[h=4]Trace Adams
Thursday's Selection ...[/h][h=4]1500♦ Miami/Spurs OVER 197
For Thursday, Raise the Bar 1500♦ is the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat to combine for an OVER in Game 4 of the Finals. At 7:00 am eastern time when I release my selection, the total stands at 197 points in Vegas and offshore[/h]
Thursday's Selection ...[/h][h=4]1500♦ Miami/Spurs OVER 197
For Thursday, Raise the Bar 1500♦ is the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat to combine for an OVER in Game 4 of the Finals. At 7:00 am eastern time when I release my selection, the total stands at 197 points in Vegas and offshore[/h]
Against the Number - World Cup Info
Cameroon-
Odds to win World Cup +98500
Odds to win Group A +3450
The Indomitable Lions are some long odds to win in Brazil. While their quality is much greater than those odds, the reason they are such a long shot is because of their tough group draw. While Mexico hasn’t shown much leading into the tournament in qualifying, both they and Croatia will be formidable opponents in the way of Cameroon advancing bast the group stage. If Cameroon does have a chance of advancing, it will come on the foot of Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o. Though a seasoned veteran by this point in his career, Eto’o is still playing class football for a top club in a top league and is always a threat to score. The Lions will need more than Eto’o bringing his A game to move on however and are hoping that this is the coming out party for potential supsertar Vincent Aboubakar. He is currently tearing up the pitch at Lorient and if he can carry over some of that brilliance to the tournament, the Lions could prove to be a tougher out than Croatia and especially Mexico would like. In net is a keeper that is no stranger to top class football, Charles Itandje. He will have to be every bit as good as he was against Tunisia to keep Cameroon in the game, but the former Liverpool goalie has the talent to keep a clean sheet against Mexico and Croatia. While not expected to advance I would not be overly surprised if they did muster enough to move on past the groups, but then do expect a very quick exit after that. An opening match with Mexico could be the game that defines what the future of Cameroon will be.
Honduras-
Odds to win World Cup +400000
Odds to win Group E +3250
Honduras was definitely one of the surprises of CONCACAF qualifying. With Mexico trying their best to miss out Brazil entirely, “La H” took advantage and snagged the third spot to guarantee a place in the final. This good result shouldn’t have been COMPLETELY unexpected with the solid finish by the U-23 team in London 2012 but even boss Luis Suarez had to be a little surprised with the ease in which they got in. The draw is favorable for some potential noise to be made but in all likelihood its France and Switzerland that will be advancing here. If “La H” is going to challenge for a spot in the knock out round, the man that will have to shoulder a large part of the defensive load is Wilson Palacios. A return to form at Stoke has to have him brimming with confidence and attackers would be wise to steer clear of the hard nosed defenseman. If Izaguire can find space on the left side to attack, Honduras has the potency to cause some headaches. I don’t expect Honduras to make it past the groups but I do think we may see the first Honduran World Cup win this year.
Iran-
Odds to win the World Cup +300000
Odds to win Group F +5800
While Iran’s group is definitely less stacked than most, Iran will likely just be happy to make it to the party. Leaving Brazil with a point or two should be the mark of some success as far as they are concerned. Team Melli has never made it past the group stages and if there is ANY chance that they pull it off for the first time, it will be because of their defense. Their best player, Nekounam, is a defensive minded midfielder and likely playing in his final major international tournament. While their competition in qualifying was nothing compared to what they’ll face in Brazil, they have a firm defense that plays a stout 4-2-3-1 in an effort to quell attacks from more athletic teams. Their Weakness then is their offense who focus on a counter-attack strategy but failed to score against the likes of Uzbekistan and Lebanon. If the best possible version of this team shows up, there’s an outside chance they could have a meaningful group game on June 25th. If the team that took a 1-0 loss to Lebanon shows up, it could be 0-3 and zero point to show for their effort.
Costa Rica-
Odds to win The World Cup +400000
Odds to win Group D +5350
Los Ticos were yet another team from CONCACAF that become a thorn in the side of Mexico. The defense was the real star in their 10 qualifying games as they only gave up 7 goals during the campaign. After Pinto was canned in his first stint, you can be sure that he will be bringing his defensive strategy to Brazil with something to prove. While the defense is ready to show something to the world, it’s the offense that will have to create to put Los Ticos through to the knockout stage. Ruiz is by far the most talented player on the team, and when he’s on his game he can dazzle from the mid field with some of the best in the world. It’s that WHEN part that is the issue however as his game fades in and out to the point of him looking almost completely disinterested at times. If Ruiz can find something special in Brazil, Costa Rica has a chance to make a little noise. Unfortunately though, they happen to be in what can be argued as the most difficult group of the Tournament. It’s very likely that Los Ticos will lose all three games given the quality of the other teams (which should not all be in the same group in my opinion), but with the English and Italian propensity to fall asleep at times, there is a VERY small window for Costa Rica to turn a few heads comes June.
Algeria-
Odds to win the World Cup +250000
Odds to win Group +2450
Africa is still the enigma of international football. The continent produces some serious top quality stars, some competitive teams, and some madly loyal fans….but it also produces tournament participants like Algeria. While everybody loves an underdog, the Fennec Foxes just aren’t all that exciting and a 3-2 loss to might Burkina Faso is likely just the preamble to what we can expect in Brazil. If Algeria is going to make ANY kind of noise this summer, it’s going to have to come off the foot of Sofiane Feghouli. The young Valencia striker has the skill to play on better than half of the squads that qualified and he even represented France on the U-21 team before changing over to Algeria. His ability to create chances is not lost on opponents however and you can expect that he will attract an awful lot of attention from whistle to whistle. If nobody else steps up to alleviate some of that pressure, it could easily turn into an 0-3 route and a hasty flight back across the Pacific. Adlene Guediora could be the man to draw some of that midfield attention away from Feghouli but the Crystal Palace man will have to really step up his attacking to have much of an impact. There are upsets to be had in this fairly dull group and even a single win by Algeria could really throw a wrench in the plans of South Korea and Russia, but don’t expect more than a couple moments of excitement followed by an early exit.
Australia-
Odds to win the World Cup +150000
Odds to win Group B +7000
While the Socceroos are always fan favorites, this will likely be a very disappointing tournament for the team and fans alike. There is limited technical skill on this squad and it showed in qualifying as they were only able to notch 3 victories throughout. There is a lot of unknowns in the young talent as they are mostly playing lower level football, and the old guard is just that….old. So will the young talent surprise and sneak out a couple wins? Maybe if they were in a different group, but with Spain, The Netherlands and Chile on the schedule this could easily turn into an 0-3 quick trip home. The main man for the Aussies continues to be Tim Cahill, part of that old guard we talked about. He’s still in decently fit form for his age but he just can’t compete at the top levels required to be the star of an international squad that has any expectations of winning games. Chile obviously provides the best chance for Australia to grab a win but even that’s a bit of a long shot so unfortunately at BEST they can hope for a draw against Chile and at least a valiant effort in the other two. The Aussies will be physical, and as always they’ll give everything they have, but it just won’t be enough this go around.
South Korea-
Odds to win the World Cup +61000
Odds to win Group H +815
The South Koreans are all about fundamentals. They lack the speed and athleticism of other top international teams so afford to make mistakes. There were plenty of mistakes in the final stage of qualifying as they finished behind Iran to get in, but those same mistakes will lead to an early exit if they’re not careful. Unlike some of the other teams not expected to go far, the South Koreans have a top international player in Son Heung Min. The Bayern Leverkusen star is an imaginative goal scorer that is on the rise in the club football scene. Whether or not he’ll have the support of his teammates to get to use that imagination is really the big question. Fundamental disciplined football is a good way to try not to lose, but without the offensive flare and precision some of the European and South American squads it will be a tall order to get the wins needed to advance. The South Koreans have the quality to get the full points from Algeria, so it could come down to their match against Russia as to whether or not they upset and advance as they will just not be able to compete with Belgium. This is one of the more wide open groups but at the end of the day I think they will fall just short of the knockout round.
