Belgium at 27/1 to win the World Cup on here

no European team has ever won the WC in South America and if Belgium are the first I will never buy their chocolates again

Cant even beat Scotland

In fairness it is a joke price. Tipped them up at 100's and would still want 50's if they qualify.

i think they are about even with bosnia (despite the fact bosnia beat them home and away not long ago)

what price would bosnia be to win the world cup?

above 100

27/1 = mug price

every tournament we have a "dark horse that everyone seems to have backed" nation. Ivory Coast, Serbia, but 27/1 on Belgium is madness.

They have a better chance than England and England are 20/1 on here.

have u forgotten 1990

Someone's backed England to win the World Cup at 6/1 on here. What a mug.

They do seem to have a group of players that compares well to most of the 'Big' Nations , but they haven't achieved anything as a team yet

Still preferable to England @21

Not relevant that europeans haven't won in S America before

either that or ur smoking a joint my friend

i thought i'd typed in 66/1

what ever ur smoking , i want one

unbelievable,should be 500-1

They'll never beat drugged-up Spaniards.

14/1 now

great bunch of players, but we all secretly know that they won't win the world cup.

Has a dark horse ever actually won a tournament?

Columbia is a better bet then Belgium also.

Colombia rather

belgium are improving at a rate of knots, they are imo just -'beginning' to look like the great dutch side, note i said beginning to, they have a bunch of players who all appear to be gelling at just the right time, and by the time the world cup comes along they should be even better.
They ought to be around the price they actually are because most of the teams in the world cup, apart from maybe brazil argentina and spain, are crap.
They are better than england and id say ona par witht he current dutch team who as usual, everyone will hype up even thoguh they are ordinary.

this crop of players may be better than the belgian side who have already got to the semis remember when argies beat them.

Reached the semi's  in Mexico in  '86.Might get that far again but no further

Belgium are way overhyped currently - everybody knows about the players

Take a look at Switzerland - (no hype whatsoever) at 250s

- Easily qualified from their group, only letting in 2 goals (excepting a freak match against Iceland)
- Beat Spain in the last WCup
- Ended Brazil's unbeaten run, beating them this summer
- Smashed FIVE past Germany last year
- An experienced squad, with several exciting youngsters
- Quality manager in Hitzfeld
- Importantly, experience of the tournament. This is surprisingly their 3rd in a row

250/1 eh?

--------------------------------

defo cuckoo

corals have them at 66/1 poppy so very wide descrepencies in how they are priced up switzerland that is

Corals probably have all the outsiders 1/3 or worse the price they will be on Betfair

They've been hovering 250s to 300s for the past few months.
Now just dipped under that after qualifying

Their form from the last couple of years is certainly way better than England's
and they are 10x the price of England

Another plus is, they also won the junior World Cup about 4 years ago

Belgium have some great individuals but as a team they are several in Europe alone who are better....Germany, Spain, Holland, Italy... so 27 isn't big really...they should be lower than England of course. It will be very difficult for any european team to win over there...the climate, altitude etc does make a huge difference. I think the Argies may come good this time.

If you are going to bet on a european team see poppydog's post.

i fancy argentina too hamster, uruguay at 33/1 maybe worth a few quid

just heard on the radio that 18 month ago they were 500/1 with high st firms

Deutschland @ 6/1.

Brazil might make the Final.

Switzerland might represent a value bet , but a last minute goal to beat Cyprus ?  drawing at home to Iceland  ?  losing at home to Luxembourg ?

doesn't inspire confidence ,but they have gotten some useful results too - funny team really .


Belgium look very good ,gelling nicely . Brazil will be the only team suited to the very hot conditions.

Is it not hot in Africa ?

Belgium will win nothing, Switzerland will win nothing, everyone looking for a value or shock team, and as usual there is no such thing when it comes to a World Cup tournament, there will be a few surprise results at the Group stage as there always is, but then it will all settle down and the same teams will be competing in the last 8 as usual.

