Bettors keen on Brazil in World Cup

Bettors believe that Brazil can triumph in Germany and they have been cut from a generally available 4.00 (3/1) a month ago to a top price of 3.75 (11/4). Some bookies are as short as 3.20 (11/5) about the trophy holders.

"At this stage bettors can't see past them," said Ben Haldane, spokesman for BetUK.com. "We were 4.50 (7/2) about Brazil at the start of the year and they have been heavily backed ever since. It seems that no-one else has been impressing the public in the run up to the tournament and so they are going for the obvious form side."

Haldane reported that England have gone virtually unsupported since the news that Wayne Rooney had broken a small bone in his foot while Sven Goran Erricson's unusual squad selection, which included Theo Walcott who has never started a Premiership game, left many bettors unwilling to risk their money on the 9.00 (8/1) joint second favourites at this stage.

Hosts Germany are the other joint second favourites while Argentina, who were as low as 7.00 (6/1) are friendless in the market and have been pushed out to a top price of 10.00 (9/1). The Italians are in the midst of a match fixing scandal involving Juventus and other Serie A clubs and the 11.00 (10/1) shots will do well to recover mentally from the storm going on around them.

Check out all the World Cup betting odds at bookies.com