FIFA World Cup Betting: There aren't many teams in the world that have higher expectations for the 2010 World Cup than Spain. La Roja come into this tournament ranked #1 in the world and are amongst the favorites on the World Cup lines to lift the trophy. Unlike Brazil and some of the other powerhouses though, Espana is going to have to overcome a history that suggests that they won't get beyond the semifinals of this tournament. Spain has only made it that far once, and that was back in 1950.

No team qualified with more ease from any of the European zones than did the Spanish. They took the maximum 30 points from ten matches in qualifying, and only allowed five goals in doing so. Much like the European qualifying, this Group H isn't going to be one that ultimately challenges Spain though, so the question is going to be how well the team responds when it runs into adversity from a solid team.

The striker combination of David Villa and Fernando Torres is quite simply the best in the world. That paired with the goalkeeping prowess of Iker Casillas should have any foes of the Spanish shaking in their boots.

At +400 on the World Cup odds, there's no reason to believe the Spain won't go far in this tournament. Group H will be a pushover, but a potential second round date with Brazil would be arguably the best match in the tournament. If the Spanish can instead draw neighbors, Portugal, the road will probably be clear to the second semifinal. Instead, laying this type of wood in World Cup betting action could be risky, as the path just to get to the final could include Brazil, Italy, and Argentina.