Cork Langer 13 Oct 13 23:26
the same teams will be competing in the last 8 as usual.

1990: Republic of Ireland, Cameroon, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
1994: Bulgaria, Sweden and Romania
1998: Denmark and Croatia
2002: USA, South Korea, Senegal and Turkey
2006: Ukraine
2010: Uruguay, Ghana and Paraguay

you think they wont make the last 8?

that was to cork langer

melted like a Belgian chocolate before the quarters

Belgium possibly depending on who they get on the way, Switzerland no.

Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain, Italy and perm 3 from a group of a few others would be my way of thinking at the moment for the last 8 and Belgium would be included in the few others based on their potentiial.

Until the Groups are known I would steer clear of any wagers as the draw as ever will clarify how to play.

One thing the market might not have factored in is that the seeding will be based on FIFA Rankings so England will be in Pot 2

the only thing that matters to me after that utter borefest in 2010 is seeing some actual entertainment, it truly was - possibly Germany aside - awful last time and for the first time in my life I didn't even enjoy watching most of the games.
Looking at the teams who will play in brazil I doubt anything will change. Brazil will certainly get to the final, there'll be the odd shock, England will fail to win a game, and argies will probably flatter to deceive.
Does anyone else think that at least some of the teams involved will try to play attacking football? There have been some great world cup memories, Cameroon murdering England but still failing to get through, Romania with hagi, Holland in 74, brazil with zico and Socrates, argies late nights in 78, etc. but the comp appears in need of some kind of revamp or coaches need to play with a more carefree approach, but the fear of losing will probably win out in the end, and the world cup to me is actually dying a death.

on saying all the above, perhaps we or should I say I - am hoping chile win it, at least they try to send more than one man into the opposition half!

tobermory 13 Oct 13 23:21 Joined: 01 Mar 08 | Topic/replies: 34,669 | Blogger: tobermory's blog
Is it not hot in Africa ?
______________

I never realised the African mob between them were red hot tips for the 2014 world cup

15.5 now, wtf. They have beaten us (Croatia) on friday. But they were on the defence the whole time, they were not that great. The goals they scored were strange gifts by some of our less concentrated players. We just need to get our sh1t together, go through and we can go just as far as Belgians. We are at 250.

mmmmmm

Belgium are the most overrated side in the history of football

they are a decent team but no better than croatia or colombia!

15/1 to win the world cup

are the seedings definitely based on fifa rankings ? usually they seed the hosts and the top 7 other teams and then put the other 24 in 3 pots based on geography so that you don't get like 3 european teams in the same group

I think they're definitely better than Croatia tbf.

Like most teams, on their day they are capable of turning it on against anyone, similarly though, like a lot of teams they cannot string together a run of matches which means they are a very poor price for the outright, utter madness that anyone wants to back them as things stand.

the bookies dont think so cork

All these great judges on here saying they can't win, yet the price remains the same. No one willing to put their money where their mouth is and actually lay them.

tony broke 0012 post is spot on its a long time since we saw a great world cup,i realise there will never be one as good as mexico 70 but surely we must get a better one than last time.

Germany are the best side in Europe but its 1996 since they last won a major comp,strange the way they have gone they spent 30 years with fair sides who always found a way to win,in recent years they have a very good team but have lost the knack of getting through on the really big games.

perhaps they have too much flair to win it specially with Bayern and Dortmund leading the wayw ith actual attacking football....defence is king!

Think Belgium are plenty short enough for the World Cup but for the 2016 Euros with the bit of experience behind them and plenty of their top players likely to be approaching their peak age wise..........Now that's a different matter.

Oct 14, 2013 -- 9:31PM, forgotmyusername wrote:

Think Belgium are plenty short enough for the World Cup but for the 2016 Euros with the bit of experience behind them and plenty of their top players likely to be approaching their peak age wise..........Now that's a different matter.

