World Cup Update

Following their victory over Poland, William Hill make England 8/1 fourth favourites to win the World Cup for which Brazil are 3/1 favourites with Argentina at 6/1. Michael Owen and Frank Lampard struck the goals that meant England won the group, The Republic of Ireland failed in their bid to reach the World Cup finals after drawing 0-0 with Switzerland at home. France topped this group and so have automatically qualified, yet are a best price 12/1, longer odds than Germany, Holland and Italy.Already through to the main event, Portugal put three goals past Latvia in their group game, including two from Pauleta who finished as the top scorer in the European Zone with 11 goals. The Euro 2004 finalists are priced at 25/1. Just five more places are up for grabs at football's biggest tournament which starts on 9 June, with 27 out of 32 teams having booked their places.The European zone play-off draw will take place on 14 October, with the two-legged ties played on 12 and 16 November. The three teams ranked highest by Fifa - the Czech Republic, Spain, and Turkey will go into one pot and each will play a team from a second pot containing Norway, Switzerland and Slovakia. On the other side of the World, Uruguay will go into a two legged play-off with Australia in a repeat of a fixture from four years ago, which the South Americans won. Both teams can be backed at a massive 200/1 at this stage.