It’s been a World Cup to remember when it comes to the action on the pitch in Brazil - but how about off the field for those betting on the competition? Here we highlight the top 10 football spread bets of the 2014 World Cup.

Remember though that with football spread betting, although profits can be big if you call a bet correctly, you can lose more than your initial stake should your bet go against you.

10. Brazil v Germany, Shirt Numbers
Profits for buyers: 71 times their stake.
One of the defining moments of the World Cup will be the moment when Brazil forgot how to play football.
During incredible scenes in the first-half of the first semi-final, the host nation – known across the globe as being the best football team in the history of the game – turned into a Sunday league side in front of the watching world.
Germany walked in five goals in an unbelievable 18-minute spell and added two more late on meaning a massive make-up for the spread betting Shirt Numbers market (shirt numbers of goalscorers in a game, aggregated).
Buyers of Shirt Numbers at 24 made 71 times their stake when the market settled at 95. Sellers of Shirts were left as crestfallen as the watching Brazilian fans.

9. Netherlands v Argentina, Match Performance.
Profits for sellers: 80 times their stake.
The second semi-final couldn’t have been more of a contrast to the first. After a goal-fest full of comedy defending from the hosts, the Netherlands v Argentina game was a rearguard masterclass, meaning virtually no real chances for 90 minutes.
For sellers of the spread betting Match Performance there was at least some financial reward to make up for the lack of excitement on offer. Match Performance is a spread based on points awarded on the following basis in a game; Goal = 15, corner taken = 3, yellow card = 5, red card = 15, penalty awarded = 10, 0-0 draw = -15.
The Match Performance make-up for Netherlands v Argentina made-up at 3 meaning sellers at 83 recorded profits of 80 times their original stake. Buyers of Match Performance were left ruing the defences and in particular Javier Macherano’s painful match-saving tackle against Arjen Robben in the dying moments of normal time.

8. France v Nigeria, Cross-Corners
Profits for buyers: 83 times their stake.
France flattered to deceive in the tournament, looking good in the groups before coming up against the might of the Germans in the quarter-finals.
In the Last 16 they comfortably disposed of Nigeria 2-0 in a match which saw 21 corners taken in total, nine in the first half and 12 in the second period.
Spread betters who bought Cross-Corners (first half corners taken multiplied by second half corners taken) at 25 made profits of 83 times their stake when the market made-up at 108.
Any sellers were left feeling well and truly put in the corner.

7. Total Tournament Yellow Cards
Profits for sellers: 96 times their stake.
Before the start of the World Cup, Spreadex predicted there would be between 268 and 278 yellow cards throughout the tournament (not including bookings in extra time).
As it happens, a directive from FIFA for more lenient refereeing meant that there were only 172 awarded in total during the 90 minute period of matches – despite the best efforts of a bloodthirsty Honduran outfit.
Sellers of Tournament Yellow Cards at 268 were left with a tasty profit of 96 times their stake.
Buyers of bookings were left feeling yellow themselves as the count came out considerably lower than expected.

6. Germany v Argentina, Mario Gotze Substitute Goal Minutes
Profits for buyers: 106 times their stake.
Substitutes more than made their mark during the tournament (32 of the 171 goals in total came from the bench) and none more so than Mario Gotze, who secured the World Cup for the Germans with a sublime 113th minute strike against Argentina after replacing Miroslav Klose.
For those wily punters who bought Gotze’s Substitute Goal Minutes (minutes of goals in a match from a named substitute, aggregated) at 7 they made profits of 106 times their stake when the market settled at 113.
For anyone selling his goal minutes, it would have been almost as painful as being an Argentina fan at that moment.

5. Belgium v USA, Corners Squared
Profits for buyers: 287 times their stake.
Arguably one of the games of the tournament, Belgium were somehow forced into extra time before overcoming the plucky USA in the Last 16 after a one-man show from Tim Howard.
As the ball bounced off every part of the Everton stopper’s anatomy it meant an incredibly high corner count for the offensive Belgians as they took 16 flag kicks in normal time, while the U.S. themselves mustered four.
Spread betters who bought Corners Squared for 113 were left feeling they’d cornered the market after banking profits of 287 times their stake when the market made up at 400.
Punters who sold on this market were left severely flagging.

4. Germany v Algeria, Extra Time Total Goal Minutes
Profits for buyers: 306 times their stake.
During the knockout period of the competition, Spreadex were offering Extra Time specials – markets based on a match taking in an extra 30 minutes of action.
So for punters who had a hunch before kick-off that the match may go the full distance, there were some bargains to be had.
For example, spread betters who bought Extra Time Total Goal Minutes at 25 before kick-off in the Germany v Algeria Last 16 game were left screaming with delight when three goals in the extra period of 30 minutes saw the market make-up at 331 for profits 306 times their original stake.
Those who sold at 21 anticipating the game to be done and dusted by 90 minutes were left for a painful period of extra time.

3. James Rodriguez Tournament Goal Minutes
Profits for buyers: 341 times their stake.
Fresh-faced Monaco maestro James Rodriguez took the golden boot with six goals from five games played – and ensured a golden payday for spread betters who bought his Tournament Goal Minutes (minutes of Rodriguez’s goals in each match throughout the tournament, aggregated).
Punters who identified Rodriguez as Colombia’s main attacking threat in the absence of Falcao jumped at the chance of buying his goal minutes at 61 before the start of the competition.
Rodriguez’s Tournament Goal Minutes eventually made up at 402 meaning a profit of 341 times their original stake for buyers.
For sellers, it was severe pain every time they saw the 23-year-old beam with delight after finding the net.

2. World Cup Day Seven Group Market – Goals Cubed
Profits for buyers: 481 times their stake.
The World Cup group games were crammed with goals and the three matches on Day Seven produced a hatful as Holland edged out Australia 3-2, Chile sent Spain packing with a 2-0 win and Croatia spanked Cameroon 4-0 in a result which got the match-fixing conspiracy theorists talking.
Spreadex’s Day Seven Goals Cubed Group Market made up at a huge 1,331 (11 x 11 x 11) meaning spread betters who bought at 850 made a whopping 481 times their stake.
Sellers were left cursing Cameroon’s careless and calamitous defending in the day’s late game.

1. Holland Total Tournament Goal Minutes
Profits for buyers: 642 times their stake.
Yes, Costa Rica did amazingly well to reach the quarter-finals, but the Netherlands were arguably the surprise package of the tournament despite their rich history.
Many felt the Dutch would struggle to get out of a group which also contained Spain and Chile and wondered whether Louis van Gaal would be fully focused after taking the Manchester United job shortly before the tournament began.
The Oranje of course eventually finished third and delighted not only their own fans but also spread betters who had bought Total Netherlands Tournament Goal Minutes at 271 before the competition started (minutes of all Netherlands goals scored in the World Cup, aggregated).
A total of 15 goals scored helped this market make-up at 913 meaning profits of 642 times their original stake for buyers. For those who sold on the spread, the future was most definitely not Orange.