Greece-
Odds to win the World Cup +47000
Odds to win Group +815
The Greeks are solid. They went toe to toe with Romania in a playoff to get in and took the Romanians to task in Greece effectively sealing the deal in the first game. Their defense showed top form during qualifying conceding only 4 goals and their collective physicality is enough to put off almost anybody. Where they will be truly tested is on the offensive side of the ball. Like the Koreans, Greece lacks much of the technical skill and flare of other top squads so while their defense should be able to keep games close, their offense may struggle to finish games. If there’s one man that can take the Greeks to the next level on offense it has to be their rising striker Mitroglou. The Olympoiacos man has caught the attention of top level clubs and has the skill to complete against anybody on the tournament. If the Greek defense can hold their shape and Mitroglou can put something together, there is a CHANCE the Greeks could get through. While Columbia is the class of the group, there’s no reason the Greeks can’t get wins against Japan and Ivory Coast on a given day. This could be a team that surprises and grabs a spot in the knockout stage.
USA-
Odds to win the World Cup +35000
Odds to win Group G +1250
The Group of Death. It’s just that simple. There are 4 teams here that are of good enough quality to compete admirably in the next round, but only two will go through. Kinsmanns’s decision to leave Donovan off the squad has been less divisive among fans than I expected but you can be sure the decision will be questioned if the US comes up short of the next round in Brazil. The US had a great qualifying campaign and nobody can question their effort, but at the end of the day the success or failure of this Cup may come down to one man….Jozy Altidore. With Donovan out of the picture, the weight of the goal scoring will come down on the shoulders of Bradley, Dempsey and Altidore, but it’s Altidore that has the skill to REALLY take over a game. Strong, physical and technically proficient, Altidore has the ability to keep a defense on it’s heels at all times, allowing the midfield more room to move and attack. Things don’t start out easy for the US as they take on perpetual “thorn in their side” Ghana, and it only gets harder from there. Assuming they are able to at least get a draw from Ghana, it might take at least one upset of either Germany (unlikely) or Portugal (more likely) to get through to the next round. A win against Ghana would make the road a little easier but a loss could virtually seal the US fate of an early exit.
Ecuador-
Odds to win the World Cup +31000
Odds to win Group E +455
The biggest problem for El Tri is that the World Cup is in Brazil. If it was in Ecuador, they’d be golden. Unfortunately they couldn’t seem to win away from the friendly confines during qualifying and that doesn’t bode well for neutral ground tournament football. Ecuador has a fast, aggressive brand of play that utilizes there wings to great success (at home of course) and will do their best to come out all cylinders firing. On the flip side however, that aggression does tend to lead to some sloppy play, exposing holes in their own defense that top class teams will find ways to exploit if El Tri isn’t careful. One of those quality wingers that Ecaudaor will have to rely on is Red Devil Antonio Valenica. He can be one of the better crossers in the world when he’s on, but his inconsistency at the club level is something he’ll have to shake if Ecuador is going to have a chance at getting enough points to move through to the knockout stages. A win against Honduras is there for the taking but the French and Swiss are planning on being the two to move on so it’s going to take something special in one of those two games if El Tri is going to surprise. While it’s not likely that they advance, they have the talent to anyone close on any given day.
Nigeria-
Odds to win the World Cup +35000
Odds to win Group +995
The African Football Federation is a mess (along with a number of other things in FIFA). Who knows what Nigerian team will show up in Brazil and what their state of mind will be. At their best, Nigeria is very very good. When they’re not at their best? disjointed, confused and weak. This team likes to squeeze opponents on the defensive side of the ball and then counter attack. It’s a bit like a boxer playing rope-a-dope and then catching a guy with an uppercut. If Nigeria shows up out of sorts however that defense can be exposed, and they don’t have the kind of offense that’s designed to take the attack to the opponent and dig out of a hole. Nigeria has a number of players playing at the top levels of European club football so they have skill where some other mid-level international teams do not. One of this top club players is John Obi Mikel from Chelsea. He’s that keystone in the midfield that has the defensive strength, and counter attack passing to make things happen. As goes the midfield, so goes the Nigerian chances. To their benefit, the group is wide open with Nigeria and Bosnia basically duking it out for the second spot in the group. If all goes as it should, the Bosnia V Nigeria game will decide who goes home and who moves on.
Ghana-
Odds to win the World Cup +31500
Odds to win Group G +1100
The Black Stars are another unlucky member of the very difficult Group G. Their performance in qualifying was highlighted by a 6-1 drubbing of Egypt in the first leg of the playoffs so the world is at full attention for the kind of football that Ghana can produce on a given day. Depending on how the rest of the group beats up on each other, Ghana has the players to make a real impact in the first round and possibly steal a spot in the knockout stage. The strength of this team is in the midfield where they have plenty of experience at the highest levels of club play. Unfortunately for the Black Stars a lot of the up front and defensive players are unknown commodities. If the defense can’t hold up it’s end of the bargain it may not matter how much quality the midfield brings to the table. This group is full of eye popping forwards looking to take the attack to Ghana so the back line will have to be ready to weather the storm. Juventes star Asamoah is definitely the keystone to this group. His energy and conditioning are among the best in the world and his ability to wear out mid-field defenses gives him openings where other players might be cut off. A loss to Germany is likely because of the strength of the German attack, but wins against Portugal (especially if Ronaldo is not 100%) and international play rivals US, are very real possibilities if they play to their potential. Ghana has the quality to grab that 2nd qualifying spot and I think the match against the US could end up being the deterring factor for both squads.
Mexico-
Odds to win the World Cup +25000
Odds to win Group A +1150
El Tri are a bit of a mess. After barely making it to Brazil, Mexico fans are hoping that things will come into form at the last second. The offense is not THAT much of a concern for Mexcio but their need to press forward against this competition will definitely make the back lives more difficult. Brazil and Croatia both have the attack to quickly put Mexico in a hole and this is definitely an emotional squad that struggles when their morale is shattered. Their success or failure in this tournament could come down to their test against Croatia. Mexican fans will definitely be looking to their young strike Chicharito to take the reigns and put El Tri through to the knockout stage, but like the rest of the squad he’s had some trying times as of late and nobody is really sure what you’re going to get. If Mexico is able to get the win against Cameroon (as they should) the Croatian game becomes the all or nothing match, and honestly I just don’t think they will have the defense to keep Croatia from putting up at least 2 and stealing the full points.
Bosnia and Herezegovina-
Odds to win the World Cup +21000
Odds to win Group +725
Bosnia (I’m not typing out Herzegovina every time) are far from experienced in World Cup play. In fact, this is their first crack at it after taking the top spot in their qualifying group. Where they do have experience however is in their goal scorers. Players like Dzeko and Lulic were creative and aggressive in qualifying and have a supporting cast that gives this team a lot of offensive options. 10 games, 30 goals…enough said. Defense however is a different story. There just isn’t enough consistency at the back for Bosnia to be able too rely on them in a tight match so the offense knows the success or failure of this squad lies firmly on it’s shoulders. Fortunately for the Bosnians, they drew a relatively easy group and have plenty of talent to make quick work of Iran, and should be able to get past Nigeria. Do that and they’re in. Drop one and the group blows wide open. Dzeko is definitely the face of the scorers here and has the quality to give Bosnia a fighting chance even against Argentina. If he can find the form he showed in spurts at Man City there’s no reason Bosnia can’t grab the top group spot here. At +725 there is value in a Group Win bet with this talent.