My thoughts exactly. Currently 5th fave on here (for whatever that's worth at this stage), I'd make them 3rd behind Spain and Germany and who knows by the time it rolls around depending on what happens with Spain over the next 2 and a half years, perhaps pushing Germany for top billing. An outstanding crop of players. The hype is justified.

although the Dutch are getting good results I don't rate them as individuals. Apart from RVP, Robben and maybe one or two other decent players they don't have a top class full 11. They always seem to have a few players that look ordinary in the Premier League. Belgium seem to have a very good first 11 and a few decent ones that can't even get a game. However I don't think they'll have the mentality to go all the way, the likes of Germany and Spain expect to win, if Belgium reach the semis they'll get a nosebleed

I took 20/1 on Belgium for the Euros a couple of weeks ago with Coral. Very happy with my investment...

Anybody backing Belgium wont have watched them play. They may have star players but they do not play as a team and are unlikely to progress against organised opponents.

"They always seem to have a few players that look ordinary in the Premier League."

Thank goodness the Premier league is now the standard for World Cup potential winners.  And here was me thinking that South American teams had a chance of winning.

I'm hoping that Belgium are drawn in the same group as Brazil.

Why?  Because I'll be having the biggest bet of my life when they
play Brazil (laying Belgium for all I've got)

Please let it be so football gods!

Oct 14, 2013 -- 3:54PM, mafeking wrote:

are the seedings definitely based on fifa rankings ? usually they seed the hosts and the top 7 other teams and then put the other 24 in 3 pots based on geography so that you don't get like 3 european teams in the same group

''As a result, host Brazil and the top seven teams in the rankings released on Oct. 17 will make up Pot 1 in the draw, while the remaining three pots will be determined by "geographic and sports criteria," according to FIFA. ''

So yes , as you say then . England will defintely not be seeded . Also the rankings will be used to seed the Play Offs next month, so France (25th) will be unseeded it seems (though they are protesting to FIFA)

Oct 15, 2013 -- 12:38AM, thirty-three wrote:

I'm hoping that Belgium are drawn in the same group as Brazil.Why?  Because I'll be having the biggest bet of my life when theyplay Brazil (laying Belgium for all I've got)Please let it be so football gods!

What odds would they be to beat Brazil? Basically you're praying to to the football gods that you get an oppurtunity for what, a 1.25 shot maybe?

In the words of Tom Hardy, mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling...

Oct 15, 2013 -- 1:14AM, tobermory wrote:

So yes , as you say then . England will defintely not be seeded . Also the rankings will be used to seed the Play Offs next month, so France (25th) will be unseeded it seems (though they are protesting to FIFA)

If I have it right. England can make the seeding group if they beat Poland and Uruguay and Colombia both lose and Holland and Switzerland fail to win.

Some way off an even money shot I'd say.

If I had a spare 15k. I'd be all over (laying) that silly Belgium price. Too many sides can beat them (inc England).
I'm looking forward to the finals, and seeing the draw (when is it?). Should be some great punting opportunities in the group stages.
But its a 2 horse race as far as finding the winner goes, and no, Spain ain't one of them.

dec 6

no way is it a two horse race platini it will b e a lot closer than that

Home draw with Wales irrespective of who they fielded hardly enhances their reputation as dark horses, surely any decent second eleven of a nation hoping to make the breakthrough into the top 8 should be able to put Wales to the sword...?

But its a 2 horse race as far as finding the winner goes, and no, Spain ain't one of them.

anyone completely dismissing Spain as potential winners is mad imo

the best bet instead o shilling and shalling is simply to back brazil to win it, you've just witnessed their mauling of spain in that 'other' final not so long ago, theres no doubt in my mind that thell win it, only other possible is argentina

thirty-three 15 Oct 13 00:38 
I'm hoping that Belgium are drawn in the same group as Brazil.




not possible, both are seeded.

Seeds are Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Uruguay and Switzerland

Going to be some decent group games though with the likes of us, Italy, Holland not seeded plus the likes of France and Portugal if they qualify.

Hypothetical question: What happens to Netherlands and Italy if Uruguay fail to beat Jordan? They are currently joint 8th with 1136 points.

