CORAL OPEN BETTING ON PLAYERS TO MAKE THE ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD

Coral today opened a betting market on a wide range of players to make next summer's England World Cup squad in South Africa.

Last night's encouraging draw against Holland featured impressive displays by Carlton Cole, Jermain Defore and James Milner, none of whom are certainties to be on the plane to South Africa in June 2010.

Defoe is rated a 1-2 chance by Coral to make the World Cup Finals with James Milner 11-8. Carlton Cole at 2-1 is considered by Coral to be the least likely of this trimvirate to make it.

"The World Cup may be ten months away, and whilst England still have to qualify, considerable debate and discussion is already focusing on which English players will make it to South Africa, so it makes sense to put odds to the main names in the frame", said Simon Clare, Coral Spokesman.

"The battle for places looks more competitive than ever which is hugely encouraging for Fabio Capello and England's World Cup prospects. When Nick Goff and the football team started to price up the contenders the list got longer and longer and there is little doubt that this betting market will run right up until the end of the football season", added Clare.

"Four years ago Theo Walcott wouldn't even have been in the betting the day before the squad was announced, whilst in 1998 everyone thought Hoddle would take Paul Gascoigne to France. It just goes to show what a compelling and volatile market this can be", concluded Clare.

- ENDS -

** To make England's 2010 World Cup squad:
1-8 Glen Johnson, 1-3 Julian Lescott, 1-2 Jermain Defoe, 4-6 Phil Jagielka, 8-11 Joe Cole, 5-6 Matt Upson, 10-11 Ashley Young, 5-4 Ben Foster, Stewart Downing, Shaun Wright-Phillips, 11-8 Aaron Lennon, James Milner, 6-4 Michael Owen, 7-4 Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown, 2-1 Carlton Cole, 9-4 Gary Neville, 5-2 Gabby Agbonlahor, Jonathon Woodgate, 3-1 Ledley King, 7-2 Chris Kirkland, Jermaine Jenas, Lee Cattermole, Paul Robinson, Joe Hart, 4-1 Leighton Baines, 9-2 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Scott Parker, Micah Richards, 5-1 Kieran Richardson, Jack Wilshere, Jimmy Bullard, 11-2 Gary Cahill, 6-1 Michael Mancienne, 7-1 Manuel Almunia, 8-1 Bar

(Terms = To be named in the Official 23 man England squad for the 2010 World Cup or to be called into that squad at any stage prior to England's first match of the tournament)

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