Croatia-
Odds to win the World Cup +20000
Odds to win Group A +925
The Croatians were a bit out of sorts during qualifying. Was it a case of being overconfident? Maybe. The Vatreni are definitely much more talented than they showed in a head scratching draw with Scotland and an uninspired victory over Iceland that eventually put them through to Brazil. The midfield is extremely formidable and there is goal scoring talent top to bottom and from all angles. To take advantage of this, head boss Kovac has no problem changing things up on the fly and keeping defenses on their heels with unexpected attacks. This could be one of those teams that just doesn’t show up when they feel that they are the far superior squad. While this shouldn’t be an issue if they make it to the knockout stage, they have to get their first. Assuming a loss or at BEST a draw in the Brazilian opener, the deciding match should be against Mexico. The Mexicans will have to throw everything they have at Croatia because top class attacker Luka Modric will definitely be loping to get his against a questionable Mexican defense. The Real Madrid superstar has the class to take over a game and if he and his cohorts play anywhere close to their potential it should be a fairly unimpeded advance to the knockout stages.
Japan-
Odds to win the World Cup +20000
Odds to win Group C +420
While there are injuries scattered throughout this group that make it a wide open contest, I think the Japanese are BIT over credited here. A draw at the last second against Australia sealed their bid in a qualifying group that is weaker than in years past. They have the coaching pedigree in Zaccheroni and he will look to press the Blue Samurai forward and take advantage of their offensive creativity. In this group however I’m not sure they have the physical play that may be needed to get through to the next stage. Each and every game is a must win and while Japan is good at a lot of things, they’re not really GREAT at anything. Players like Kagawa and Honda will have some international recognition but it’s Kagawa that will be looking to thumb his nose at the likes of Manchester United for not giving him a better chance. His speed and creativity on the attack are among the best in the world and if he’s able to work well in unison with Honda at the right times the Blue Samurai just MIGHT put enough in the net to advance. If either of them falter, it could be over quickly.
Switzerland-
Odds to win the World Cup +15000
Odds to win Group E +270
The Swiss came out firing in their qualifying campaign, not dropping a single game. They’re young and untested for the most part outside of Europe but obviously they can play with the big boys. The midfield is efficient and organized and does an excellent job of maintaing control without having to press and expose their defense. There are questions about the quality of the attacking front as they lack that instant impact forward that can turn the game on it’s head in a short period of time. That concern has done little to damper the confidence of this squad however and they are full poised to show their worth at the top international level. If there is a powerful scorer on this team that can take control it has to be Shaqiri. He plays (on occasion) at the top club levels with Bayern but has been inconsistent enough to not get many first team chances. He has the leg to blast shots with the best of them from a ways out but his youth and inexperience leaves doubts about how he’ll handle the pressure. Injuries to the French squad have opened a significant door for the Swiss to win the group here and I would not be surprised to see them continue their winning ways right into the opening round and push through to the knockout stage.
Russia-
Odds to win the World Cup +15500
Odds to win Group H +225
Since the Capello take over is Russia, things have been on the rise. Russia won it’s qualifying group over Portugal. If Russia plans on making in noise in Brazil though he’s going to have to a better job than he did with England in 2010. The dreary sloppy style of play that England produced in that tournament will not get this group through to the knockout rounds. Fortunately for the Russians, they’re in a fairly easy group, and even a loss to Belgium would be far from enough to cause panic. At least 1 point from the Belgian game and advancement is almost a guarantee as South Kore and Algeria are stoutly overmatched here. Home town Moscow favorite Dzagoev will have the brunt of the midfield attacking responsibility assuming his fitness where it should be. The supporting cast is effective and fundamentally sound, but lacking in true flair so Dzagoev will have to take his creativity to the next level in order for Russia to have much of an impact past the qualifying rounds. I think the future looks bright for this Russian side in 2018 at home, but they’re maybe just not quite there yet this year and Capello could be looking at another early exit.
Ivory Coast-
Odds to win the World Cup +13500
Odds to win Group C +340
The Elephants are no longer surprise upstarts on the international stage. They come with player recognition at the highest club levels and a reputation for hard nosed top class football. There are some injury concerns but it does appear some of those will be resolved come their opener against Japan. Ivory coast boasts an all around effective attack with creative midfielders and hard nosed forwards. Where they may be strongest however is in their midfield defense. Physical and imposing, the Ivory Coast midfielders will give the Elephants their best chance to advance to the knockout stage for the first time. If the midfield fails, it’s likely lights out because the back line is by far their weakest link. It’s no secret that Toure and Drogba are the stars of this squad but it’s Toure that will decide the success or failure of this squad. His health has been a concern but I anticipate him being fully fit after the layoff. Toure is one of the most complete players in the world, and while they may not be the strongest team top to bottom there’s not substation for having a top flight player like that. While Japan has some fire power, the Elephants should be able to get through their weaker defense, and if they can get 3 points there that should have them well on their way to their first ever advancement out of the group stages.
Chile-
Odds to win the World Cup +5300
Odds to win Group B +385
A 3rd place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying was step 1. An indicator that they can compete with the fast paced, athletic and creative style of other South American squads went a long ways in boosting the confidence of the Chilean players. La Roja are an aggressive, offensively minded bunch led by a head coach (Sampaoli) that makes no qualms about his intentions with his 3-4-3 setup. You remember the 3-4-3? It’s the one you would choose in FIFA when you wanted to pound some unsuspecting opponent into the ground 10-0. While La Roja won’t be putting up those kinds of numbers, they have the skill and class to strike early and often if the opponent isn’t prepared to handle that constant onslaught. While this creates numerous chances to put the ball in the back of the net, it also tends to open up their defense a bit, and locking down attackers will fall squarly on the shoulders of Jara, Medel, and Gonzalez at the back as the midfield could very well be playing catch up at times.
Like other teams that will be vying for the Cup, Chile brings a top club talent to the table in Arturo Vidal. A star at Juventus, Vidal has the skill to compete at the highest levels in both club and international play, and should be a perpetual throne in the side of opponents. A staunch defender and passer, Vidal can also go on the attack and put defenses even MORE on their heels as he teams up with his front 3 to keep the ball coming from all directions. There are VALID injury concerns with Vidal and as such he may sit out in the walk over against the Socceroos but I do think there is some gamesmanship here and I expect him to be ready for game 2 at the least. La Roja won’t be intimidated by the venues, the environment suits them, and they have the offensive capabilities to blow a game wide open at any moment. If an “outside” team does have a chance to upset I don’t believe it will be a methodical defensive minded squad because to beat the likes of Spain and Brazil you HAVE to be able to score goals. Chile can and will score, will it be enough is the question.
Colombia-
Odds to win the World Cup +4850
Odds to win Group C -105
Ranked 4th in the world, Colombia showed their worth by qualifying 2nd in CONMEBOL. If Falcao were healthy you may find this squad in the top 3 or 4 for odds to win the Cup but without him they’re definitely not getting the kind of respect they normally would. A win against Belgium in Europe should instill confidence in the Columbian supporters. With the top class attackers and rangy mid fielders, Columbia should have no issues getting through to the knockout stage. Where they could run into trouble however is with the depth of their defense. As they get into the later stages of the tournament that lack of depth could prove to be their undoing. Much of the offense will be funneled through James Rodriguez in the midfield, and his ability to break down defenses, or clear space for other attackers is key to the success or failure of this squad. The group stage should not be an issue, maybe even the round of 16, but even if Rodriguez is playing at his absolute best I’m not sure they quite have all of the pieces necessary to finish the deal.
Netherlands-
Odds to win the World Cup +4100
Odds to win Group B +350
The Dutch have been waiting for 4 years to avenge their defeat in the 2010 final. Their road back to redemption did not start well with a disastrous Euro showing, but recently the’ve played more like the team from 2010. There are plenty of new faces here and they are hungry to show their own worth at the international level. That youth could prove to be problematic however because the back lines are full of it and whether or not they’ll be able to contain elite attackers at this level remains to be seen. The group provides it’s own challenges with clear favorites Spain, and spoilers Chile hot on their heels. It’s very possible that the defending final participant does’t make it out of qualifying. If the Dutch are to advance they will need veterans like Robben to step up and lead the younger wide eyed players. Robben is a tireless worker that plays the wings with class and strength. However, his ability to come through in the clutch has been questioned with reason in the past. If he and the other vets aren’t able to bring this squad together against Chile, they may be on their way out because I think Spain will once again get the best of them.
