There’s been such a strange set of results recently (Spain 0 Switzerland 1, Brazil 2 North Korea 1, New Zealand 1 Slovakia 1), that to suggest Argentina will overturn a decent South Korea could represent a failure to recognise a growing pattern of tight games. Read more Argentina vs South Korea Preview 17/06/10 12:30 ›

Not a phenomenal game, this should see Spain record a fairly accomplished win.

Spain are the reigning European champions. They have David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Fernando Torres and Xavi in their ranks. They are unbeaten since losing 2-0 to the USA in the Confederations Cup, nearly a whole year ago – everything is for them, which is why they are the top team in the World Cup. There are few negatives – except that they are likely to be without Iniesta for the opening game.

Switzerland have never been a major force but reminded the wider world of their talents in recent years by finishing top of their group in 2006, ahead of eventual finalists France, only to be knocked out of the competition in the strangest way, by not conceding a single goal in open play (they lost on penalties to Ukraine). They are a solid team but unspectacular, quite reliant on young defenders like Stephan Lichtsteiner and Philipe Senderos. Their goals tend to come through all-time leading goal-scorer Alex Frei (who is injured), Hakan Yakin (who is too old to be considered a starter anymore) or not at all. Blaise Nkufo looks set to step in.

It seems that Torres may not start this game, so instead look to leading frontman and new Barcelona signing Villa (38 goals in 58 appearances make the 28 year-old Spain’s second highest scorer of all time). The Barcelona centre backs, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, seem destined for clean sheets, too.

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In a relatively simple group, Holland can rely on some of the finest talent to see off all-comers but Denmark will be the measure of how well they can expect to do.
Read more Holland vs Denmark World Cup 2010 preview ›

Germany World Cup Betting Preview 2010

Germany – many absentees but promising, young attackers. As Germany prepared to take on Bosnia-Herzegovina last night, their confidence was fairly mixed, as evident in the pragmatic nature of their 3-1 win. Off the back of two 3-0 victories over Hungary and Malta, and after a basketball score of 24-0 against amateur side Eppam, Germany believe in the form of their strikers. Read more Germany World Cup Betting Preview 2010 ›

Little is known about North Korea, except for their results in qualifying. Their opponents, the most successful national team in history, are clear favourites. Brazil look set to open their account in style.

The lowest ranked team in the competition, North Korea would be hard pressed to claim a point in Group G against Cote d’Ivoire or Portugal, let alone trouble Brazil. Their best known player, also their captain, is Hong Yong-Jo, who plays mostly as a substitute midfielder-come-striker in lower-end Russian Premier league club Rostov. With only two other players plying their trade outside North Korea, in Japan – Kawasaki Frontale’s prolific striker Jong Tae-Se and now-relegated Ominya Ardija’s journeyman midfielder Ahn Young-Hak – the rest are an enigma.

Brazil set the benchmark for any team looking to seriously contemplate lifting the World Cup. Star playmaker Kaka may not be at the peak of his powers these days but he has scored more international goals than any of his teammates. Alongside him are a star-studded squad including Julio Cesar, Maicon and Lucio from Inter Milan, Robinho, Luis Fabiano, Gilberto Silva and Julio Baptista – this is a team so strong that Barcelona’s Dani Alves is used as an impact substitute. Maybe not as exciting as they used to be, Brazil are well organised and extremely skilful.

You would have to favour Brazil, and favour them heavily. 3-0 is the minimum score that can be expected. Star players would have to be the overlapping Maicon and undeniable talent of Robinho but expect Kaka to score – as well as popping up for the odd vital goal, Kaka has penalty duties, something which may come into effect when playing a team like North Korea.

Brazil vs North Korea Betting / Brazil vs North Korea Odds / Brazil Odds / Brazil Betting

Group D contains some of the world’s best countries. Germany may be just a cut above but all the teams in their group should make life difficult for them.

Normally, neither Serbia nor Ghana would consider themselves favourites. For Ghana, it’s a chance to emulate 2006’s great escape from a group containing eventual champions Italy, the strong Czechs and USA, and for Serbia, it’s a chance to avenge a poor performance that saw them crash out in round 1. But these are not normal circumstances.

With Michael Essien absent, Ghana are severely deflated, as reflected in their poor form leading up to the tournament, their best result being a 1-0 victory over Latvia. Though many of the team were part of the side that claimed second spot in the African Cup of Nations, Milovan Rajevac’s men will face tougher opposition here. The shining light is the re-emergence of Stephen Appiah; a forgotten man at Bologna this season, Appiah is the embodiment of calm and leadership.

Serbia are steady if not spectacular, able to compete with a full-strength team that includes Nemanja Vidic, highly sought after Milos Krasic, Branislav Ivanovic, treble-winning Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stankovic and new Birmingham 6’7” striker Nikola Zigic. Their automatic qualification saw them force France into a play-off to join them. Very strong.

A fairly tense match, Serbia’s strong backline should hold off Ghana, and all that’s required of them is to score on the counter-attack.

In Group D’s other match, 2006’s hosts, Germany, take on 2006’s surprise package, Australia.
Switching to the Asian football association, Australia qualified for the World Cup before with two games to spare, regularly playing against tougher opposition than they had previously been used to. Still able to count on the experience and leadership of captain Lucas Neill, Vince Grella and Harry Kewell (all based in Turkey), as well as the indispensible Scott Chipperfield, Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton and Tim Cahill. Read more Australia vs Germany 2010 World Betting ›

With both teams likely to qualify from this group, this game may ultimately decide who tops it and seeks to avoid the unenviable task of playing Germany in the second round.

Revitalised under Fabio Capello, England are one of the early tournament favourites and have a strong squad throughout. USA, despite a great second-place finish against Brazil in the Confederations Cup – beating Spain along the way – simply do not have the credentials to beat England.

Rated 14th in the World, a number of players will be familiar to English audiences – their keepers Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Marcus Hahnemann all play in England, along with Jonathon Spector, Stuart Holden, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. But their brightest star, Landon Donovan, is the man to watch: still only 28, he is their all-time leading goal-scorer with 42 goals in 123 appearances – all as a support striker.

Fast and athletic, USA lack the cutting edge, despite that incredible win over Spain. Mystery surrounds England’s starting line-up but the players have said they want James as keeper, likely to be guarded by Ashley Cole, King, Terry and Johnson. In midfield, the signs are that club-less Joe Cole will receive a surprising starting berth with out of favour Wright-Phillips, with the centre pairing of Gerrard and Lampard supplying Crouch and the formidable Wayne Rooney.

Certainly an England win, though USA have bite to them. Impossible not to see Crouch getting some joy against a very unfit Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu. Not as close-run as Group A, this should see a difficult England victory.

World Cup hosts South Africa come into their own tournament in good form, having beaten Denmark, Colombia and Guatemala, and drawn with Bulgaria in their last 4 games – extremely good results. They will come up against a very strong in Mexico, who performed well in losses to England and Holland before convincingly beating Gambia and World Cup holders Italy. Read more South Africa v Mexico Betting 11th June 2010 17 30 ›