Soccer betting tips and predictions

The odds on England winning the World Cup been drifting in recent weeks due to several key players either picking up injuries or ending the season out of form after the long Premiership season.

The England World Cup Odds are now out to 13/2 with one bookie, that’s a point better than they were available at a few weeks ago when England were all the rage in World Cup Betting. The bookies’ odds don’t necessarily make England any less likely to win the World Cup but they are often a good measure of confidence behind the team going into the World Cup.

Gareth Barry, who has become a key midfielder under Fabio Capello, is now only rated around 50:50 to go to the World Cup after injuring his ankle in the penultimate game of the season against Tottenham. Chelsea skipper John Terry was thought to be in risk of missing the World Cup last week after picking up a foot injury, he seems ok but these injuries can always come back to haunt players during physically exhausting tournaments like the World Cup.

There are even question marks against players such as Arsenal defender Ashley Cole and Spurs winger Aaron Lennon, both of whom missed most of the second half of the season only to return with a couple of games left. This of course leaves them relatively fresh for the World Cup 2010, but they may not be in top form going into the World Cup.

Then there is star player Wayne Rooney, not long ago he was all the rage in the World Cup Golden Boot betting but now he has ended the season carrying a few injuries and not scoring. England’s World Cup hopes seem to rest firmly on the Man Utd striker’s shoulders as otherwise England are looking at the likes of Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch to fire them to World Cup glory, not exactly an exciting prospect.

England, will surely qualify from the group stage and then their odds will shorten but they still look to be short of the quality required to win the World Cup, especially with Spain looking so strong this year. Are we just being too patriotic thinking that England can win the World Cup or do they genuinely go to South Africa as one of the most likely winners? Only time will tell.