Uruguay-
Odds to win the World Cup +3050
Odds to win Group D +180
This is an interesting squad. Not a traditional powerhouse (at least for a long time), they’ve arrived on the scene full force and there’s plenty of pundits selecting them to make it to the final. I’m not sure if I see it. Getting out of the group alone will be a tall task with England and Italy in the mix so I guess we’ll see how the European vs South American style of game looks. It helps to have one of the best players in the world in Luis Suarez and a team that believes in what the coach is doing. To compliment Suarez is the angry bull type player in Cavani. The two are a formidable force up front that can give any team in this tournament serious headaches. Where they run into trouble is the defensive midfield. There are holes a plenty for opponents to exploit and Uruguay knows they’re going to have to put up a lot of goals to win games. It’s unlikely they’ll get away with a couple 1-0 victories in the qualifying rounds and with the scoring abilities of this group Uruguay might see their Cup chances come to an early end if the defense doesn’t step up. If Uruguay makes it to the knockouts and the defense has progressed to at least being competent, watch out world.
Portugal-
Odds to win the World Cup +2750
Odds to win Group G +240
Everyone knows this teams chances come down to one player. Normally that’s not a good thing but it helps that he’s arguably the best player in the world and one of the greatest of all time. What people aren’t so sure about however is he fitness status. Yes i’m sure he’ll play but at what level? a 75% Ronaldo is still better than most players in the world but it may not be enough to make up for the holes on the rest of the squad. After finishing 2nd in their qualifying group it took a battle for them to get a spot in Brazil, and that battle was basically won single handedly by Ronaldo. Will he be able to carry this team to that same kind of success deep into the tournament? I don’t believe so. Not only is their group possibly the hardest in the tournament, Ronaldo’s fitness will only become more of a concern the farther they go and i’m not sure they quite have the goods to get past the final 16 even if he’s 100%. Inconsistency has been the defining characteristic of this years squad and that doesn’t bode well for making Cup runs. CR7 is a supreme talent and a joy to watch and he’ll get his if he’s close enough to healthy but look for Portugal to possibly even miss getting out of the group stages.
Italy-
Odds to win the World Cup +2650
Odds to win Group D +180
The Azurri are primed for a run and have the talent to do it. Yes there are questions and they are in a very difficult group but players like Mario Balatolli (as hot and cold as he is) are just waiting to explode onto the international scene. On the flip side, players like Pirlo (likely in his last major tournament) are looking for one final moment of glory. There’s youth, experience, creativity, toughness….a little bit of everything on this team and that bodes well for a deep tournament run. Heck, they’re even stacked with club connections that make them more familiar with each other than most. So why have they struggled since qualifying? Because they’re Italy and they’re just never consistent. Much like their bulldog Balotelli, you’re never quite sure which Azzuri squad is going to show up. The Italians will be looking to the leadership of Pirlo to get, and then KEEP them on track for this tournament. The group is a nightmare and it would not be a surprise if any of the top 3 don’t make it through. Things don’t start off easy with their opening match against an England squad that’s playing with a HUGE chip on their shoulder. Is Italy’s chip even bigger after the 2010 debacle? probably. So it will come down to who wants it more. A loss to England and things get serious quickly and the Italians would be staring down another early departure.
England-
Odds to win the World Cup +2650
Odds to win Group D +225
The story for England reads much the same as their group partners and European rival Italy. Youth, experience, creativity, strength….inconsistency and some head scratching play. England stumbled a bit in qualifying and were far from assured a spot until right at the end. England supporters have likely accepted the fact that this probably isn’t a Cup winning squad but they are excited to see how the new guard handles the pressure and what things will look like going into 2018 in Moscow. There are a lot of new faces on this roster and maybe that’s what this team needs to light a fire under a team that gave an uninspired group effort that led to an uninspired exit in the knockout stages in 2010. The face of the team Wayne Rooney is back but his inability to perform in major tournaments is it’s own story. If he can get over that hump and play like he has the ability to, England may find a way to get past the group stage. Know the names Wilshire, Sterling and Townsend because IF this team finds success it will likely have a lot to do with them. This team won’t win the Cup. It’s just not in the cards this year. But a spot in the knockout stages would give great hope for a deep run in 2018.
Belgium-
Odds to win the World Cup +2450
Odds to win Group H -135
Belgium’s win against Croatia to seal their berth was impressive. A team that started out as dark horses with their name being whispered in small “in the know” circles, they are now at the forefront of the football world’s mind as serious contenders. Their group is nothing to write home about and getting through to the knockout’s should not be a monumental task, but it is imperative that they look at it as another day at the office and bring their A game every single match. Their lack of major tournament experience is definitely the biggest eyesore on their resume and how that will play into their chances to go deep is anybody’s guess. They have the talent and athleticism, the creativity and the drive, to play with anyone. But playing far from home in their first major tournament in over a decade might be too much to overcome once in the knockout stages. If they are to overcome that lack of experience and shock some teams it will have to come with top form from players like Kompany. The City man had some masterful play this season. He’s full of talent and skill, but more importantly he’s a great leader. The rest of the team will be looking to him for inspiration and motivation to continue moving forward through the mine field that is the World Cup. If he can rally his troops and get them to forget where they’re playing and in front of how many people, theres a chance the Belgians show up big in this tournament.
France-
Odds to win the World Cup +2250
Odds to win the Group E -130
Les Bleues are still getting a lot of credit here, but I think they’re in danger of a first knockout round exit. Like many other teams they’re dealing with injuries but to their credit they do have a significant amount of depth. It’s been getting that depth to play together that has been the hard part. A difficult qualifying campaign wasn’t exactly how they wanted to kick off this tournament after the disaster that was 2010. An injury to Ribery has further damaged to morale and consistency of this squad so they’ve got a lot to overcome to make much noise in Brazil. Fortunately for them they drew a relatively easy group but any kind of slip up against the bottom two team suddenly creates a problem. Dropping 1 of those games could spell disaster for the French and I think they just may struggle against Ecuador. Deschamp has to be motivator as much as he does tactician for his squad here and with Ribery out that job just got a lot harder. France probably makes it through to the knockouts, but no further than the final 16.
Germany-
Odds to win the World Cup +695
Odds to win Group G -145
The Germans are definitely the class of the Group of Death, but that doesn’t mean things will be easy for them. All three group opponents have the ability to beat this team on a given day. Germany will have to bring everything they have from the beginning and that can go one of two ways. You either get worn out and slip somewhere in the knockout stages (assuming you make it), or you get in a rhythm that carries you through to the end. There have been injury concerns here and the latest to Reus was definitely a blow, but they are loaded with talent and depth and should be able to weather those concerns. Anybody that faces Germany will have to deal with relentless pressure and attacking both on and off the ball and the Germans are masters of finding open running room and exploiting seams. There are few real weaknesses if any, and having a top notch man like Muller as your field general is enviable of almost any team in the tournament. Assuming Germany does what they need to to get through the group (I see no reason why they won’t), they are definitely poised for a deep run. Some circles have voiced concern over the weather and how that will affect this European power house but it’s not really on my radar as giving it much thought unless there’s something drastic for them to deal with. Look for Germany as having a good chance to take home the Cup.
