2010 WORLD CUP GROUP A PREDICTIONS AND BETTING TIPS

The first group to get underway at the 2010 World Cup is Group A where France look poised to take the group and it looks like a tight race for second place. At least, that's according to the betting odds. Personally, I think this group is wide open and I'm tipping Uruguay to win Group A and I'm still deciding whether France will actually get out of the group or not. 

France are priced at just over even money with a 13/10 payout should they win Group A. Mexico are considered 14/5 second-favourite to go through as winners with Uruguay priced just behind them at 3/1. South Africa to pull off a near-miracle pays out at 6/1. 

Mexico just edges Uruguay to qualify outright with a 4/5 price compared to the South Amerians odds of 5/6. 

The straight forecast betting on France/Mexico (France to finish first and Mexico to finish second) pays out at 7/2- that's the shortest price. You can take France/Uruguay at 4/1 while France/South Africa pays out at a solid 7/1. Once you factor in Frane getting beaten to top spot, you're looking at even better prices. Uruguay/France pays 7/1 but Uruguay/Mexico is well-priced at 14/1. Personally, I think that's a great outside bet. 

You can back France to finish rock-bottom and get paid out at 5/1. 

I think that if Uruguay can get enough service to their strikeforce, then they will be tough contenders. France have some great individuals on their team, but they haven't shown that real sense of togetherness that a team usually needs to get out of the group stage- let alone the knockout phase. 

Mexico have some solid players and they have no problem with motivation, but they really need their goalkeeper and defenders to step up as this is a team who will get goals, but they risk conceding a lot of them too. 

South Africa would be one of the first host nations in quite a while to not go through to the next phase, but personally I think that they'll need near-perfect play to get past these sides. I'll tell you what though- if they can draw Mexico then they're in this with a shout.