The 2010 World Cup Final on 11 July 2010 is expected to be the most watched sporting event in the world and it can add an extra layer of interest to bet on the results. Many people think that sports betting is about picking which of two teams in a match will win but these days there are a multitude of different things about the game that can be bet on, and for those with a good knowledge and understanding of soccer it is also a way to make a little money.
Where to Bet on the World Cup
Options on where to bet depend on your location. Many countries have totes and bookmakers where you can bet but the easiest option for those who know little about betting is to search online for a sports betting agency. Larger agencies often advertise on television or radio and you may remember the name of a local agency from advertisements. Many online betting agencies will also offer bonuses for new customers.
World Cup Betting
The simplest bet is to pick the overall winner of the tournament. As at 5 July there are only 4 teams left and Spain is the favourite while Uruguay is the longest priced. You can also bet on the individual semi-final games of Uruguay vs Netherlands (Netherlands are the favourite) and Germany vs Spain (Spain is the favourite but not by much) where you pick either team to win or pick that the result will be a draw.
More exotic bets include picking the two teams that will go into the finals and picking the World Cup 2010 top goalscorer. Currently David Villa is the red-hot favourite ahead of Miroslav Klose then Wesley Sneijder. Some betting firms have odds on whether the winner will be from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) which is now a very short-priced favourite over CONMEBOL which run the main club competitions in South America.
Other Bet Types for the World Cup
Each betting agency will have different offerings but here are some of the things you can bet on depending on your knowledge and expertise.
You can bet on “firsts”such as:
- First goalkeeper to touch the ball after kick-off
- First team to be awarded a free kick
- First goal to be an own goal
- First to score for their team
- First team to score
There are also a range of “half-time” bets:
- Half-time correct score
- Half-time lead and fail to win
- Half-time double chance
You can bet on the timing of certain events:
- Time of first goal
- Time of first corner
- Time of last goal
There are many other bet types including FIFA Budweiser Man of the Match, number of team goals, who will keep a clean sheet, total goals in match and number of penalties awarded.
If you decide to bet, pick something you feel confident about and don’t bet too much as gambling can become a social problem. Good luck!
Jo Jackson - Jo is an Australian writer with an MBA and a B.Sc.(Hons) in botany. She has wanted to write since she first discovered books and currently ...
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