A play off for the top seeding? Countback at the last WC?

Nothing. Seedings are based on todays rankings.

Yep but they're currently joint 8th, Neds listed as 7th, presumably because they're on the incline whilst Italy are falling down the rankings?

They're both joint 8th, so it's not a problem.

so Holland aren't 7th. Them and Italy are technically 8th/9th

It will be a problem if Uruguay don't qualify meaning the seeding goes to the 8th placed team. I know that's unlikely, but there must be some criteria on who will get the final place.

Well Uruguay won't lose, but if by some miracle they do the seeding goes to Holland

yes sorry, 8th/9th. He did say hypothetical tbf, but I wonder why Neds are ranked higher, presume it's based on points since last update.

No idea how they work it. All a bit silly anyway, Holland reached the world cup final, Italy reached the Euro final yet both are below Belgium and Switzerland!

Italy apparently would've been a top seed had they won either of their final 2 qualifiers v Denmark or Armenia but drew both and missed out. They must be fuming!!

I can't find anything on what ranking is based on if points are tied. If it's not something sensible I can see it being appealed if the unthinkable happens and Jordan go through.

I think Italy were only behind Spain, Argentina and Germany before the last round of fixtures. Armenia's poor form over the last couple of years effectively knocking them out of the seeds.

If Uruguay win the intercontinental play-off against Jordan, they will also go into the first pot.

However, if Jordan win, the decimal points difference between the Netherlands (1135.95) and Italy (1135.61) will see the Dutch take the last place in Pot 1

Blimey, I didn't even consider there would be decimal points. Well that's not the problem I thought it could be.

Belgium at 16's is a lay. Blatantly the "so under-rated theyre now over-rated" team. Previous examples being Ivory Coast, Senegal, Czech Republic etc etc.

As someone has previously mentioned, Switzerland's form line is very similar to Belgium and the price difference is remarkable.

Personally, I don't have either of these two in my top 10 but I can understand an argument against it. What I cant understand is if you include Belgium, you MUST include Switzerland.

Hype, hype, hype, hype.

Spain are past their peak for me, and they'd need to be at their peak to win in South America. Argentina would be a danger if Messi could do a Maradonna but we haven't seen that from him yet, so it's between the big two for me - Brazil and Germany.

Oct 17, 2013 -- 11:11PM, Platini wrote:

Spain are past their peak for me, and they'd need to be at their peak to win in South America. Argentina would be a danger if Messi could do a Maradonna but we haven't seen that from him yet, so it's between the big two for me - Brazil and Germany.

Messi could produce similar performances to Maradona and has been the best intl player in the world the past couple of years. But like Maradona he would need the rest of the team and in particular the defence to perform. Which is unlikely.

See Switzerland have come in a 100pts since the beginning of the week
and 150pts since last week

a squad packed with loads of talent.price to win now is pretty much unbackable

charge..........

i am going to war with the swiss - so far built up on them a win of 250k with a place close to 100g....

Just heard Shearer on FF writing off the Swiss "England are unseeded but we'd love to get the Swiss in our group wouldn't we", etc 

Oct 19, 2013 -- 1:19PM, Platini wrote:

Just heard Shearer on FF writing off the Swiss "England are unseeded but we'd love to get the Swiss in our group wouldn't we", etc 

Isn't that common sense? Every non-seed will want Switzerland the weakest seed in their group.

the swiss are probably hoping to get england in their group.

wouldn't have thought so. this isn't the strongest england side but they are nearly always extremely hard to beat. in the last 50 years have only lost 3 world cup group games and never failed to get out of the group

The FIFA Rankings are a complete joke. Its based on a points average, but friendlies are included and they score lower points. So if you do badly in a couple of friendlies then your ranking goes massively down.

they're total nonsense. switzerland only got 11 points from 8 games in euro 2012 qualifying and finished a distant 3rd behind england and montenegro

on their competitive results they'd struggle to get in the top 30 let alone the top 10