Advertorial: Trading Talk – South Africa 2010 Group A preview

Group A is the only one to contain two previous World Cup winners, France (1998) and Uruguay (1930 and 1950).

Mexico’s best run in the finals saw them reach the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986, which means that South Africa face a tough task if they’re to escape Group A.

France are favourites on the Group A Index spread (25pts to the winner, 10pts to runner-up and 5pts to third-place), currently at 15-16.5pts. Although the French are ranked seventh in the Fifa World Rankings, buyers of their group win index will be concerned with their current form.

Qualification for South Africa came by an already infamous goal to get past the Irish and sellers of France’s group index will also have noted that the side recently failed to score against the Spanish.

Any spread punters who like to bet on Sporting Index’s total goals markets should note that during 2009 Les Bleus played seven consecutive matches in which neither team managed to score more than one goal.

Mexico were impressive in 2009, winning eight, drawing twice and losing just once. Buyers of their group index at 10 will hope they can carry the same form into the finals. An strong qualification record will offer some encouragement to buyers of Mexico’s outright and group spreads as from 20 qualifying matches the side won 11, drew three and lost six.

Javier Aguirre’s side are appearing in the finals for the fifth time in a row, and buyers of their group index spread will be pleased to know they have made the last 16 in their last four World Cup appearances.

But the side look set to play 37-year-old Blanco as their main forward, so buyers of their outright win index (100pts to the tournament winner, 75pts to the runner-up, 50pts to the losing semi-finalists, 25pts to the losing quarter-finalists and 10pts for reaching the last 16) must be wary of his age and fitness as the tournament progresses. The striker does have 37 goals for his country however.

The Uruguayans played 12 internationals in 2009, winning seven of them, losing six, and drawing seven. Buyers of their outright win index spread will have been concerned that the team only just secured their trip to South Africa after beating Costa Rica in a playoff.

A further worry for spread buyers is that since 1966, when Uruguay reached the quarter-final stage, they have failed to rediscover their early World Cup dominance.

The Uruguayans have only made two of the previous five finals and they failed to progress beyond their group on their last appearance in 2002.

Buyers of their group A index at 7 will be concerned that South Africa were victorious just five times in their 18 matches throughout 2009. Other punters hoping to buy Bafana Bafana’s outright win index at 9 will wish that South Korea’s efforts in 2002 – when the then hosts reached the semis – can inspire the hosts to outperform their other group members.

Supporters of South Africa on the spreads will also remember the decent performances in the Confederations Cup, where the side reached the semi-finals to finish fourth overall.