic, actually isn’t…
And who are the other candidates…? The “usual suspects”, who are usually there, but usually ALSO don’t win…
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Rolf | June 8th, 2006 at 1:30 pm I think there are 5-6 teams that could win. Brazil is the favourite but they are beatable. It is going to be a great World Cup.
Posted from 
Germany
By zé | June 8th, 2006 at 4:52 pm Argentina is looking very very good. They’re keeping a low profile but they have a killer team, you’ll see.
By Keyser | June 8th, 2006 at 5:28 pm The final, as someone said, is for the usual suspects.
but it’s clear that brazil is the one to be beaten.
Who can stop them? Italy and Argentina can do so. germany with the crowd? mmmm… England, who’s been waiting for revenge for 4 years? Hope Rooney is recovered for that match.
I cannot wait until tomorrow!!
By michel platini | June 8th, 2006 at 8:10 pm i had an eerily realistic vision the other night where i saw raul lifting the trophy in berlin…
i got my money on canada for world cup 2022 in nepal
Posted from 
Canada
By Oscar Quiros | June 8th, 2006 at 9:56 pm Josh is right when he says that the United States cannot be on the top 10 teams of the World. In the U.S. people do not even know what football really is!! FIFA rankings do not reflect a football reality. Argentina might surprise in this Wold Cup!
Posted from 
United States
By Fairis | June 9th, 2006 at 12:57 pm Brazil to win it OR any team that beat Brazil in the knockout stages… i have a sneaky feeling that it’s ENGLAND in spite of the hype. They’re more solid all round and have experience, and other possible candidates are includes Argentina , Italy & Spain. But attacking-wise, it’s Brazil all the way.
Posted from 
Malaysia
By TM | June 17th, 2006 at 11:33 am The bookies cant be trusted, they use tricks to put us off the scent.
At least they are being hit hard this year as the favourites are mostly winning.
I’ve been getting my free tips from the tipsters like jumpingjockey.com , bookie price is nice to know but cant be trusted..for example, England, the bookies have them at very long odds for outright win indicating dont touch them they have no chance. The tipsters are not falling for it, if Engalnd click they will be semi-finalists so there’s money to be made on matches till they get there. In essence, the bookies are putting us off with the long odds.
The other thing i did not realise till i looked at this tipster site was that thanks to the betting exchanges you can actually bet in such a way that 2 of 3 possible results is a winner (home win, draw, away win) eg. laying instead of backing! cool info for betting strategy on their site.
mind games for sure.
peace.
ps. This site has over 70% strikerate for win tips so far in world cup and some 80% when laying !! Am looking for more !
Posted from United Kingdom
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