With the 2006 World Cup fast approaching in June and July, the picks are coming out faster than a center forward.  Online sports books and casino betting sites are publishing odds on the best picks, which for the most part, are - not surprisingly - all over the place.

There are many great teams in this years competition, thus making it very difficult to assuredly call out a winner.  Most sports bettors advise to make bets according to the groups that teams are placed in.  Looking at individual group match-ups is a good way to see if a team (out of the sixteen soccer teams total) has a chance of even making it out of the first round.

We now begin a special series of tips that take a look at the group match-ups and offer some insight into betting expectations.  We begin with Group A, in which host country Germany finds themselves.  Also in Group A is Poland, Ecuador, and Costa Rica - all relatively good teams.

Right now, the trends are favoring Germany and Poland as the favorites in this group, knocking Ecuador back because of a different climate and playing conditions (they are use to playing in high altitudes) and Costa Rica due to inexperience despite last years good showing at the World Cup.  However, Costa Rica should not be underrated, and will be a formidable challenge to Germany in their opening game.  Nevertheless, Germany seems confident they will win.

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