Spain-
Odds to win the World Cup +615
Odds to win Group B -150
Spain may be the favorites to win the group and advance here but it is far from a walk over affair. The Netherlands will be out for blood and Chile has the ability to beat this team, so they’ll have to be on their game from the starting whistle. The Spanish are not only defending World Cup Champions but Euro Champions as well, and they’ll be looking to put their name in with the list of the greatest teams of all time by defending their title in Brazil. With getting out of the group as priority number 1 it will be hard for Spain to look ahead at who they may have to prepare for in the knockout stages. The fact that a majority of the starters have the experience to know just what it takes to win these major tournaments will go a long ways in not overlooking the early games. There is some concern that having a large group of veterans may be a bit of a hinderance given the physical expectations of getting through an entire tournament in Brazil but I’ve not seen any reason to doubt them and i’m not about to start. A player that veteran core that knows what it takes to win and will assuredly make his name heard early and often is Iniesta. The Barcelona man plays second fiddle to Lionel Messi but there are few in the world that he would be in that position to. Iniesta has the class and form to take over a game and if he and a few of his teammates catch this tournament with their best football, it could be another final for Spain.
Argentina-
Odds to win the World Cup +445
Odds to win Group F -3000
Argentina’s group draw created about the only free pass in this tournament. There is no tangible reason why they should not be onto the knockout stages with relative ease. Looking ahead to a matchup against Brazil is almost impossible to avoid but Messi will certainly be focused on each and every game given his desperation to play in a Cup Final on his home continent. Sabella has this team in much better form than the frantic and disjointed Maradonna days, and the Argentinians are showing just HOW GOOD this talent can be. The obvious superstar here is Lionel Messi, and his inability to get the job done in the past has weighed on him heavily. Expect him to be at his top form, which is truly something to behold. I see no reason he won’t be at his best, but if he once again struggles to find the back of the net there is plenty of talent around him to go deep in this tournament…..just maybe not to a final victory.
Brazil-
Odds to win the World Cup +290
Odds to win Group A -525
This is the second time Brazil has been favored to win the World Cup on their home soil. The last time ended in heart break. Will it happen again? Honestly there’s a good chance. This team is loaded, as Brazilian squads always are. But there seems to be more talent across the board in this tournament than normal and I think the rest of the world has closed the gap on Brazilian dominance. Being at home helps a lot of course but there are a lot of South American teams tuning for them that will be far from being in unfamiliar territory. If Brazil is to accomplish basically the greatest thing their personal world of sport has ever seen, they’re going to need their group of international stars to come together as the did in their dominance of the Confederations Cup. One of those stars (my personal choice for the Golden Boot) that should see his legend grow in this tournament is Neymar. Pure flash, creativity, passion and dominance, Neymar is looking to become the Brazilian icon he has the talent to be. A Brazilian victory in the final and he will cement his name up there with the greatest Brazilian footballers of all time. Fail, and the disappointment and scorn will be epic. That’s a lot of pressure but I think they’re up to the task. While it’s not exactly going out on a limb to say that Brazil has the best chance to win this tournament, you’d be foolish to think there’s another squad out there right now in a better position to pull it off.
Cameroon-
Odds to win World Cup +98500
Odds to win Group A +3450
The Indomitable Lions are some long odds to win in Brazil. While their quality is much greater than those odds, the reason they are such a long shot is because of their tough group draw. While Mexico hasn’t shown much leading into the tournament in qualifying, both they and Croatia will be formidable opponents in the way of Cameroon advancing bast the group stage. If Cameroon does have a chance of advancing, it will come on the foot of Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o. Though a seasoned veteran by this point in his career, Eto’o is still playing class football for a top club in a top league and is always a threat to score. The Lions will need more than Eto’o bringing his A game to move on however and are hoping that this is the coming out party for potential supsertar Vincent Aboubakar. He is currently tearing up the pitch at Lorient and if he can carry over some of that brilliance to the tournament, the Lions could prove to be a tougher out than Croatia and especially Mexico would like. In net is a keeper that is no stranger to top class football, Charles Itandje. He will have to be every bit as good as he was against Tunisia to keep Cameroon in the game, but the former Liverpool goalie has the talent to keep a clean sheet against Mexico and Croatia. While not expected to advance I would not be overly surprised if they did muster enough to move on past the groups, but then do expect a very quick exit after that. An opening match with Mexico could be the game that defines what the future of Cameroon will be.
Honduras-
Odds to win World Cup +400000
Odds to win Group E +3250
Honduras was definitely one of the surprises of CONCACAF qualifying. With Mexico trying their best to miss out Brazil entirely, “La H” took advantage and snagged the third spot to guarantee a place in the final. This good result shouldn’t have been COMPLETELY unexpected with the solid finish by the U-23 team in London 2012 but even boss Luis Suarez had to be a little surprised with the ease in which they got in. The draw is favorable for some potential noise to be made but in all likelihood its France and Switzerland that will be advancing here. If “La H” is going to challenge for a spot in the knock out round, the man that will have to shoulder a large part of the defensive load is Wilson Palacios. A return to form at Stoke has to have him brimming with confidence and attackers would be wise to steer clear of the hard nosed defenseman. If Izaguire can find space on the left side to attack, Honduras has the potency to cause some headaches. I don’t expect Honduras to make it past the groups but I do think we may see the first Honduran World Cup win this year.
Iran-
Odds to win the World Cup +300000
Odds to win Group F +5800
While Iran’s group is definitely less stacked than most, Iran will likely just be happy to make it to the party. Leaving Brazil with a point or two should be the mark of some success as far as they are concerned. Team Melli has never made it past the group stages and if there is ANY chance that they pull it off for the first time, it will be because of their defense. Their best player, Nekounam, is a defensive minded midfielder and likely playing in his final major international tournament. While their competition in qualifying was nothing compared to what they’ll face in Brazil, they have a firm defense that plays a stout 4-2-3-1 in an effort to quell attacks from more athletic teams. Their Weakness then is their offense who focus on a counter-attack strategy but failed to score against the likes of Uzbekistan and Lebanon. If the best possible version of this team shows up, there’s an outside chance they could have a meaningful group game on June 25th. If the team that took a 1-0 loss to Lebanon shows up, it could be 0-3 and zero point to show for their effort.
Costa Rica-
Odds to win The World Cup +400000
Odds to win Group D +5350
Los Ticos were yet another team from CONCACAF that become a thorn in the side of Mexico. The defense was the real star in their 10 qualifying games as they only gave up 7 goals during the campaign. After Pinto was canned in his first stint, you can be sure that he will be bringing his defensive strategy to Brazil with something to prove. While the defense is ready to show something to the world, it’s the offense that will have to create to put Los Ticos through to the knockout stage. Ruiz is by far the most talented player on the team, and when he’s on his game he can dazzle from the mid field with some of the best in the world. It’s that WHEN part that is the issue however as his game fades in and out to the point of him looking almost completely disinterested at times. If Ruiz can find something special in Brazil, Costa Rica has a chance to make a little noise. Unfortunately though, they happen to be in what can be argued as the most difficult group of the Tournament. It’s very likely that Los Ticos will lose all three games given the quality of the other teams (which should not all be in the same group in my opinion), but with the English and Italian propensity to fall asleep at times, there is a VERY small window for Costa Rica to turn a few heads comes June.
Algeria-
Odds to win the World Cup +250000
Odds to win Group +2450
Africa is still the enigma of international football. The continent produces some serious top quality stars, some competitive teams, and some madly loyal fans….but it also produces tournament participants like Algeria. While everybody loves an underdog, the Fennec Foxes just aren’t all that exciting and a 3-2 loss to might Burkina Faso is likely just the preamble to what we can expect in Brazil. If Algeria is going to make ANY kind of noise this summer, it’s going to have to come off the foot of Sofiane Feghouli. The young Valencia striker has the skill to play on better than half of the squads that qualified and he even represented France on the U-21 team before changing over to Algeria. His ability to create chances is not lost on opponents however and you can expect that he will attract an awful lot of attention from whistle to whistle. If nobody else steps up to alleviate some of that pressure, it could easily turn into an 0-3 route and a hasty flight back across the Pacific. Adlene Guediora could be the man to draw some of that midfield attention away from Feghouli but the Crystal Palace man will have to really step up his attacking to have much of an impact. There are upsets to be had in this fairly dull group and even a single win by Algeria could really throw a wrench in the plans of South Korea and Russia, but don’t expect more than a couple moments of excitement followed by an early exit.
