2010 WORLD CUP TOP CONTENDERS ODDS AND BETTING TIPS

The long hard slog through the Qualification stages of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has finally finished up and we've got the latest prices and odds on the tournament winner.
This is an interesting time to get a bet in on the winner, as the seedings and groups are still yet to be established. If you back a well-fancied team to win it- say Spain at 9/2- you're locking in a price. Should Spain wind up getting a plum draw and easy group, you'll see their odds shorten. I expect Spain and Brazil to be given relatively easy groups.
The play-off positions are still out there, but I don't expect any of them to have any serious influences on the outright odds. Uruguay will likely fetch a competitive price but they are the only one that is more or less still out in the wilderness. No Czech Republic and no Croatia this time around is also an interesting turn of events.
As it currently stands, Spain are just edging it with their 9/2 price. On current form, you'd have to fancy them as they have progressed through qualification like a battering ram. Expect them to drop to at least 4/1 once the groups are announced. David Villa, Fernando Torres and Co. are expected to do the business and they will get lots of support.
Brazil are available at 5/1 for the win and you always have to fancy the Brazilians a bit. They are a tough team to play against for most nations and they tend to do well on the biggest stages. Plenty of in-form strikers and attacking midfielders are available, but their defence could be an avowed chink in the armour.
England have really shined under Fabio Capello and they are the 3rd favourites to win the 2010 World Cup. They are listed at a 13/2 price and that's not bad odds. We all know that England can cock-up virtually anything and I am also aware that the price is perhaps a bit lower than it should be as the bookies expect heavy volume. Still, with an in-form Wayne Rooney, England can take on the world.
Argentina just scraped in by beating Uruguay 1-0. Boasting easily one of the most impressive line-ups in world football, Diego Maradona really hasn't figured out how to get his team to work and has actually played 78 different players during qualification. They are listed at 7/1 and in any other year that would be a bargain, but this year it's just about right.
Germany are the fifth favourites at 10/1 and they are always a tough team to beat in major tournaments. They played well at home in the last World Cup and they have some exciting players coming through. They are a team that can score against virtually anybody and are always dangerous penalty takers. I think they have a genuine chance of winning it, especially with a few easier fixtures. They will go in as a top seed and I expect them to have a lengthy stay in South Africa.
Italy are always a tough side but they have also been a bit shaky in qualification. I have also noticed that they've shipped a lot more goals recently than they usually do- I think this will ruin one of their trump cards if it isn't shorn up soon. Italy can't win the tournament if they concede more than 2 goals a game, simple and plain. Their 12/1 price tells no lies for a team that should be one of the favourites.
The Netherlands are another great side and they share a 12/1 price with Italy. The Dutch are always a team capable of making the semi-finals and I could certainly see them doing well. They have good balance all over the field, but you wonder whether the true superstar players will be able to match up against the Villa's, Messi's and Rooney's of the competition. They are well-priced though, and will likely see lots of support.