Who will triumph at Eurovision?

By Michael Osborn
Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Could Serbia's powerful offering win the contest?

With the line-up for the Eurovision Song Contest final now complete, pundits are scratching their heads to work out which country could win the prize.

The 10 successful semi-finalists will return to the stage limbered up, while two out of three recent victors emerged from the qualifying heat.

Marija Serifovic from Serbia has soared to second in the betting odds since making an impression on Thursday night with her simply-staged but powerful ballad Molitva.

The 22-year-old is not the most glamorous hopeful, but her singing prowess is probably the best in the contest and will reach out beyond the Balkans.

Nonsense song

A doubt clouding her path to glory is that a non-English language song has not won since 1998.

The luck of the draw has placed Serifovic next to her arch-rival for victory, Ukraine's drag queen Verka Serdyuchka, now tipped as the favourite to win.

The comic act's zany, insanely catchy nonsense song will prove an energetic show, and set up a battle royale between a serious entry and a jolly idiosyncrasy to crown the leader board.

BETTING ODDS 1 Ukraine 5/2 2 Serbia 4/1 3 Sweden 5/1 4 Belarus (pictured) 5/1 5 Russia 9/1 Source: Ladbrokes

United Kingdom hopefuls Scooch have the unenviable task of following Verka. Their slick, colourful routine may catch a few eyes, but the comedy cross-dresser could steal their novelty thunder.

While big and brash often rakes in the votes, understated songs can provide a welcome diversion.

Lithuania's gentle song Love or Leave sits between Hungary's rasping blues singer Magdi Ruzsa and Greece's pure pop from London-born Sarbel, while Bosnia-Hercegovina's song is a graceful opener.

Opera is something of a new departure for Eurovision, but has already proved a success with Latvia's tenor sextet providing a song which will have broad appeal, and a striking offering from Slovenia's soprano Alenka Gotar.

Germany's Roger Cicero has been tipped for success with his classy, slick slice of Rat Pack swing - but there is a danger that this Eurovision first will bemuse many a voter.

Stomping percussion

Ahead of the old school German effort is a sassy, sexy and smouldering piece of thoroughly up-to-date girl group pop from Russia's Serebro, also riding high in the betting odds.

Spain are piling their hopes on boy band D'Nash, but the country has failed to register a contest win since 1969.

BBC EUROVISION PANEL 1 Germany 2 Serbia 3 Georgia (pictured) 4 Spain 5 Greece Eurovision Top 10

Bulgaria, in their first final, has gained a plum spot towards the end of the running order, and could impress again with the stomping percussion and haunting vocals of Water.

Traditionally successful Sweden have faltered in the odds with their glam rock offering from The Ark, while seven-times winner Ireland may fail to capture their former glories with folk group Dervish.

Two newcomers to the final, Belarus and Georgia, made an impact with their semi-final performances, with singers Koldun and Sopho cutting memorable figures on the stage.

Armenia and Turkey can never be ruled out, with strong diaspora support in other European countries, and two starkly different songs towards the end of the show.

This year's line-up for the final is particularly strong and packed with contrasts. The only surefire outcome is a battle for the top places - and countries that will be consigned to the foot of the scoreboard.

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest on 12 May will be screened on BBC One from 2000 BST.