CARL O'MALLEYtakes us through the latest odds on the World Cup
Bookies go into World Cup overdrive . . .
IT’S “WORLD Cup fever”. There’s going to be a “betting bonanza”. Two days from the big kick-off and the hyperbolic press releases were flowing into newsroom inboxes nationwide.
Staggering figures are bandied around by bookies on the eve of tournaments like the one about to take place in South Africa, and it’s hard to know who to believe, but Ladbrokes’ prediction of €100 million being bet in Ireland alone over the next month, jumped off the screen yesterday.
Paddy Power, spokesman for the bookie of the same name, says their estimate is considerably lower. “At least €20 million”, with the fortunes of England likely to affect how much higher it goes after that.
Boylesports have comfortably surpassed where they were this time four years ago, and are targeting a “substantial seven figure sum” by the time proceedings wind up on July 11th, according to spokesman Leon Blanche.
Some disparities there, then, but they’re nearly unanimous on where the money’s going, or not, as the case may be.
Dutch move in to 8/1 . . .
In gambling terms, the World Cup is like the Grand National and this one suits better than most.
“The timings are just perfect,” says Power. “You’ve got one for the lads for sticking on in the office during the day when you are pretending to work and then there’s the half three and the evening game when you go straight to the boozer on the way home from work.” This morning, people who never set foot in a bookmakers from one year to the next are suddenly gathered around the water cooler discussing the outcomes of groups, likely top-scorers and eventual winners.
Those conversations appear to be coming to the same conclusions.
The Netherlands looked so appealing at 14/1 that they’ve been backed into 8/1 with Boylesports. Dutch striker Robin van Persie was 33/1 with Paddy Power to pick up the golden boot but this morning that price is around 10/1. Ladbrokes have taken a €5,000 wager on the Arsenal striker to be top scorer.
Predictably, France aren’t popular and Spain (4/1) lead the way as favourites to win outright, closely followed by Brazil.
Having taken a €20,000 bet on Argentina, Ladbrokes will be hoping Diego takes leave of his senses, lest the have to pay out €160,000 on that punt alone.
Punters cold on England at 8/1 ...
Boylesports “cannot give England away”, while they’re on the slide with Paddy Power, too – out to 8/1.
The final contenders market is also attracting a lot of interest and Paddy Power stands to pay out €750,000 if Spain and Brazil are the last two standing in Soccer City next month.
For the value, then, we feel replacing Brazil with the Netherlands at up to 20/1 represents a tempting offer. The Dutch would most likely have to beat Brazil to get there but, unlike the Spaniards, Dunga’s side have their off days and may rely too much on Luis Fabiano.
Torres 14/1 for the Golden Boot
Having made a scoring return to action in Spain’s 6-0 win against Poland on Tuesday night, many will feel Fernando Torres to pick up the Golden Boot is good value with Boylesports at 14/1 (last night).
At around 9/1 to concede the most goals, Honduras might see a bit of action, given the form Spain are in, though Algeria’s recent performance at the RDS may lure people out to 12/1 with England, the USA and a not to be underestimated Slovenian side eyeing up the north Africans.
Player of the tournament depends largely on which team you feel will go well and given the support for the Dutch, 25 to 1 on Wesley Sneijder to pick up the Golden Ball has to be worth a tenner.
The Inter Milan midfielder is also available at 80 to 1 for top scorer, which could be worth an each-way bet.