Australia-
Odds to win the World Cup +150000
Odds to win Group B +7000
While the Socceroos are always fan favorites, this will likely be a very disappointing tournament for the team and fans alike. There is limited technical skill on this squad and it showed in qualifying as they were only able to notch 3 victories throughout. There is a lot of unknowns in the young talent as they are mostly playing lower level football, and the old guard is just that….old. So will the young talent surprise and sneak out a couple wins? Maybe if they were in a different group, but with Spain, The Netherlands and Chile on the schedule this could easily turn into an 0-3 quick trip home. The main man for the Aussies continues to be Tim Cahill, part of that old guard we talked about. He’s still in decently fit form for his age but he just can’t compete at the top levels required to be the star of an international squad that has any expectations of winning games. Chile obviously provides the best chance for Australia to grab a win but even that’s a bit of a long shot so unfortunately at BEST they can hope for a draw against Chile and at least a valiant effort in the other two. The Aussies will be physical, and as always they’ll give everything they have, but it just won’t be enough this go around.
South Korea-
Odds to win the World Cup +61000
Odds to win Group H +815
The South Koreans are all about fundamentals. They lack the speed and athleticism of other top international teams so afford to make mistakes. There were plenty of mistakes in the final stage of qualifying as they finished behind Iran to get in, but those same mistakes will lead to an early exit if they’re not careful. Unlike some of the other teams not expected to go far, the South Koreans have a top international player in Son Heung Min. The Bayern Leverkusen star is an imaginative goal scorer that is on the rise in the club football scene. Whether or not he’ll have the support of his teammates to get to use that imagination is really the big question. Fundamental disciplined football is a good way to try not to lose, but without the offensive flare and precision some of the European and South American squads it will be a tall order to get the wins needed to advance. The South Koreans have the quality to get the full points from Algeria, so it could come down to their match against Russia as to whether or not they upset and advance as they will just not be able to compete with Belgium. This is one of the more wide open groups but at the end of the day I think they will fall just short of the knockout round.
Greece-
Odds to win the World Cup +47000
Odds to win Group +815
The Greeks are solid. They went toe to toe with Romania in a playoff to get in and took the Romanians to task in Greece effectively sealing the deal in the first game. Their defense showed top form during qualifying conceding only 4 goals and their collective physicality is enough to put off almost anybody. Where they will be truly tested is on the offensive side of the ball. Like the Koreans, Greece lacks much of the technical skill and flare of other top squads so while their defense should be able to keep games close, their offense may struggle to finish games. If there’s one man that can take the Greeks to the next level on offense it has to be their rising striker Mitroglou. The Olympoiacos man has caught the attention of top level clubs and has the skill to complete against anybody on the tournament. If the Greek defense can hold their shape and Mitroglou can put something together, there is a CHANCE the Greeks could get through. While Columbia is the class of the group, there’s no reason the Greeks can’t get wins against Japan and Ivory Coast on a given day. This could be a team that surprises and grabs a spot in the knockout stage.
USA-
Odds to win the World Cup +35000
Odds to win Group G +1250
The Group of Death. It’s just that simple. There are 4 teams here that are of good enough quality to compete admirably in the next round, but only two will go through. Kinsmanns’s decision to leave Donovan off the squad has been less divisive among fans than I expected but you can be sure the decision will be questioned if the US comes up short of the next round in Brazil. The US had a great qualifying campaign and nobody can question their effort, but at the end of the day the success or failure of this Cup may come down to one man….Jozy Altidore. With Donovan out of the picture, the weight of the goal scoring will come down on the shoulders of Bradley, Dempsey and Altidore, but it’s Altidore that has the skill to REALLY take over a game. Strong, physical and technically proficient, Altidore has the ability to keep a defense on it’s heels at all times, allowing the midfield more room to move and attack. Things don’t start out easy for the US as they take on perpetual “thorn in their side” Ghana, and it only gets harder from there. Assuming they are able to at least get a draw from Ghana, it might take at least one upset of either Germany (unlikely) or Portugal (more likely) to get through to the next round. A win against Ghana would make the road a little easier but a loss could virtually seal the US fate of an early exit.
Ecuador-
Odds to win the World Cup +31000
Odds to win Group E +455
The biggest problem for El Tri is that the World Cup is in Brazil. If it was in Ecuador, they’d be golden. Unfortunately they couldn’t seem to win away from the friendly confines during qualifying and that doesn’t bode well for neutral ground tournament football. Ecuador has a fast, aggressive brand of play that utilizes there wings to great success (at home of course) and will do their best to come out all cylinders firing. On the flip side however, that aggression does tend to lead to some sloppy play, exposing holes in their own defense that top class teams will find ways to exploit if El Tri isn’t careful. One of those quality wingers that Ecaudaor will have to rely on is Red Devil Antonio Valenica. He can be one of the better crossers in the world when he’s on, but his inconsistency at the club level is something he’ll have to shake if Ecuador is going to have a chance at getting enough points to move through to the knockout stages. A win against Honduras is there for the taking but the French and Swiss are planning on being the two to move on so it’s going to take something special in one of those two games if El Tri is going to surprise. While it’s not likely that they advance, they have the talent to anyone close on any given day.
Nigeria-
Odds to win the World Cup +35000
Odds to win Group +995
The African Football Federation is a mess (along with a number of other things in FIFA). Who knows what Nigerian team will show up in Brazil and what their state of mind will be. At their best, Nigeria is very very good. When they’re not at their best? disjointed, confused and weak. This team likes to squeeze opponents on the defensive side of the ball and then counter attack. It’s a bit like a boxer playing rope-a-dope and then catching a guy with an uppercut. If Nigeria shows up out of sorts however that defense can be exposed, and they don’t have the kind of offense that’s designed to take the attack to the opponent and dig out of a hole. Nigeria has a number of players playing at the top levels of European club football so they have skill where some other mid-level international teams do not. One of this top club players is John Obi Mikel from Chelsea. He’s that keystone in the midfield that has the defensive strength, and counter attack passing to make things happen. As goes the midfield, so goes the Nigerian chances. To their benefit, the group is wide open with Nigeria and Bosnia basically duking it out for the second spot in the group. If all goes as it should, the Bosnia V Nigeria game will decide who goes home and who moves on.
Ghana-
Odds to win the World Cup +31500
Odds to win Group G +1100
The Black Stars are another unlucky member of the very difficult Group G. Their performance in qualifying was highlighted by a 6-1 drubbing of Egypt in the first leg of the playoffs so the world is at full attention for the kind of football that Ghana can produce on a given day. Depending on how the rest of the group beats up on each other, Ghana has the players to make a real impact in the first round and possibly steal a spot in the knockout stage. The strength of this team is in the midfield where they have plenty of experience at the highest levels of club play. Unfortunately for the Black Stars a lot of the up front and defensive players are unknown commodities. If the defense can’t hold up it’s end of the bargain it may not matter how much quality the midfield brings to the table. This group is full of eye popping forwards looking to take the attack to Ghana so the back line will have to be ready to weather the storm. Juventes star Asamoah is definitely the keystone to this group. His energy and conditioning are among the best in the world and his ability to wear out mid-field defenses gives him openings where other players might be cut off. A loss to Germany is likely because of the strength of the German attack, but wins against Portugal (especially if Ronaldo is not 100%) and international play rivals US, are very real possibilities if they play to their potential. Ghana has the quality to grab that 2nd qualifying spot and I think the match against the US could end up being the deterring factor for both squads.
