England’s final warm-up match before their World Cup opener sees them take on Honduras in Miami on Saturday evening and it’s just 9/20 with betway for Roy Hodgson’s troops to sign off with a success, writes CHRIS HUTCHEON.
BetVictor price the Central American outfit at 7/1 and it’s 10/3 at Stan James to end with all square but while it could well be a close affair as the sides look to avoid injuries, the Three Lions should have the quality to prevail.
Bet365 make England 6/5 to defeat the Hondurans to nil, it’s 11/2 via BetVictor for Hodgson’s boys to grab the only goal and Winner.com go 3/1 about them nicking after a level first half.
World Cup hosts Brazil are BetVictor’s clear 3/1 favourites to lift the trophy, not surprisingly given that no European team has won the competition on South American soil.
The case for Luis Felipe Scolari’s charges is strengthened by the fact that they cruised to victory in the Confederations Cup on their own patch in 2013, in what could be considered a decent dress rehearsal for the big one.
Argentina are considered the most likely challenger, at 9/2 with Skybet and of course any team that contains Lionel Messi has to be respected. The Barcelona man, Winner.com’s 8/1 Golden Boot favourite, didn’t have the best season at club level by his very high standards if he’s on song, La Albiceleste will certainly be a danger.
Holders Spain are as high as 13/2 at Ladbrokes to retain the trophy having been unjustly written off. Nevertheless, their chances might hinge on the fitness of Diego Costa, a 25/1 chance in Stan James’s top scorer market and there’s also a possible last-16 showdown with Brazil to ponder.
Blending youth and experience, Germany (13/2, Stan James) are the fourth team considered major contenders. The injury-enforced absence of Lars Bender is a blow, but they qualified at a canter and looked close to the finished article in the last two major championships.
England have also gone for a mix of young and old and it’s hard to recall a time when the Three Lions have carried so little expectation into the finals of a tournament. That lack of pressure could actually work in their favour and while Stan James’s 28/1 about them repeating their 1966 heroics is a touch ambitious, they stand out in a dual forecast with Italy at 11/5 (bet365) to qualify from Group D.
Bet365 meanwhile, chalk the Azzurri up at 13/8 to top the group and that’s a better option than backing the beaten Euro 2012 finalists at 25/1 in the same firm’s outright betting.
A glance at their squad list, littered with Premier League talent, suggests Belgium are a touch overpriced at 20/1 courtesy of Paddy Power but a lack of recent tournament experience means they’re more appealing at 13/20 via betway to win Group H.
Just behind them in the betting at 25/1 (BetVictor) are France, William Hill mark 28/1 against the Portuguese but punters seeking a surprise package would be advised to try to profit from Chile. Admittedly, Paddy Power’s 50/1 shots won’t win it but Ladbrokes’s 21/10 for them to finish second in Group B catches the eye.
Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com
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