The planet's biggest and most widely bet sporting event, the World Cup of Soccer, kicks off in Germany June 9 and it's no surprise that the globe's grandest and most innovative bet taker,
The Greek Sports Book, already has a series of prices posted for the 32-nation extravaganza that makes America's Super Bowl look like a provincial backyard game of touch football.
Brazil, which is the only team to appear in all 18 previous World Cups and has won the top prize in soccer a record five times, including in 2002, opened as the strong +265 favorite (bet $100 to win $265) to win it all again. Host Germany was being offered at +750 with England next at +850. Soccer stalwarts Argentina and Italy each were listed at +900. All odds are subject to change, of course, but bettors can get up-to-the-minute prices (and back their opinions with hard cash) by visiting
The Greek Sportsbook.
The 32-nation field is divided into eight groups of four with the top two finishers in each group moving on to the second round. That should hardly be a problem for Brazil, which is a -333 favorite (bet $333 to win $100) to win Group F.
France, the 1998 champion, host Germany, Italy, and England also are odds on choices to win their Group events. Argentina, Mexico and Spain are expected to advance to the second round, as well.
Advancement could be difficult for Team USA, which drew into the difficult Group E. The Americans are joined in the Group by the Czech Republic, currently No. 2 in the world FIFA rankings, three-time World Cup champion Italy, and Ghana, the African team that just about every nation wanted to avoid.
In addition to future book wagering on Group winners and the eventual champion,
The Greek Sportsbook also will offer as many as seven ways to bet on each individual game.
Since opening round Group matches can end in a tie, bettors may wager on any of the three possible outcomes after 90 minutes of regulation play, a win for one team, a win for the other team, or a tie. In some cases, this presents the gambler with the unique choice of having three "plusses."
For example, in the June 12 match between Australia and Japan, the Aussies opened a +140 favorite, Japan is the +170 underdog and a draw is held at +215.
Gamblers also can wager on individual games using a goal line. There is a total on each game, as well.
The Greek Sportsbook also is offering a quartet of "interior" wagers on each individual game, including, predicting the exact score after 90 minutes of regulation play, the halftime plus the end result, the total goals scored in the match, and whether the there will be an even or odd number of goals scored in the game.
For instance, you can get a low of +500 that the Czech Republic beats the USA 1-0 in their opening round match, June 12. It's also +500 that the teams are tied, 1-1, after 90 minutes. On the other cleat, you can get +6600 that team USA wins 3-0, the same +6600 that the Americans bounce the Czechs by a 3-2 score, and +6000 that the USA prevails by a 3-1 score. Pick your poison.
The Czech Republic leading at both the half and the end of 90 minutes is worth +210 while the USA leading at the half but a tie after 90 minutes is +1300. In all, there are nine possible outcomes in this category.
As for goals in the Czech Republic-USA encounter, its just +230 that only two goals are scored in the game's first 90 minutes and a high of +850 that five or more goals are scored.
Lay - 110 either way that an even or odd number of goals are scored.
What's more, as it did for the Super Bowl, and as it does for most major sporting events,
The Greek Sportsbook again is offering a greater number of propositions on the World Cup than any wagering facility on the planet.
Punters can bet on when any of the teams will be eliminated from the field. For example, you reap a +720 payoff if Brazil is knocked out in the Group round, +310 if the end comes in the round of 16, +435 if the team is sent packing in the quarterfinals, +475 if Brazil is a loser in the semi-finals, and +475 if the team loses in the final.
The Greek Sportsbook also boasts a proposition on which player will be the top goal scorer. A pair of Brazilians, Ronaldo and Adriano, who have reached one-name status ala Madonna or Prince, are the respective +1000 favorite and +1150 second choice.
In addition,
The Greek Sportsbook is offering a proposition on which soccer federation produces the champion. The alphabet gobbledygook begins with UEFA (Europe) as the -185 favorite and CONMEBOL (South America) as the +150 second choice.
There's also a prop on which Group produces the champion. Group F, headed by Brazil, is the +215 favorite with Group C, paced by Argentina and The Netherlands, the +425 second choice. Group A, which features Germany and Poland, Group B, led by England and Sweden, and Group E, spearheaded by Italy, the Czech Republic and the USA, also are in the hunt, each at a respectable +550.
The 2006 World Cup concludes with the championship game scheduled for Berlin, July 9.
Here's a closer look at the major contenders:
Brazil: For the first time, the defending champion did not get an automatic invitation and had to qualify. That was hardly a concern as Brazil finished first in South American qualifying. On a team blessed with several spectacular players, Ronaldinho (not to be confused with Ronaldo), the dribbling wizard, may be the best. Brazil's Group includes Croatia, Australia and Japan, who shouldn't threaten a move to the second round.
Germany: The last time the Germans hosted the World Cup, in 1974, they won. Michael Klinsmann leads a strong team that has a win and three runner-up finishes in its last six World Cups. Conspiracy theorists will note that the host country has a very soft draw, playing against Costa Rica, Poland and Ecuador in the first round.
England: The Brits have only won one World Cup (1966) and their hopes for a second title could be determined by the condition of the right leg of striker Wayne Rooney, who was injured playing for Manchester United in April. Bettors take note: Rooney's scheduled bone scan has been moved up from June 15 to June 7, two days before the deadline to replace him on the World Cup roster.
Argentina: The Argentine's are looking to make amends for a first-round ouster in 2002. Their fortunes probably will rise or fall with the play of midfielder Juan Roman Riqueime, the central figure in Argentina's proficient attack and a menace on free kicks. The draw is difficult with The Netherlands, Serbia-Montenegro (which had a .10 goals against average in qualifying), and the Ivory Coast blocking the way.
Italy: The booters from the boot-shaped country won it all in 1982 and have high hopes for this year after breezing through Europe Group 5 competition, losing just once in 10 games under new coach Marcello Lippi. Forward Francesco Totti leads a potent attack. But Italy will have to navigate its way though a tough Group that includes the Czech Republic, the USA and Ghana.
France: The French beat Mexico, 1-0, in a tune-up last week and were booed by 80,000 fans on their home turf, an indication that more is expected than the stunning first round elimination in 2002. France, which almost didn't qualify for the tournament until several veterans came out of retirement to rescue the tri-colors, is in a weak Group with Switzerland, South Korea and Togo. Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry are the team's best players.
The Netherlands: The Dutch, who failed to qualify in 2002, bounced back with a vengeance, posting a 10-0-2 record and scoring 27 goals while yielding just three in a qualifying group that included the Czech Republic. Holland is one of those teams that no one wants to play, primarily because they're so tough in the midfield. Forward Ruud van Nistelrooy is the main scoring threat.
Spain: Talk about an easy Group, the Spaniards wind up with Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, who are a combined 0-9-3 and were outscored 28-4 in the last two World Cups, and the Ukraine, which has never even played in one. Good thing, too, because the Spaniards are banged up, hoping forward Raul Gonzalez and midfielder Xavi Hernandez have recovered enough from knee injuries to contribute.
Portugal: The team went 9-0-3, outscored the opposition 35-5 and won its Group by seven points, the largest margin in European qualifying. The attack features long runs down the flanks by 20-year old sensation Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal (and Mexico) should advance to the second round at the expense of Group D weak sisters, Angola and Iran.