Mexico-
Odds to win the World Cup +25000
Odds to win Group A +1150
El Tri are a bit of a mess. After barely making it to Brazil, Mexico fans are hoping that things will come into form at the last second. The offense is not THAT much of a concern for Mexcio but their need to press forward against this competition will definitely make the back lives more difficult. Brazil and Croatia both have the attack to quickly put Mexico in a hole and this is definitely an emotional squad that struggles when their morale is shattered. Their success or failure in this tournament could come down to their test against Croatia. Mexican fans will definitely be looking to their young strike Chicharito to take the reigns and put El Tri through to the knockout stage, but like the rest of the squad he’s had some trying times as of late and nobody is really sure what you’re going to get. If Mexico is able to get the win against Cameroon (as they should) the Croatian game becomes the all or nothing match, and honestly I just don’t think they will have the defense to keep Croatia from putting up at least 2 and stealing the full points.
Bosnia and Herezegovina-
Odds to win the World Cup +21000
Odds to win Group +725
Bosnia (I’m not typing out Herzegovina every time) are far from experienced in World Cup play. In fact, this is their first crack at it after taking the top spot in their qualifying group. Where they do have experience however is in their goal scorers. Players like Dzeko and Lulic were creative and aggressive in qualifying and have a supporting cast that gives this team a lot of offensive options. 10 games, 30 goals…enough said. Defense however is a different story. There just isn’t enough consistency at the back for Bosnia to be able too rely on them in a tight match so the offense knows the success or failure of this squad lies firmly on it’s shoulders. Fortunately for the Bosnians, they drew a relatively easy group and have plenty of talent to make quick work of Iran, and should be able to get past Nigeria. Do that and they’re in. Drop one and the group blows wide open. Dzeko is definitely the face of the scorers here and has the quality to give Bosnia a fighting chance even against Argentina. If he can find the form he showed in spurts at Man City there’s no reason Bosnia can’t grab the top group spot here. At +725 there is value in a Group Win bet with this talent.
Croatia-
Odds to win the World Cup +20000
Odds to win Group A +925
The Croatians were a bit out of sorts during qualifying. Was it a case of being overconfident? Maybe. The Vatreni are definitely much more talented than they showed in a head scratching draw with Scotland and an uninspired victory over Iceland that eventually put them through to Brazil. The midfield is extremely formidable and there is goal scoring talent top to bottom and from all angles. To take advantage of this, head boss Kovac has no problem changing things up on the fly and keeping defenses on their heels with unexpected attacks. This could be one of those teams that just doesn’t show up when they feel that they are the far superior squad. While this shouldn’t be an issue if they make it to the knockout stage, they have to get their first. Assuming a loss or at BEST a draw in the Brazilian opener, the deciding match should be against Mexico. The Mexicans will have to throw everything they have at Croatia because top class attacker Luka Modric will definitely be loping to get his against a questionable Mexican defense. The Real Madrid superstar has the class to take over a game and if he and his cohorts play anywhere close to their potential it should be a fairly unimpeded advance to the knockout stages.
Japan-
Odds to win the World Cup +20000
Odds to win Group C +420
While there are injuries scattered throughout this group that make it a wide open contest, I think the Japanese are BIT over credited here. A draw at the last second against Australia sealed their bid in a qualifying group that is weaker than in years past. They have the coaching pedigree in Zaccheroni and he will look to press the Blue Samurai forward and take advantage of their offensive creativity. In this group however I’m not sure they have the physical play that may be needed to get through to the next stage. Each and every game is a must win and while Japan is good at a lot of things, they’re not really GREAT at anything. Players like Kagawa and Honda will have some international recognition but it’s Kagawa that will be looking to thumb his nose at the likes of Manchester United for not giving him a better chance. His speed and creativity on the attack are among the best in the world and if he’s able to work well in unison with Honda at the right times the Blue Samurai just MIGHT put enough in the net to advance. If either of them falter, it could be over quickly.
Switzerland-
Odds to win the World Cup +15000
Odds to win Group E +270
The Swiss came out firing in their qualifying campaign, not dropping a single game. They’re young and untested for the most part outside of Europe but obviously they can play with the big boys. The midfield is efficient and organized and does an excellent job of maintaing control without having to press and expose their defense. There are questions about the quality of the attacking front as they lack that instant impact forward that can turn the game on it’s head in a short period of time. That concern has done little to damper the confidence of this squad however and they are full poised to show their worth at the top international level. If there is a powerful scorer on this team that can take control it has to be Shaqiri. He plays (on occasion) at the top club levels with Bayern but has been inconsistent enough to not get many first team chances. He has the leg to blast shots with the best of them from a ways out but his youth and inexperience leaves doubts about how he’ll handle the pressure. Injuries to the French squad have opened a significant door for the Swiss to win the group here and I would not be surprised to see them continue their winning ways right into the opening round and push through to the knockout stage.
Russia-
Odds to win the World Cup +15500
Odds to win Group H +225
Since the Capello take over is Russia, things have been on the rise. Russia won it’s qualifying group over Portugal. If Russia plans on making in noise in Brazil though he’s going to have to a better job than he did with England in 2010. The dreary sloppy style of play that England produced in that tournament will not get this group through to the knockout rounds. Fortunately for the Russians, they’re in a fairly easy group, and even a loss to Belgium would be far from enough to cause panic. At least 1 point from the Belgian game and advancement is almost a guarantee as South Kore and Algeria are stoutly overmatched here. Home town Moscow favorite Dzagoev will have the brunt of the midfield attacking responsibility assuming his fitness where it should be. The supporting cast is effective and fundamentally sound, but lacking in true flair so Dzagoev will have to take his creativity to the next level in order for Russia to have much of an impact past the qualifying rounds. I think the future looks bright for this Russian side in 2018 at home, but they’re maybe just not quite there yet this year and Capello could be looking at another early exit.
Ivory Coast-
Odds to win the World Cup +13500
Odds to win Group C +340
The Elephants are no longer surprise upstarts on the international stage. They come with player recognition at the highest club levels and a reputation for hard nosed top class football. There are some injury concerns but it does appear some of those will be resolved come their opener against Japan. Ivory coast boasts an all around effective attack with creative midfielders and hard nosed forwards. Where they may be strongest however is in their midfield defense. Physical and imposing, the Ivory Coast midfielders will give the Elephants their best chance to advance to the knockout stage for the first time. If the midfield fails, it’s likely lights out because the back line is by far their weakest link. It’s no secret that Toure and Drogba are the stars of this squad but it’s Toure that will decide the success or failure of this squad. His health has been a concern but I anticipate him being fully fit after the layoff. Toure is one of the most complete players in the world, and while they may not be the strongest team top to bottom there’s not substation for having a top flight player like that. While Japan has some fire power, the Elephants should be able to get through their weaker defense, and if they can get 3 points there that should have them well on their way to their first ever advancement out of the group stages.
Chile-
Odds to win the World Cup +5300
Odds to win Group B +385
A 3rd place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying was step 1. An indicator that they can compete with the fast paced, athletic and creative style of other South American squads went a long ways in boosting the confidence of the Chilean players. La Roja are an aggressive, offensively minded bunch led by a head coach (Sampaoli) that makes no qualms about his intentions with his 3-4-3 setup. You remember the 3-4-3? It’s the one you would choose in FIFA when you wanted to pound some unsuspecting opponent into the ground 10-0. While La Roja won’t be putting up those kinds of numbers, they have the skill and class to strike early and often if the opponent isn’t prepared to handle that constant onslaught. While this creates numerous chances to put the ball in the back of the net, it also tends to open up their defense a bit, and locking down attackers will fall squarly on the shoulders of Jara, Medel, and Gonzalez at the back as the midfield could very well be playing catch up at times.
