FIFA World Cup Betting: World Cup betting action will almost certainly see the Germans be favored in at least the first four to five matches that they play in South Africa this year. They are a talented side that many feel has the ability to win it all, with or without M Michael Ballack, who watch this tournament in crutches from an injury suffered playing with Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.

Qualification was absolutely a breeze for Germany, as it only conceded five goals in ten matches against 26 for. Four of those five came against a Finland team that merely proved to be a thorn in the Germans' side.

F Miroslav Klose netted seven of the 26 goals for the Germans in qualification for this event, which still leaves the European side as a favorite of the oddsmakers for World Cup picks. Klose, who also plays his club ball at home with Bayern Munich, has now scored 48 goals for his country in his illustrious career, and with seven goals in this tournament will move into a tie for #2 overall. He and veterans D Philipp Lahm, F Lukas Podolski, and M Bastian Schweinsteiger are going to be called upon early and often to try to pick up the leadership slack that won't be evident with Ballack missing.

You can find Germany at +1200 on the World Cup betting lines, which may be a very favorable price considering this draw. If the Germans can at least take four points from matches with Serbia and Ghana, they should win Group D (-140) and take on either the United States or England in Round 2. From there, the coast may be relatively clear to the semifinals. This is definitely a squad to keep your eye on.