England’s Stage of Elimination in World Cup 2010
Paddy Power Betting Guide – England’s Stage of Elimination
South Africa 2010 will be England’s thirteenth appearance at the World Cup finals. Will it prove to be lucky as Fabio Capello’s men emulate the team of 1966, or will it prove to be unlucky and see the Three Lions eliminated at the first hurdle for the first time since 1958?
Here’s our look at England’s past World Cup performances with odds on them repeating such a performance in 2010.
First round elimination – 6/1
England’s first World Cup appearance was in Brazil in 1950 and the Three Lions started with a win as Stan Mortensen and Wilf Mannion scored in a 2-0 win over Chile. However, their following game remains one of the tournament’s biggest upsets as the USA triumphed 1-0 in Belo Horizonte. A further 1-0 defeat to Spain followed and England were eliminated at the first hurdle.
Although they remained unbeated, England fared little better in Sweden in 1958. Three draws against Austria, the Soviet Union and the eventual winners Brazil saw England once again eliminated in the first round.
It is 6/1 that England are knocked out of the 2010 World Cup in the group stages, and with only USA, Algeria and Slovenia to play, it would be a major surprise and disappointment if Capello’s side were to emulate the poor performance of 60 years ago.
Second round elimination – 11/4
After yet another change to the tournament format, England reached the ’second group stage’ of the 1982 World Cup in Spain after impressive wins over France, Czechoslovakia and Kuwait. However, Ron Greenwood’s side couldn’t conjure up a goal in 180 minutes of football in the second group stage, drawing 0-0 with West Germany and Spain to be narrowly eliminated.
England were once again knocked out of the World Cup at the second round stage in 1998. In a match featuring Michael Owen’s wondergoal and David Beckham’s red card, Sol Campbell’s header was inexplicably chalked off by the Danish referee and Argentina went on to win the penalty shootout after missed spot kicks from David Batty and Paul Ince.
England’s likely second round opponents in 2010 are Australia, Ghana or Serbia and so, whilst 11/4 might be the ‘favourite’ in the ’stage of elimination’ market, it would be a considerable disappointment if England were to go out in the last sixteen.
Quarter final elimination – 7/2
The quarter-finals of a World Cup have been England’s Achilles heel since 1954 as on no less than six occasions have England fallen at the quarter-final hurdle.
In 1954 it was the powerhouse of Uruguay that ended England’s chances, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney scoring in a 4-2 defeat. Brazil’s 3-1 win saw off England in Chile in 1962, and many still find the 1970 quarter-final too painful to remember as West Germany came from 2-0 down to defeat England 3-2 after extra time in León.
Bobby Robson’s side were unfortunate to be eliminated in the 1986 quarter finals by the infamous ‘Hand of God’ before Sven Goran Erkisson’s side succumbed to Brazil in 2002 and Portugal in 2006.
It’s 7/2 that England’s quarter-final hoodoo continues in South Africa, and with tricky potential opponents such as France or Argentina waiting in the last eight, it could be another last eight heartbreak for the Three Lions.
Semi-final elimination 10/3
For many people, the 1990 World Cup is their earliest memory of the tournament. England rather stumbled into the semi-finals in Italy with a sweeper system installed as the start of the tournament, with the self-same ’sweeper’ Mark Wright deployed as an emergency centre forward in England’s dramatic late win over Cameroon.
Wins over Egypt, Belgium and Cameroon had carried Bobby Robson’s side into the semi-finals and despite playing extremely well against West Germany in Turin, the match finished 1-1, Pearce’s penalty was saved, Waddle missed the target and England were out.
A semi-final appearance in 2010 is probably the least that Fabio Capello expects of his side, and with the likes of Brazil waiting at this stage, it’s realistically the best England can hope for. The 10/3 on a semi-final elimination will be a punt based on both expectation and hope.
Runners-up 6/1
England have never been the runners-up in a World Cup but it is 6/1 that they are the beaten finalists in Johannesburg on 11 July. The Three Lions’ defeat at the quarter-final stage of a major tournament deflates a nation; how will they be after losing in a World Cup Final?
Winners 11/2
The 30th July 1966 is probably the most celebrated date in English football as Alf Ramsey’s ‘wingless wonders’ defeated West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley. The likes of Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Bobby Moore are national icons as England joined a group of just five nations (at the time) who had become World Champions.
England are the 11/2 third favourites to emulate the team of 1966 and bring the World Cup back to the birthplace of football. To do it, they’ll have to beat some superb teams and, probably, a couple of ex-World Cup winning nations. Can they do it? Tough, but not impossible.
The above preview and odds was supplied by Paddy Power.
Claim Your Free Bet Today With Paddy Power
Play Poker for free
Daily Free rolls, US friendly poker rooms and free poker Chips.
Click here to play Poker for free
----------
Love Bingo? Play for free
£100's in free Bingo offers
Click here for all the best Bingo offers
BET365 A TOP BOOKIES
Bet365 are one of the biggest and best UK bookies around, they have 1000's of markets, live coverage of all sports including Football and one of the biggest selections of live in play betting.
In addition Bet365 have loads of ongoing promotions as well as a welcome bonus worth up to £200.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT BET365
EXPEKT A TRUSTED BOOKIES
Expekt are one of Europes biggest and most trustworthy bookies offering a huge selection of markets as well as live streams, supertoto and much more.
Expekt offer a nice new welcome bonus worth up to €50.
