Sports Betting: Green Still Favourite For World Cup Start

Sports betting firms take wagers on Fabio Capello's ultimate choice of goalkeeper

Robert Green remains favourite to start in goal for Fabio Capello's England at the World Cup next summer, despite being sent off against Ukraine on Saturday (October 10th).

The West Ham United player became the first England goalkeeper to receive a red card when he was dismissed for bringing down Artem Milevskiy after 13 minutes in Dnipropetrovsk.

England went on to lose the game 1-0 with Portsmouth's David James taking over in goal, but sports betting customers are still backing Green to be number one in South Africa next year.

The former Norwich City man is 11/10 with William Hill to start England's opening game of the World Cup finals between the posts, while James is priced at 5/4 and Ben Foster of Manchester United is available at 5/1.

Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson is the current outsider at 8/1, although each player will be aware that there is still plenty of time to impress Capello before he names his squad for the World Cup.

England end their qualifying campaign with a game against Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday night, with James expected to feature in place of the suspended Green.