World Cup 2010 Preview: Dutch want elusive title

Soccer Betting Lines

05/21/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bert van Marwijk took over the Netherlands following Euro 2008, when the Oranje breezed through the group stage only to be eliminated in the first knockout round in their second straight major tournament.

Van Marwijk guided the team through World Cup qualifying with eight wins in as many matches, but in a group with current European lightweights Iceland, Macedonia, Norway and Scotland, the new coach really didn't get a feel for exactly how good of a team he inherited.

Neither did the rest of the world, which could be good for the Netherlands this summer.

The Netherlands again feature one of the most talented lineups in the world, with a wealth of attacking options, including Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, but must shake its history of failures on the big stage to capture its first World Cup title.

The Dutch were second in the World Cup in 1974 and 1978, losing to the hosts both years. The Netherlands lost to West Germany 2-1 in 1974 and Argentina in added extra time 3-1 in 1978. Holland's lone major title is Euro 1988, when it beat host West Germany in the semifinals and the Soviet Union in the final.

Van Marwijk enters the 2010 World Cup with only one truly acceptable result, and that's lifting the trophy on July 11 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"We have a mission: to be champions of the world," Dutch assistant Frank de Boer, who played for his country from 1990-2004, told FIFA's website.

Robben and Sneijder enter the World Cup following incredible club seasons. Both left Real Madrid last summer, and led their respective clubs, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, to the Champions League final.

After unsuccessful injury-plagued stints with Chelsea and Real, Robben found a home and his health in Munich, and scored 23 goals in all competitions leading up to the Champions League final. He scored crucial goals all year for Bayern, including an unbelievable series-winning volley against Manchester United in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Sneijder did not have a prolific scoring season for Inter Milan, but quickly became the team's best playmaker in central midfield and contributed timely goals and assists all season.

The duo has made more than 100 combined appearances for the Netherlands, with Sneijder scoring 12 goals and Robben 11.

Van Marwijk has plenty of other options as well. with Rafael Van der Vaart (75 games, 15 goals), Dirk Kuyt (60 games, 14 goals), Robin van Persie (41 games, 14 goals) and Klaas Jan Huntelaar (30 games, 15 goals) all viable attacking options.

The Dutch have experienced Mark van Bommel in central defense, and captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst - who leads the side with nearly 100 international appearances - Andre Ooijer, Joris Mathijsen and Nigel De Jong the most experienced members of an underrated defense.

The Netherlands should have no trouble navigating Group D, although Cameroon, Denmark and Japan present a tough challenge. Where the Dutch go from there is what will determine just how memorable of a tournament it is for Van Marwijk, who realizes he can't look ahead yet.

"A lot of people will probably think that we will make it to the next round without too much trouble. However, our opponents shouldn't be underestimated," Van Marwijk said on FIFA's website.

Opponents certainly won't underestimate the Netherlands, which would instantly equal fellow European powers England and France - who won on home soil in 1966 and 1998, respectively - and shed its past by winning its first title.

Wwindowsmedia Soccer Betting News

<< Zheng, Dulgheru will decide Warsaw champion
Warsaw, Poland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Zheng Jie of China and reigning champion Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania will square off in Saturday's final at the $600,000 Warsaw Open, a final French Open tune-up. Zheng handled Hung

<< Serbia trims roster to 24 players
Belgrade, Serbia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Radomir Antic trimmed Serbia's World Cup roster to 24 players Friday, leaving one more player to be cut before the last squad has to be submitted June 1. Forwards Dejan Lekic and Miralem Sulejmani, mi

<< Subway Series commences as Yanks visit Mets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Apple bragging rights between the New York Yankees and Mets will be on the line again in the 2010 version of the Subway Series, which kicks off Friday night at Citi Field. The Mets will play host for this three-game se

<< Red Sox vie to continue recent success against Phils
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Interleague play commences around the major leagues this weekend, and no team could be happier than the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox will take their winning ways to Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park tonight in the opener of

<< Resurgent Royals start home set with Rockies
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals try to keep winning under new manager Ned Yost this evening, when they open their interleague slate with the opener of a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies. Kansas City, though, may have its

MLB - Stay away from high-priced favorites >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Favorites of -180 or more are 61-35 through the first six weeks of the baseball season. That's a solid 64% clip, a higher mark than all but one major league club. However, when a team is favored by such

NYRA notifies employees of pending closures >>
Elmont, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday that it has notified its employees of the pending end of racing operations and track closings on Wednesday, June 9. The NYRA operates Belmont Park, S

It is time to bring Strasburg to DC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Of all the surprises through the first month-and-a-half of the major league season, nothing may be more shocking than the fact that the Washington Nationals are .500 heading into this weekend's slate of interleague play.

World Cup 2010 Preview: Lowered expectations for Nigeria >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No African nation has ever reached the semifinals of the World Cup, but if you were to rewind time about 15 years, Nigeria would be the odds on favorite to do it. With players like Sunday Oliseh, Vi

Breeders' Cup ultimate goal for Mine That Bird >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Now that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in his barn, the veteran horseman needs to map out a way to get the gelding to the 2010 Breeder

Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook

Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds.  The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.

Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.

Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).

Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.

World Series odds

Adam Dunn 15-1

Albert Pujols 5-1

Alex Rodriguez 12-1

Alfonso Soriano 15-1

Andruw Jones 25-1

Barry Bonds 50-1

Carlos Delgado 40-1

David Ortiz 8-1

Jermaine Dye 40-1

Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1

Lance Berkman 40-1

Manny Ramirez 20-1

Richie Sexson 40-1

Ryan Howard 6-1

Travis Hafner 20-1

Vladimir Guerrero 40-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.