Five easy steps to turn £5 into £85.49, courtesy of Ladbrokes.

In relation to my previous post, here's what I've bet on for future reference - mainly by me, but for anyone out there that feels playing it safe is the decent option, with one or two accumulators to get the heart racing a little!

#1: Serbia to qualify from their group (5/6). With Germany being the only big dog in Group D, Serbia should tie up second place in their group - also inhabited by Ghana and Australia, both long shots. A fiver nets you £9.17.

#2: David Villa for Top Scorer (8/1 each way). Hot on form, the Spaniard is the tournament's favourite to pick up the golden boot this year, and following convincing warm-up games is definitely sure to be one of the front runners throughout. By putting the bet "each way", money will be awarded if Villa finishes within the top four top scorers, regardless of whether he wins or not - more as an insurance option! A fiver nets you £30 (if first) or £7.50 (if within the top four).

#3: Holland (4/7) and Spain (1/4) to win their groups. Spain have arguably been handed the easiest route to the last 16, with Chile, Switzerland, and first-time qualifiers Honduras their only blockages en-route. Whilst Cameroon are no write-offs, both Denmark and Japan have been dissappointing in recent years, and unless disaster strikes I can't see Holland finishing with anything less than 18 points. A fiver nets you £9.82.

#4: England/USA to grab First and Second in their group (11/8). With high expectations, Capello's men go into the tournament full of confidence (albeit also injuries). USA could prove tough competition, yet it's hard to see either Slovenia or Algeria causing cup upsets for both teams. As long as England can keep their cool against an impressive American side, it's hard to see the top two being different to predicted. A fiver nets you £9.

#5: England (1/3), Spain (1/4), Holland (4/7), Argentina (2/5) and Italy (1/2) to win their groups. With all five facing relatively low opponents, all five big dogs should progress trouble-free. Although upsets are rare, anything can happen however. But with accumulators, when is there never a risk? A fiver nets you £27.50.

Potentially, using Ladbrokes £20 free bets with one £5 bet placed, you could walk away with a handy £85.49 in your pocket. Not bad for a £5 stake.


(Although this may seem too good to be true, in all honesty it is. Ladbrokes' current offer is a one-time thing, and usually some of these bets I wouldn't place unless they were free. Gambling should be limited - if at any point you feel you're biting more than you can chew, get out - fast. The last thing you need is debt!)