World Cup Group Betting

Betting on the Group stage of the World Cup is not only exciting, but can also be very profitable. The group stages of the World Cup often provide many shocks, but also represent some great value. Our World Cup betting guide has previews of each group stage, providing expert analysis of each of the teams in each group to help you find the best bets.

Group stage odds, tips and free bets

World Cup Group A

World Cup Group A is one of the most interesting World Cup groups in that all four sides have a realistic chance of qualifying. It also features this year's World Cup hosts South Africa, who will be expected by their fans to outperform their FIFA ranking of 90. France, the runners up from the last World Cup, are favourites to progress from the group but many would argue they are lucky to even be at the World Cup after Thierry Henry's hand ball in the playoff against Ireland.

World Cup Group B

World Cup Group B seems one of the more straight forward World Cup groups, Argentina, who are amongst the favourites to win the World Cup despite a rocky qualification period, are the strong favourites to win the group. South Korea, who reached the World Cup Semi Final in 2002 look to have their work cut out to qualify against Nigeria and Greece, who both look stronger than the Asians. This group looks unlikely to provide the World Cup winner despite containing Argentina.

World Cup Group C

World Cup Group C left English fans delighted after the World Cup draw in December 2009, but it may not be as easy as many English fans think. USA went close to winning the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year so they have to be strongly respected whilst Algeria qualified for the World Cup by beating African champions Egypt. Expect plenty of close games in World Cup Group C.

World Cup Group D

World Cup Group D is amongst the toughest World Cup groups for 2010. Ghana, who many fancy to come out of the World Cup as the best African team, are third favourites to qualify whilst Australia, who have performed well at recent World Cups, are the complete outsiders. This shows how competitive it is and the bookies might have it slightly wrong with Serbia clear second favourites to qualify behind the Germans, who will be as efficient as ever, even without the injured Michael Ballack.

World Cup Group E

World Cup Group E is very similar to World Cup Group B, it has a hot favourite, two teams who are fairly closely matched battling for the second spot and an Asian team as the outsider. This time it is Japan who are expected to struggle and Holland who are expected to cruise the group. Holland will need to avoid peaking too early which is what they appeared to do at Euro 2008.

World Cup Group F

World Cup Group F contains the current World Champions Italy, who look almost certain to lose that crown this year due to an aging team. They will be solid in qualifying but lookout for an improving Paraguay, who have some very impressive attacking talent. World Cup minnows New Zealand will be hoping to keep the scores respectable and maybe nick a goal of their own against Slovakia, who are the other team that makes up the numbers in World Cup Group F.

World Cup Group G

World Cup Group G is this year's World Cup Group Of Death. There is always a Group Of Death and this one is very interesting as it contains one of the complete outsiders for the World Cup, North Korea. They could be in for some hefty beatings against Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal and that game will give the strikers of the three bigger teams a chance to stake their claims for the Golden Boot. What makes World Cup Group G even more interesting is that the runners up are likely to play Spain, who are well fancied to win World Cup Group H.

World Cup Group H

World Cup 2010 Betting favourites Spain are the hot favourites in World Cup Group H. Things are expected to be pretty comfortable for the current European Champions although it has to be said, Chile are no pushovers and should do well in South Africa. Another of the World Cup minnows, Honduras, will be playing in World Cup Group H alongside Switzerland, who had a good qualifying campaign.