An All European World Cup Final is 9/1

Coral’s World Cup countdown has reached single figures as Brazil draws closer. Today’s special bet offers odds of 9/1 on an all European final.

Europe’s top teams will land in Brazil under a heavy cloud of expectation, but also with the knowledge that no squad assembled from the continent has ever clinched the illustrious trophy on South American soil before. This year, however, is the best opportunity yet not only to break the cycle, but to make Europe proud with a third, and unprecedented, all European final in a row.

Despite South America’s status as the most decorated continent in World Cup history, with Brazil contributing 5 wins to the cause, all European affairs have occurred an impressive 8 times in the 19 finals since the competition started in 1930. Since the turn of the millennium, they have dominated the headlines, fighting between themselves for the spoils and contributing 5 of the 6 previous finalists.

This time around, Spain take their golden generation to Brazil, looking to land their fourth major tournament win in a row.  La Roja go in at odds of 13/2, with a squad of experienced winners, and an almost embarrassing wealth of world class talent, who will be waiting to take their chances from the bench.

A favourite to join them in the final, and boost Europe’s hopes to welcome home a winner, are Germany at 6/1. Having previously defeated Argentina in the quarter- finals of South Africa 2010, but ultimately falling foul of their fellow Europeans in a 1-0 defeat to the Spaniards, they will be eager to secure a replay in this year’s final.

Similarly, Italy, that along with Brazil are the nation to have appeared in the highest number of finals, would be another outfit who can conceivably end the host teams hopes for a home victory. A finely- balanced squad, with the explosive pace and power of Mario Balotelli and the unpredictable genius of Antonio Cassano, will consider themselves more than capable of going toe to toe with the Phil Scolari’s Samba Boys.