When the Eurovision Song Contest happens, all of Europe stops and takes notice. Then, after the fifth hour of listening to songs called things like Bingy Bongy Bang Bang, it takes slightly less notice.

That's why the Eurovision Song Contest has a semi-final to weed out the most useless Eurovision entries each year. So some of the countries featured in these Eurovision betting odds might not even make it to the final, and this will be the only time you'll ever hear of them. Sad? Us? Meh.

Here are the latest Eurovision betting odds for Germany and Greece, with help from PaddyPower.com…

Germany (pop. 84,468,000; one of the world’s leading industrialised countries, situated in the heart of Europe). Texas Lightning, No No Never. We're worried about the increase of pretend cowboy songs in the Eurovision Song Contest this year. First Denmark and now Germany? Yeesh! Texas Lightning dress as cartoon cowboys and play the banjo and we physically couldn't dislike them any more than we already do. Their song No No Never is a textbook example of how to pick the most obvious metaphors for love in a single song. Wider than the ocean, deeper than the sea, higher than a mountain, brighter than a star… and it's expected to finish in the top six at Eurovision. What's wrong with people? Current Eurovision betting odds – 14/1

Greece (pop. 10,665,898; a country on the southeast tip of Europe, on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula) – Anna Vissi, Everything. Greece won Eurovision last year, and it's expected that Greece will win it again this year. Why? It seems to be following the same rules as last year: pretty girl, blandly catchy song, the promise of Eurovision 2007 being held somewhere hot. Anna Vissi is so charismatic that she's had two musicals written especially for her. Anna's song Everything is a bit too dramatic for our taste – we think it's about suicide – and it's being performed directly after that daft UK song with the schoolgirls. Is that a good or a bad thing? Arsed if we know. Current Eurovision betting odds – 15/8

We’ll be listing all the other Eurovision entries in the run-up to the contest. If you can’t wait, check out the Novelties section of Paddypower to see all the latest Eurovision betting odds. Don't forget that Paddypower give you a free £10 bet when you open an account with them. Good luck!

[story by Stuart Heritage]