Soccer World Cup Final Betting Odds - 07-08-06

July 8 -  What a month it has been, and we hope your Soccer World Cup betting was a success. Whether your picks were good or not, you have to agree that this was one of the best tournaments yet. This Sunday's FIFA World Cup Final will decide the champion, and we believe that some bookmakers may have got it wrong...

France and Italy will battle it out in what can only be a scintillating clash. Les Bleus were champs in 1998 and for Azzurri it has been a long drought since 1982. In the last big-time encounter between these two sides, France beat Italy 2-1 in an extra-time thriller at the 2000 European Championships.

Online sportsbooks across the globe all report record betting activity on the tournament thus far, and expect huge numbers for the final. With the quality of competition in the tournament, this comes as no surprise.

What raises the level of interest even more, is that a France / Italy final was definitely not anticipated. In fact. sportsbooks like Bodog.com had the two teams at 13/1 odds and 15/2 odds respectively to win the Cup.

But there is no doubt that these two teams deserved to make the final. The Italians have been uncharacteristically consistent from the start, and France picked up their game after a disappointing start. Special attention will be paid to French captain , who is set to retire from football at the end of the tournament.

So who will win it? Everyone has an opinion, so we will stick our necks out. We believe that France will take it. Why? One name: Zinedine Zidane. He has been spectacular, possibly playing the best soccer of his life (taming the Brazilian midfield is proof enough). This is his swansong on the world stage, and for one of the best footballers in history, there can be no more incentive to perform. Throw in a brilliant performance by the French keeper, Bartez, a revitalized Viera, and Henri looking the business, and you have to back France to break down the almost impenetrable Italian defense and keep their strikers at bay.

This is where a couple of sportsbooks in our view have got it wrong:  Bodog.com has posted its odds for the final match between France and Italy:

• France +200
• Italy +150
• Draw +180

Intertops.com have posted the odds as:

• Italy 2.45
• Draw 2.8
• France 2.95

That's very good money for France in both instances...

For Saturday's 3rd place play off, Bodog.com has the odds at:

• Portugal +380
• Germany -143
• Draw +245

You have to back Germany at home and they would want to make up for a disappointing exit in front of their home fans.

Remember, we guarantee player deposits up to $1,000 at the sportsbooks we promote.

Agree or disagree, we hope enjoy the final and may the best team win!

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