With the World Cup just days away, thought i'd create this thread for those of us who like a bet.

Post all your bets, tips and hopefully some winners here! Got a bad feeling i'm going to be a lot less rich this time next month!

I quite fancy a double of Brazil/Messi. It's 33/1 in most places which surprises me, Argentina/Messi is only 14/1. If Brazil and Argentina both get to the semi finals, they'll play the same amount of games, I though that would be reflected in the odds.

Is Messi a safe bet though? He hasn't been in form this season.

I took Uruguay at 33/1 a couple of weeks ago. Nothing serious though, I just thought the price was attractive.
I'll probably look at prices on a day to day basis. Spain look reasonable value at 5/6 this Friday against The Netherlands? Should win that one, shouldn't they ?

Yep, just the 41 goals in 46 games this time around. Poor by his standards maybe, pretty much anyone else would bite your hand off for a record like that.

Probably because you're betting Messi to be top scorer but Brazil to win it. Less likely than Argentina/Messi or Brazil/Neymar ?

. He was also injured for a couple of months.

Yes I get that but it still seems like a big gap considering both teams would (potentially) be playing the same amount of games. Besides the golden boot winner rarely comes from the winning team, since 1982 the only one has been Ronaldo in 2002.

I might also put something on Hulk, 50/1. Worth a couple of quid. Or Thomas Muller - He's won it before.

Yeah that's how I'm doing it. Will put something on something long-term but I will mainly be doing daily bets like the one you mention.

It's always better to put big amounts on 5/6 or 4/8 options, as in the group stages there are some bets that are 99% decided from the start.

Brazil/Cameroon is a good early one - stick £100 on it and you'll get enough back for a few drinks, with virtually no chance of losing.

yeah but like they've said, if Brazil and Argentina both get to the semis, they'll play the exact same number of games because of the 3/4 playoff. if Messi and Neymar are both playing the same number of games, my money would be on Messi every single time.

I tend to agree with you

But then again, I'm skint and the bookies are rich so it may not be the best endorsement

I can only seriously see one of three teams winning this - Brazil (3/1), Argentina (4/1), and Spain (13/2), with Uruguay (30/1) and Germany (7/1) as the dark horses if a surprise happens, so I'll definitely be backing Uruguay at e/w.

Messi (8/1) is my tip to be top goalscorer - Argentina are in a rather benign group, and have a very presentable route to the final. he rather confusingly still gets a lot of criticism for his supposed failure at international level, but if my stats are correct he has 21 goals in his last 23 international games. I've also got a bet on Neymar, and e/w bets on Lukaku (33), Benzema (28), and Teofilo Gutierrez (80/1)

I'm also gonna do a huge group winner accumulator on all the seeded teams except England's group which I'm staying well clear of, for betting purposes. and I'll also be betting daily on the games.

I don't think that's true. Look at the last World Cup - Italy, the reigning champions, drew with Paraguay and New Zealand; Spain, eventual winners and reigning European champions, beaten by Switzerland.

I actually think the opposite is a better plan - I'm betting on decent teams who aren't favourite to win each group - Croatia (9/1) and Mexico (12/1), Netherlands (3/1), Ivory Coast (15/4), Bosnia (15/2) and Russia (15/2). It's the World Cup - crazy things always happen, especially in the group stage. At least one of the big favourites will flop.

Yes you (and the others) are right, I was wrong. Actually there's something wrong with the odds (14/1) quoted for Messi/Argentina. As singles they are 4/1 and 8/1, wouldn't a straight double return you something like 45/1 incl stake money ?

I'm guessing the bookies are working on the premise that the more Messi scores, the likelier it is Argentina will win, and so the odds shrink accordingly. or maybe it's the other way round, and if Argentina win, then it's likely Messi will be the top scorer. lol I dunno....

Sorry, forget that. It was Brazil/Messi wasn't it. Still not 14/1...they are quoted at 3/1 and 8/1. What's that, a 36/1 double with stake money back ?

just had a 13 match acca on the group games $30 to win $1500

Brazil are 1/5, £100 to win £20. Don't think I'll bother, what a sickener if Cameroon nick a draw.

I have Argentina to win and lukaku (ew) and messi top scorer(i like that bet where if u put 20 on it you get a £5 bet anytime they score a goal) considering dzeko and benzema for this too. Also have Brazil -1 for the first match.

yeah Brazil/Messi is about 33/1 in most bookies, but 50/1 with Hills. Argentina/Messi is 14/1

Brazil are 1/3 to win their opening match against Croatia. I'm tempted to place £100 on it, will wait to see if nerves get to Brazil, might place the bet in game. They are Brazil's toughest opponents in that group.

Have had a few bets already Uruguay 28/1 , an accumulator for the first few games.

Brazil v Uruguay 50/1 to meet in the final

Good thread

I did a quad cast in Group B - Spain/Chile/Holland/Australia but the odds aren't great about 5/1
Aguero / Higuain top scorers (can see Messi being stupidly man marked and goalkeeper rebounds / woodwork will fall to these guys up front + they aren't half bad creating something from nothing themselves!) both around 20/1

In Englands group I've got Uruguay bottom at 11/1 , and England / Costa Rica to go through

Please can someone tell me why Uruguay are so highly rated? I just don't get it. Suarez is absolutely unbelievable, but i have a feeling he will be rushed back and then get injured. Whatever; he is very sure not to be 100%. Cavani is excellent by all accounts but he is one of those players who always seems to flatter to deceive when i watch him.
Their rest of the team is meh, including that mess from Juventus Caceres and Lugano who is somehow slower than Mertesacker. Godin is very good though.

I think England will really benefit from being downplayed by the media here, it will be a dog fight but I think they'll sneak through with Costa Rica, who will beat Uruguay in the 1st match

Thats why its not easy. Betting 1/5 or shorter doesnt win you much, and they get beat. Brazil ought to tuck this one away though.