London
Germany are red-hot favourites to win the World Cup on Sunday, according to British bookmakers, with punters piling money on them to conquer Argentina in the final.
Major betting firms have the Germans as odds-on to win the tournament after their 7-1 semi-final demolition of hosts Brazil.
Paddy Power, Coral and William Hill price Germany at 4/6 and Argentina 6/5 to lift the trophy; Ladbrokes make Germany 7/10 and Argentina 23/20.
Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “The semis couldn’t have been more different but we’re betting Argentina will raise their game for the final. Germany are just favoured to edge it at this stage in a game that looks set to break betting records.”
In the semi-finals, Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1, while Argentina went through on penalties after a goalless draw with the Netherlands. Punters have since been stacking up bets on Germany, despite the shorter odds. On Saturday, 95 percent of all World Cup final bets were for Germany.
“Germany have been incredibly well-backed. They are the favourites to win the final,” William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said.
“Their performance in the semis has prompted plenty of people to wager that they will lift the World Cup — and I’m not surprised at all. You would have thought that British punters wouldn’t want to back the German team but they’re really betting with their heads rather than with their hearts this time around.”
After Germany beat Brazil 7-1 on Tuesday, William Hill maintain the odds of 500/1 on the same score in the final. —AFP
