8th Feb 2011 | Football
Nations Cup Betting Preview
The Home Championship is revived this week, albeit without England, as the Rep. of Ireland take on Wales tonight.
After 27 years the British Home Championship returns of sorts, under it’s new title the Carling Nations Cup. Those of a younger vintage will probably wonder what all the fuss is about but before the European Championships and the World Cup rose to prominence the big international football tournament was held between the home nations.
Started in 1883-84 the British Home Championship was a tournament organised by the Football Associations of the UK and it ran for 100 years before the FA realised the football world wasn’t flat.
The new incarnation of the tournament starts on Tuesday when Ireland take on Wales followed by Northern Ireland v Scotland the following day. In an era when there is already too much football people might question the need for another tournament and ultimately the public will vote with their feet. If the players were voting with their feet, the 21 withdraws since the squads were announced tells a story.
With regards the betting the Republic of Ireland are 11/10 favourites to win the tournament, not only are they the highest ranked team in the Nations Cup they also have the advantage that all six fixtures are held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
With four matches being held in May selecting a top goalscorer is fraught with difficulties but Wolves striker Kevin Doyle is priced up as 7/2 favourite by William Hill.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 10:33 8th Feb, 2011 but subject to change
