 World Cup betting: Semi-final view
07/03/2006
World Cup betting could be one of the remaining elements of interest for English fans in this year's tournament following the Three Lions' crushing exit and there are some interesting odds on offer.
A reinvigorated France have shot up the list of favourites having started badly – they are now equal favourites with Germany to lift the trophy at 7/4.
Having been placed in separate semi-finals these two teams are also the favourites to meet in the final with World Cup odds of 5/4, while a France versus Italy final is the next option at 9/4.
The Azzurri have managed to reach the last four without producing any notably impressive performances and are consequently relative outsiders at 3/1, with Portugal bringing up the rear at 6/1.
Those interested in a World Cup bet on the top scorer in the tournament would find a runaway favourite in the form of Germany's Miroslav Klose at 1/4, while Thierry Henry has been valued at 7/2, followed by Lukas Podolski at 10/1.
In the first semi-final between Germany and Italy the hosts are at 5/4 to go through, while the Italians have been valued at 2/1.
Klose has been backed to be the first scorer at 4/1, followed by Luca Toni at 5/1, Podolski at 6/1 and Francesco Totti at 7/1.
France are heavily fancied to beat Portugal at evens, compared to 11/4 for Scolari's men and 9/5 for a draw.
A 1-0 win for the French has been valued at 5/1, while the same result in favour of the Portuguese or a 2-0 victory for Les Bleus have both been valued at 6/1, with a 0-0 draw available at 11/2.
Thierry Henry is the favourite to score first at 11/4 and is also front runner to hit the net from outside the box at 9/1, while David Trezeguet and Sylvain Wiltord have been sized up at 10/1 to do so.
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