World Cup Playoffs Betting Preview

With FIFA deciding at the last minute to introduce the seedings rule into the Football World Cup 2010 Playoffs, many feathers were ruffled and many unseeded teams were unhappy at the thought of having to play the likes of Argentina, Portugal and France, with no chance of them playing each other. However the draws were made and it is our neighbours Republic of Ireland who are playing a two-legged tie with the 2008 World Cup finalists France for a place in the finals.

Ireland vs France Betting preview

Looking across the bookmakers, most, if not all, have made France heavy favourites to win outright and qualify for the tournament with Ladbrokes offering poor, but average odds of 1/3 and Coral offering slightly better with 2/5. Although you won’t get much back from your money if France do go through, Raymond Domenech’s team do seem to be in decent form having only lost one game during qualifying, however I would not put a huge amount on the French going through. They will be missing star player Franck Ribery through injury and without the winger the team looks tired and I believe it’ll be difficult for the likes of Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema to break down a Republic of Ireland defence that boasts the likes of Richard Dunne and John O’Shea, without a creative playmaker like Ribery behind them, so those who do put a large amount on France to get through, they might be in for a shock – I just don’t think the odds are good enough for me to bet. Although I do believe France will be eventual winners of the tie and go through to the final, I think the Republic will give them a good game on home turf on the 14th November, and would suggest you take a bet with William Hill allowing you to bet on each game in the tie, with odds of 13/8 on the Republic beating France in Ireland on the 14th.

The other European Playoffs include Portugal vs. Bosnia, with Portugal expected to be the runaway winners. As expected the bookmakers are backing Portugal to qualify for the tounament, with most giving odds 1/5 and 1/6, and Coral seeming the best odds with 1/3. Although you will not have much of a return, it seems almost an inevitability that Portugal will go on to qualify, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco on display against a Bosnia side who are ranked 42nd in the world and have never Qualified for the World Cup.

Other playoffs include Ukraine vs. Greece, and I would take the offer up on Ladbrokes who are offering 5/6 on Ukraine to qualify for the tournament. Most of the bookmakers odds are favouring Ukraine only slightly, but I believe they will comfortably go through with Greece not looking like a team of quality since their shock Euro 2004 win.

World Cup Playoff Free Bets