Why Holland can go all the way at the World Cup
Published:
Holland have been installed as 9/2 joint-third favourites to win the World Cup in Brazil and punters are advised to back the Oranje before the price disappears.
The Dutch used a combination of skill, luck and ruthlessness in order to overcome a gutsy Mexico in round two and these are all the qualities they need to finally end their hunt for a World Cup win.
Brazil (5/2), remain the favourites to land the biggest prize in sport but the Selecao are proving too reliant on Neymar and while the Barca man showed nerves of steel to slot home his penalty in the shoot-out with Chile it is too much to ask for him to carry his nation all the way under the weight of expectation from the home crowds.
Argentina are second in the betting at 4/1 but are similarly-reliant on a Barca superstar in Lionel Messi.
The diminutive forward has delivered with aplomb thus far but one bad game could see the Argies bow out, if not against the Swiss then likely quarter-final opponents Belgium.
Uruguay’s showing against Colombia highlights just how difficult times can be when you cannot rely on your star man.
Holland’s main rivals after that are Germany (also 9/2), but iffy displays against Nigeria and USA have shown that Joachim Loew’s men could crack once the pressure is cranked up.
Holland’s route to the final is also encouraging with Costa Rica, who required a mammoth effort to get past Greece, next up.
The Central Americans have impressed, if not surprised, thus far but the extra 30 minutes in the heat when down to 10 men has helped Holland’s pricing as 1/2 favourites for their quarter-final clash.
From there it is likely to be Argentina or Belgium in the semis and provided Messi can be kept at bay or the Red Devils continue to underwhelm then Louis van Gaal’s men will be quietly confident.
Germany or Brazil should then await them in the final where the old football cliché that anything could happen actually rings true, especially when Holland are unbeaten in three meetings with Brazil – winning 2-1 at the 2010 World Cup – and have avoided defeat in six of their last eight clashes with Germany.
So, one thing is for sure, the price on Holland is set to shorten with every passing game, so back Van Gaal’s men to go all the way before it’s too late.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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