England Bound for Another Disappointment: Early World Cup Betting Odds

England has qualified for the World Cup, but does the team really stand any chance of winning this time around?

Roy Hodgson’s men really left it until very late to qualify for Brazil, and no surprise that the expectations among fans and at online sportsbooks in United Kingdom are low. The odds on the Three Lions winning the competition are 29.00, equal with the three other teams at the bottom of top 10.

The coach has said several times that his team can make it this time around, but considering the number of times they have failed not too many people actually believe. This opens the door for smart bettors under British gambling laws to place wagers on key events at the World Cup, since experts and bookies don’t really expect England to do well.

The inventors of the game have only won once, back in 1966 at home. The lone fourth place in 1990 can hardly be called an achievement, and the series of less than impressive Cups and unlucky eliminations speak for themselves.

The road to Brazil

But there’s hope for the Three Lions, considering they’ve managed to beat a very tough group, needing a win in their very last match in order to top it. They didn’t lose a single game during qualification, but still only had 1 point more than Ukraine, after 10 matches. 2.75 odds for England to stay unbeaten in group stage is not a bad wager to make for those who bet on sports in the United Kingdom.

The squad

Hodgson didn’t take Ashley Cole to Brazil, who has 107 matches for England in his 33 years of age. But Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw are going, together with such young talents as Adam Lallana, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling. Naturally, the veterans Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Wayne Rooney will be making up the experienced part of the squad.

The draw and betting odds

The group D England have been drawn into is considered to be the “Group of Death” with Uruguay, Italy, and Costa Rica next to the Three Lions. The English kick off their campaign with a match against Italy.

Their last competitive fixture was at Euro 2012, where Italians went through on penalties. Uruguay with the all-knowing-about-England Luis Suarez are next, and the third match in the group is Costa Rica.

Betting on England at World Cup

• England are not considered as favorites for the World Cup

• Majority of online sportsbooks in United Kingdom are ready for betting action

• Smart bet is to wager on England reaching the quarters

An interesting bet for English group stage is them not winning a single game, which is priced at hefty 5.00. In case you believe they can win the group the reward is 3.10. But their chances of progressing regardless the group placement are valued at 1.62.

Should Hodgson’s men make it out of the group, they will meet either of Ivory Coast, Japan, Colombia and Greece. And this stage seems passable for the Three Lions, thus the odds on them reaching the quarters are quite nice at 2.87.

However, even if they do make it to the quarters, they will most probably play Brazil there. So the 6.00 odds on them going through to the semis and 13.00 on reaching the final seem like a waste of money at this point.

Combo betting is interesting on England. The event where the Three Lions win the World Cup and Wayne Rooney is getting the golden boot is priced at a whopping line of 101.00. Argentina and England in the final, something every English fan would like to see, will deliver an 81.00 payout.

Becoming the top European team of the competition pays at 17.00 for England, while the Three Lions being eliminated as runner ups pays at 21.00. The race for the nation’s top scorer is pretty tight with Rooney in the lead at 3.50 and Daniel Sturridge right on his heels with 3.75 odds.