World Cup Qualifying Betting: England expected to progress

World Cup 2014 / Michael Lintorn / 01 August 2011 /

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Andy Carroll will be eager to represent England at World Cup 2014

"England have made it through to seven of the last eight editions and won their group in each of the last four."

England have been handed a challenging but unintimidating World Cup qualifying group, while their four neighbours will again have their work cut out.

A drama-free route to the 2014 World Cup is anticipated for England after they were drawn in Group H alongside Euro 2012 qualifying rivals Montenegro, the co-hosts of that competition Poland and Ukraine and the unfancied duo of Moldova and San Marino.

Despite a lack of certainty over who will be managing the Three Lions during that period, with Fabio Capello scheduled to leave after their participation in Euro 2012 concludes, they are overwhelming favourites to finish top at [1.36].

England have made it through to seven of the last eight editions and won their group in each of the last four, however while they avoided the toughest teams in the second and third sets of seeds, France and Republic of Ireland, they have still been dealt a reasonable tricky hand.

A major reason why Ukraine and Poland were in the third and fourth pots is that their staging of Euro 2012 and subsequent automatic qualification has denied them competitive games for ranking points. Montenegro meanwhile have shown their potential in the current campaign, drawing 0-0 at Wembley.

Republic of Ireland will be less satisfied than England with their draw after being paired with Germany and Sweden in Group C, paying the price for their harsh inclusion among the third band of seeds. Three-time winners Germany are clear [1.19] frontrunners, with the Boys in Green [6.0].

Their neighbours Northern Ireland are also going to struggle to make it to Brazil having landed in Group F with Portugal, Russia and Israel. Odds of [12.0] are offered on them finishing ahead of all three, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in first place.

Scotland and Wales have each other for company in Group A, which lacks a genuine European giant but has plenty of possible qualifiers in Croatia, Serbia and Belgium. Macedonia are the other contenders in a group that Scotland are [8.0] to top, with Wales the least supported at [14.0].

The other group that stands out is Group I, where reigning champions Spain will have to fight France for top spot. Vicente del Bosque's side are unsurprisingly favourites at [1.28], with Les Bleus [3.05].

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