Brazil and US Soccer Favourites (Olympic Soccer Betting)

London 2012 Olympic Soccer betting sees both men and women soccer teams compete from July 25th, with Brazil 2.550* favourites to win the men’s tournament, while Team USA 3.050* are the top women.

Men’s London 2012 Olympic Soccer betting sees Brazil as the 2.550* outright favourites to lift the gold medal in London, while current World and European champions Spain are a close second at 3.340*.

Despite being the most successful soccer nation of all time, Brazil have never won a gold medal at the Olympic Games, twice settling for silver and bronze. To win at London 2012 they will need to progress out of Group C which contains Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand.

Brazil recently defeated Great Britain 2-0 in a pre-tournament friendly, outclassing the Olympic hosts with a peformance that fully justified their favourites tag.

Spain won their one and only Olympic gold medal on home soil at Barcelona 1992, beating Poland 3-2 in the final. To have a chance of winning again at London 2012 they will need to progress out of Group D which contains Japan, Honduras and Morocco.

La Rojita have included three players from their Euro 2012 winning squad - Chelsea's Juan Mata, new Barcelona signing Jordi Alba and Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez.

Great Britain have won Olympic gold on three occasions but have not been involved in the tournament since 1960. However, now on home soil, Great Britain have re-entered the tournament and are priced at 10.790* to win gold. Great Britain do not have the advantage of playing together unlike the other competing nations and have been drawn in a tough Group alongside Senegal, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

Can Great Britain win gold on home soil? Click here for the latest soccer odds

Uruguay won back-to-back soccer Olympic gold medals in 1924 and 1928 but have since struggled to replicate their success. They are the third favourites at 6.880* to win at London 2012, and can boast two devastating strikers in the form of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez. Mexico 11.890* have been drawn in Group B alongside South Korea, Gabon and Switzerland 12.630* as they go in search of their first Olympic soccer gold medal.

USA Women Aim for Fourth Gold

Women’s London 2012 Olympic Soccer betting sees USA as the 3.350* favourites to win their third successive gold medal and their fourth from five Olympic Games. The US team have reached the final in all four Olympic Games involving women’s soccer - winning three golds and one silver. The favourites have been drawn in Group G alongside France 7.960*, Colombia and Korea DPR.

Great Britain enter their first ever Olympic Games and are offered at 10.910*. They have been drawn in Group E alongside New Zealand, Cameroon, and second favourites Brazil4.400*.

Japan believe they can claim gold at London 2012, and odds of 4.680* reflect their self-belief. They will be expected to qualify top of their group that includes Canada, South Africa and Sweden 11.520*.

Olympic Soccer Tournament Format

The London 2012 Olympic Soccer tournament format will see both the men’s and women’s competitions begin with a preliminary stage: the 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams are divided into groups of four teams.

The best eight teams will then qualify for the quarter-finals. In the men’s competition these are the top two teams from each of the four groups. In the women’s competition the top two teams from each of the three groups go through to the knockout stage, along with the two best third-placed teams.

The final will see the two nations go head-to-head for the gold, while the losing semi-finalists will battle for the bronze medal.

*Odds subject to change