New Zealand Odds Underdog for World Cup

New Zealand is going to the World Cup, and while the team is not expected to make it past the group stage, fans will be hoping for at least one upset.

The All Whites are the biggest outsider to win the tournament, with Bwin offering odds of 2000/1, even more generous than the odds being given for North Korea and Honduras.

The group stage appears to be just as difficult a challenge, with William Hill giving 40/1 for New Zealand to get past reigning champion Italy, 4/9, perennial World Cup contender Paraguay, 13/5, and fellow new boys Slovakia, 8/1.

For realistic options, the head-to-head matches are the best bet, with Ricki Herbert's men looking to become the talk of the tournament by causing a boil over.

The team's best chance will be in the opening game against Slovakia in Rustenberg on June 15. New Zealand is 8/1 at Bwin, with a draw paying 4.00.

The chances are much slimmer against Italy on June 20, with a win paying 19.00 and a draw 6.50, while the odds of a victory in the final match against Paraguay are 10.00, while a draw is paying 5.00.

The All Whites play a warm-up match against Australia in Melbourne on May 24. While New Zealand has been to the World Cup once before - in 1982 - this is the first time the two countries have appeared at the same World Cup, so the warm-up match will be huge for bragging rights between the trans-Tasman rivals.