why are Spain favourites?

Lux, have you forgotten that most of that squad won the Euro's 2 years ago, whilst a number of them have also won the champions league. Arguably they've got more players with the winning mentality than anybody else. Should definitely be favourites imo.

hat you really should be asking is why Spain and Brazil are not shorter.

looking at spain...the last Friendly spain played away from europe was in canada in 1994,  before that you need to go back to brazil 1981....Spain plays almost no football matchers out side of Europe

Spain always had a great players in there team, but to take 5.30 about spain to win a world cup away from europe is just nuts

If you're going to back anyone heavily it would have to be Spain and Brazil. I suppose you could argue that Spain have never won the WC before so should be a bit bigger in price but they proved at Euro 2008 that they are a class act and can win a major tournament.

Plenty of good outsiders to bet on too, England, Holland, Argentina, Italy, Germany etc.

Avocado

outside bet..you just name the 7 fav

yeah but spain and brazil are faves and the rest are outsiders

They are too short imo, odds and height.

Pedro Rodriguez Ledesma 66.5 inches
Xavi 67 in
Andrés Iniesta 67 in
David Silva 67 in
Juan Manuel Mata 67 in
Jesús Navas 67 in

I know Maradona was short but Spain are taking it too far.

Were they too short in height when they won Euro 2008?

No, they were all six footers then.

Spain: Euro 2008 final

Iker Casillas ©…..71.5 in
RB Sergio Ramos …..72.0 in
CB Carlos Marchena …..72.0 in
CB Carles Puyol …..70.0 in
LB Joan Capdevila …..71.5 in
DM Marcos Senna …..69.5 in
RM Andrés Iniesta …..67.0 in
CM Xavi …..67.0 in
CM Cesc Fàbregas   63' …..69.0 in
LM David Silva   66' …..67.0 in
CF Fernando Torres  78' …..73.0 in
Substitutions:
MF Xabi Alonso   63' …..72.0 in
MF Santi Cazorla   66' …..66.0 in
FW Dani Güiza  78'…..71.0 in

Everyone is keen on Spain because they won Euro 2008, everyone forgets the team they beat 1-0.

Germany?

Spain are very much the team with the current form and on paper the football purists choice and they tick alot of boxes as Asparagus has mentioned.

But as a betting proposition you have got to be against them imo.

Who did they beat in the Euro championship? Two teams who are both 16/1 for this world cup, one on penalties the other 1-0.
I'm not saying they weren't the best team because they clearly were.Its just that everything clicked in a lesser competition.To improve on a world scale where they may have to play at least 3 of the worlds top teams its a very tough ask.
A 9/2 fav in a field of 32 of which 7 or 8 could give them a tight game
All those games would be close and a big possibility of penalties at least once, not forgetting any bannana skin which can pop up playing against the very capable lesser teams.
Throw in what Nairda says about playing in a different continent and the success rate of Euro Champs in the World Cup and then their history in the tournament.

No thanks.

spain should be at least 10/1 to win the world cup

Maybe,but they would then be a decent bet and I would start to be on their side if you could get that price.

Best keeper
Good defence
Fantastic midfield
Best strikeforce

full of sicknotes

wot price will they go out too when they lose to switzerland ????

Spain should be 10/1?

Don't watch the World Cup mate and keep your money in your pocket, you don't know what your talking about.

Why should they be 10/1? Best team in the tournament by far.

If you dont agree, then who is better?

They may well not win in it but 5.3 is a very competitive price.

Only dangers are Brazil and England.

Liam is pretty much spot on. Not sure I can see England winning it although i would never be more happily wrong!

I don't think we (England) will win it but I think we've got the best manager in Capello and the defence is amongst the strongest in the tournament...... on paper.

In a one off game England could turn Spain over, but we'd have to be about 11/4+ before I put my hard earned cash on it.

Liam O'Brien Joined: 12 Oct 06
Replies: 3 30 May 10 11:21   


Spain should be 10/1?

Don't watch the World Cup mate and keep your money in your pocket, you don't know what your talking about.

Why should they be 10/1? Best team in the tournament by far.

If you dont agree, then who is better?

They may well not win in it but 5.3 is a very competitive price.

Only dangers are Brazil and England.




1 They should be 10/1 because. They have never won in 80 years.

2 They are the only team worse than England at penalties. Even we beat them on penalties.

3 Being Europeans Championship winners in no guide to the World Cup. Only 1 out of the last 12 have gone on to win the World Cup.

4 Lost 2-0 to the USA in the confederations Cup.

Need I go on.

We're not talking about Spain teams of the past mate we're talking about the one now.

The one with Casillas - the best goalkeeper in the world. With Xavi and Iniesta the best midfielders on the planet in the middle of the park. And with Villa and Torres upfront, the best forward line in the tournament.

Winning Euro 2008 does not mean that they will win the World Cup. But the fact that this group of players won a major international tournament just 2 years ago is a positive not a negative.

The confederations cup? A micky mouse tournament at the end of the season. The season in which Pique, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta won La Liga, the Spanish Cup and the Champions League.

Spain are not certainties but to say they should be 10/1 is nonsense.

I am happy for you to pick out a team who is going to win it........

yeah torres is differant class won liverpool all sorts of trophies this season errrrr

to say a team should be favs and will win it just because they have the best players is nonsense there are many more factors to consider

ralfdamouth, you are a football cabbage

Granted other factors come into, that is why I said they are not certainties. But the 5.3 is a competitve price and to say Spain should be 10/1 as other people suggested is nonsense.

You can't get away from rhe fact that Spain have the best players in the tournament by far, ane whether you like it or not good players win football matches.

Torres is one of the best strikers in the world. David Villa is even more prolific at International level.

Who's gonna win it then mate.......

