2010 World Cup Favorites / Odds To Win

Top 5 Favorites to Win the 2010 World Cup

World Cup 2010 is upon us. There are definitely some haves and have nots at this years’s tournament and some legitimate favorites to hoist the Cup in July. There aren’t any surprise teams on the Top 5 list, but each team has its own reasons as to why they are the oddmakers’ favorites for World Cup 2010.

Dave B has already weighed in with his FIFA World Cup 2010 Free Picks. Now he weighs in with his predictions for Group E. Keep checking in with Cappers Picks as we get closer to World Cup 2010 – South Africa Style.

We’ll provide free soccer picks, Group H world cup 2010 predictions, team schedules, our World Cup Handicapping Guide, matchup analysis and more.

Spain: +400

Spain is the defending European Champions and have held FIFA’s number one ranking since that time. They are a truly stacked team top to bottom and will be looking to erase years of disappointing World Cup finishes for Spain.

At forward, Spain boasts names like Fernando Torres, Dani Guiza and David Villa. At midfield, the Spaniards will trot Xavi, Andres Inieta, Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabregas onto the pitch. Spain has also one of the best Keepers in the world in Iker Casillas.

The Spanish are a complete side that should be there in the end. Only injuries or some sort of defensive breakdown can derail Spain’s chances. Spain is Pele’s early choice to win it all despite no European team winning the World Cup on foreign soil and the fact that no team has won the European Championship and then the World Cup two years late.

Brazil: +450

Brazil has five World Cup Championships to their credit and has won two of the last five tournaments. They added a 2009 Confederation Cup championship to their impressive lead up to this year’s tournament.

Make no mistake about it, Brazil will be an attacking team. Kaka, Robinho, Julio Baptista, Luis Fabiano and Elano are truly world class and just their names strikes fear into their opposition. Dani Alves, Maicon, Lucio and Juan make up a backfield that is the envy of the Football world. Brazil is stacked as usual.

Although Brazil is co-favorites with Spain, there are a few question marks that surround the team. Kaka and Robinho have been less than stellar for their club sides this year and will have to up their play if the Brazilians hope to hoist the Cup once again. There are also concerns about a tough Group Stage (Portugal and Ivory Coast) and the fact that Brazil will have to face Holland, France, England Serbia or Germany on their way to the Final.

England: +600

England comes into the 2010 World Cup with lofty expectations as usual but this year is a little different. The English are an aging club and most feel that 2010 represents England’s best chance for a World Cup for a few years to come. After failing to even qualify for Euro 2008, the English will be hungry for sure. But if they can play as a team it will be the determining factor in whether or not they win the World Cup.

England is not without its experience or its leaders. Names like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and James Carragher are just a sampling of the seasoned skill that the English possesses. Wayne Rooney is a true difference maker and could propel the English all by himself.

England has its share of question marks again. Historical weakness in goal has not righted itself in the least, injuries to key components of the team and a tabloidesque team chemistry all threaten to derail Team England in 2010.

England, assuming they finish first in their Group will have a Round of 16 matchup with the battered Germans or Serbia. After that, a match with Argentina or France looms.

Argentina: +750

Argentina has the arguably the best player in the world – Lionel Messi, but they are not being mentioned as strong favorites to win the World Cup this year. It could be the issues that Argentina had in qualifying (which included an embarrassing 6-1 loss to Bolivia), or it could be the unsettling presence of Diego Maradonna as the team’s manager.

Argentina’s strength is definitely their strikers. Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higuain are one of the deepest sets of forwards in the tournament. A defensive corp. that has a good mix of experience (Walter Samuel and Gabriel Heinze) and youth (Nicolas Otamendi and Juan Insaurralde) give the Argentines terrific balance on the pitch. Young goaltenders could be their only concern among their roster players.

Argentina’s qualifying is hardly confidence inspiring and with Diego Maradonna leading the squad, this team could go either way. In the Round of 16, they will likely face France, Mexico or Uruguay and if Argentina advances beyond that, England, USA, Ghana, Serbia or Germany will be waiting.

Holland: +1100

Holland breezed through qualifying and the lack of competition may just be the thing that haunts them the most. Holland has disappointed on the World Cup stage and has only one appearance in the Final Four in their last seven World Cups played.

Holland boasts a set of midfielders that may be the best collection in the world. Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart could easily be the difference for the Dutch side. Forwards Ryan Babel, Robin van Persie and Dirk Kuyt give Holland strength up front.

Robben and van Persie have been dealing with injuries all season long and their health is a huge X-factor for the Dutch. The way that the draw is set, Holland will likely face Brazil in the quarter-finals – yuck!! and then England, USA, Serbia, Germany, France or Argentina in the Semis. It is a tough draw indeed for Holland.

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