Enlighten me.

The world cup winner will be from South America.

Liam O'Brian I will be backing Brazil and laying Spain and England. Winning the European championship is neither a positive or a negative it's just not relevant.This is based on past statistics. The World Cup is a completely different tournament. No European team has won the World Cup outside of Europe . This has to be factored in to the price.This is the best team Spain have ever had. that's why I give them a 10/1 chance. An average Spanish team I would give a 30/1 chance. You think they weren't trying against the USA. You think they wanted to be humiliated against the USA? Pull the other one it's got bells on it.Until you understand why they lost against the USA you won't understand why they are a bad price. Let me give you a clue. They don't play as well outside Europe.Climatic conditions and altitude should not be underestimated or psychology.Teams like Brazil believe deep down they can win the World Cup. They have done it 5 times. Spain know they haven't.This is why England fail so often. Alot of it comes down to self belief.

Cristo I am fully aware of the statistics dear boy. Which is why I do not think Spain are certainties.

Brazil are a big danger based on their previous performances in the World Cup. Aswell as the fact European teams win it in Europe, whilst South American teams win it outside of Europe.

So you need to get a balance between the stats and the class. I have had a decent sized punt on Spain - money back if England win. And a saver bet on Brazil - money back if Spain win.

Brazil have the history, but they've also got Gilberto Silva in the middle of the park. Wouldn't fancy their midfield against Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Alonso. Brazil must be concerned about Kaka's loss of form aswell.

I'm well up if Spain win. A bit up if Brazil win. Out of Jail free if England do.

It's bangos ya mangos if someone else does.

Surely you can't be looking to lay Spain and England now? Both they're groups are extremely weak, they'll stroll the group stages and their prices will come in.

In Englands case the mental well being of Terry, Cole an Gerrard are highly questionable. These players are yer lynchpins. For this reason alone Iam avoiding backing England

Sunset after reading your opinions on stats, I have done some studying of my own and have found out that none of the participants of this year's world cup have ever won in Africa, so now I really don't know who to do!

(none have won the world cup in Africa)

10/1 

Just a side point but has anyone noticed that Spain will prob get Portugal or Brazil in 2nd round.....that's a bitch of a draw

given that winter in sa is essentially like european conditions, surely that defeats your argument on spain not being suited by the climate, cristo?

how do u go about making a tissue for the world cup cristo, do u make uruguay shorter than spain cus they've won the world cup but spain havent[smiley:crazy]

After initially going with Brasil, I'm backing England and Spain.  I've already backed England based on Capello seemingly knowing how to win and I'm banking on Rooney, Lampard Gerrard and lennon delivering.  The thing that worries me after watching the Japan game is the defence. Both Terry and Rio looked chite.  Not backing Spain at 4/1 or more is a no brainer.  Forget about them not having won the WC, they hadn't won anything since 1964 and now they've won the European C'ship they have easily enough belief as Brasil (how may of their players, if any, played in 2002 when they last won a trophy.  Think Xavi could be the most influential player in the WC, amongst outragously other talented midfielders.  Then they have best goalie plus villa and torres who KNOW when they get chances they will take them.

It's between Spain & England imo...

I'm a massive Brazil fan, but this current crop of players are extremely average. Take their striker for example.... In 94 they had Romario & Bebeto, in 98 Ronaldo & Rivaldo, 2002 Ronaldo, Ronaldinho & Rivaldo & 2006 & 2010 they have no one in that class....

Should have taken Pato...

mythical prince

South Africa winter is not like a european conditions :)

What the flyin fukk is Botham on about re the crowd.  Bank Holiday Monday, £10 to get in and free if you are young/old, in a city of 14,000,000 on a day when sitting around in the sun, going to the coast or having a barby is not possible/ideal - and he suggests Test cricket is thriving coz there's still queue's to get into Lords at 12.40pm - the guy is deluded.

mythical prince     30 May 10 19:43 
given that winter in sa is essentially like european conditions, surely that defeats your argument on spain not being suited by the climate, cristo?



No because for one thing in the north of South Africa the temp with be about 25 degrees. It's still Africa don't forget even though it's winter and also you have to factor in the altitude. Players will be playing under conditions they have never played in before.

mythical prince     30 May 10 19:54 
how do u go about making a tissue for the world cup cristo, do u make uruguay shorter than spain cus they've won the world cup but spain havent



No of course not. You can't just take it at face value what teams have done in the past in the World cup otherwise I would rate Spain's  chances as being nil. This is obviously ridiculous. You have to balance current form with proven ability and the conditions the teams with be playing in and many other factors, but these are the main factors. Not just currant form. Some seem to think it's all about currant form that's why they think Spain aren't false favourites.

What the flyin fukk is Botham on about re the crowd.  Bank Holiday Monday, £10 to get in and free if you are young/old, in a city of 14,000,000 on a day when sitting around in the sun, going to the coast or having a barby is not possible/ideal - and he suggests Test cricket is thriving coz there's still queue's to get into Lords at 12.40pm - the guy is deluded.


Think you are on the wrong thread mate.

Backing Spain and Brazil with equal stakes is a decent bet. Argentina seem a decent bet if you want to go for one of the less fancied teams.

Avocado Joined: 06 May 10
Replies: 1218 31 May 10 14:51   
Argentina seem a decent bet if you want to go for one of the less fancied teams.

wtf they're 4th favs.

Their odds are significantly bigger than the first favourites.

hardly significantly to be fair, not in terms of the whole market.

what are the odds on spain and on argentina to win the worild cup?

here's a good article on the topic

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/gabriele_marcotti/article7140573.ece

Spain are about 9/2 and Argentina just over 7/1, hardly a less fancied team only 2 and a half points shorter than the faves.

I THINK YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER NOW