Like other teams that will be vying for the Cup, Chile brings a top club talent to the table in Arturo Vidal. A star at Juventus, Vidal has the skill to compete at the highest levels in both club and international play, and should be a perpetual throne in the side of opponents. A staunch defender and passer, Vidal can also go on the attack and put defenses even MORE on their heels as he teams up with his front 3 to keep the ball coming from all directions. There are VALID injury concerns with Vidal and as such he may sit out in the walk over against the Socceroos but I do think there is some gamesmanship here and I expect him to be ready for game 2 at the least. La Roja won’t be intimidated by the venues, the environment suits them, and they have the offensive capabilities to blow a game wide open at any moment. If an “outside” team does have a chance to upset I don’t believe it will be a methodical defensive minded squad because to beat the likes of Spain and Brazil you HAVE to be able to score goals. Chile can and will score, will it be enough is the question.
Colombia-
Odds to win the World Cup +4850
Odds to win Group C -105
Ranked 4th in the world, Colombia showed their worth by qualifying 2nd in CONMEBOL. If Falcao were healthy you may find this squad in the top 3 or 4 for odds to win the Cup but without him they’re definitely not getting the kind of respect they normally would. A win against Belgium in Europe should instill confidence in the Columbian supporters. With the top class attackers and rangy mid fielders, Columbia should have no issues getting through to the knockout stage. Where they could run into trouble however is with the depth of their defense. As they get into the later stages of the tournament that lack of depth could prove to be their undoing. Much of the offense will be funneled through James Rodriguez in the midfield, and his ability to break down defenses, or clear space for other attackers is key to the success or failure of this squad. The group stage should not be an issue, maybe even the round of 16, but even if Rodriguez is playing at his absolute best I’m not sure they quite have all of the pieces necessary to finish the deal.
Netherlands-
Odds to win the World Cup +4100
Odds to win Group B +350
The Dutch have been waiting for 4 years to avenge their defeat in the 2010 final. Their road back to redemption did not start well with a disastrous Euro showing, but recently the’ve played more like the team from 2010. There are plenty of new faces here and they are hungry to show their own worth at the international level. That youth could prove to be problematic however because the back lines are full of it and whether or not they’ll be able to contain elite attackers at this level remains to be seen. The group provides it’s own challenges with clear favorites Spain, and spoilers Chile hot on their heels. It’s very possible that the defending final participant does’t make it out of qualifying. If the Dutch are to advance they will need veterans like Robben to step up and lead the younger wide eyed players. Robben is a tireless worker that plays the wings with class and strength. However, his ability to come through in the clutch has been questioned with reason in the past. If he and the other vets aren’t able to bring this squad together against Chile, they may be on their way out because I think Spain will once again get the best of them.
Uruguay-
Odds to win the World Cup +3050
Odds to win Group D +180
This is an interesting squad. Not a traditional powerhouse (at least for a long time), they’ve arrived on the scene full force and there’s plenty of pundits selecting them to make it to the final. I’m not sure if I see it. Getting out of the group alone will be a tall task with England and Italy in the mix so I guess we’ll see how the European vs South American style of game looks. It helps to have one of the best players in the world in Luis Suarez and a team that believes in what the coach is doing. To compliment Suarez is the angry bull type player in Cavani. The two are a formidable force up front that can give any team in this tournament serious headaches. Where they run into trouble is the defensive midfield. There are holes a plenty for opponents to exploit and Uruguay knows they’re going to have to put up a lot of goals to win games. It’s unlikely they’ll get away with a couple 1-0 victories in the qualifying rounds and with the scoring abilities of this group Uruguay might see their Cup chances come to an early end if the defense doesn’t step up. If Uruguay makes it to the knockouts and the defense has progressed to at least being competent, watch out world.
Portugal-
Odds to win the World Cup +2750
Odds to win Group G +240
Everyone knows this teams chances come down to one player. Normally that’s not a good thing but it helps that he’s arguably the best player in the world and one of the greatest of all time. What people aren’t so sure about however is he fitness status. Yes i’m sure he’ll play but at what level? a 75% Ronaldo is still better than most players in the world but it may not be enough to make up for the holes on the rest of the squad. After finishing 2nd in their qualifying group it took a battle for them to get a spot in Brazil, and that battle was basically won single handedly by Ronaldo. Will he be able to carry this team to that same kind of success deep into the tournament? I don’t believe so. Not only is their group possibly the hardest in the tournament, Ronaldo’s fitness will only become more of a concern the farther they go and i’m not sure they quite have the goods to get past the final 16 even if he’s 100%. Inconsistency has been the defining characteristic of this years squad and that doesn’t bode well for making Cup runs. CR7 is a supreme talent and a joy to watch and he’ll get his if he’s close enough to healthy but look for Portugal to possibly even miss getting out of the group stages.
Italy-
Odds to win the World Cup +2650
Odds to win Group D +180
The Azurri are primed for a run and have the talent to do it. Yes there are questions and they are in a very difficult group but players like Mario Balatolli (as hot and cold as he is) are just waiting to explode onto the international scene. On the flip side, players like Pirlo (likely in his last major tournament) are looking for one final moment of glory. There’s youth, experience, creativity, toughness….a little bit of everything on this team and that bodes well for a deep tournament run. Heck, they’re even stacked with club connections that make them more familiar with each other than most. So why have they struggled since qualifying? Because they’re Italy and they’re just never consistent. Much like their bulldog Balotelli, you’re never quite sure which Azzuri squad is going to show up. The Italians will be looking to the leadership of Pirlo to get, and then KEEP them on track for this tournament. The group is a nightmare and it would not be a surprise if any of the top 3 don’t make it through. Things don’t start off easy with their opening match against an England squad that’s playing with a HUGE chip on their shoulder. Is Italy’s chip even bigger after the 2010 debacle? probably. So it will come down to who wants it more. A loss to England and things get serious quickly and the Italians would be staring down another early departure.
England-
Odds to win the World Cup +2650
Odds to win Group D +225
The story for England reads much the same as their group partners and European rival Italy. Youth, experience, creativity, strength….inconsistency and some head scratching play. England stumbled a bit in qualifying and were far from assured a spot until right at the end. England supporters have likely accepted the fact that this probably isn’t a Cup winning squad but they are excited to see how the new guard handles the pressure and what things will look like going into 2018 in Moscow. There are a lot of new faces on this roster and maybe that’s what this team needs to light a fire under a team that gave an uninspired group effort that led to an uninspired exit in the knockout stages in 2010. The face of the team Wayne Rooney is back but his inability to perform in major tournaments is it’s own story. If he can get over that hump and play like he has the ability to, England may find a way to get past the group stage. Know the names Wilshire, Sterling and Townsend because IF this team finds success it will likely have a lot to do with them. This team won’t win the Cup. It’s just not in the cards this year. But a spot in the knockout stages would give great hope for a deep run in 2018.
Belgium-
Odds to win the World Cup +2450
Odds to win Group H -135
Belgium’s win against Croatia to seal their berth was impressive. A team that started out as dark horses with their name being whispered in small “in the know” circles, they are now at the forefront of the football world’s mind as serious contenders. Their group is nothing to write home about and getting through to the knockout’s should not be a monumental task, but it is imperative that they look at it as another day at the office and bring their A game every single match. Their lack of major tournament experience is definitely the biggest eyesore on their resume and how that will play into their chances to go deep is anybody’s guess. They have the talent and athleticism, the creativity and the drive, to play with anyone. But playing far from home in their first major tournament in over a decade might be too much to overcome once in the knockout stages. If they are to overcome that lack of experience and shock some teams it will have to come with top form from players like Kompany. The City man had some masterful play this season. He’s full of talent and skill, but more importantly he’s a great leader. The rest of the team will be looking to him for inspiration and motivation to continue moving forward through the mine field that is the World Cup. If he can rally his troops and get them to forget where they’re playing and in front of how many people, theres a chance the Belgians show up big in this tournament.
France-
Odds to win the World Cup +2250
Odds to win the Group E -130
Les Bleues are still getting a lot of credit here, but I think they’re in danger of a first knockout round exit. Like many other teams they’re dealing with injuries but to their credit they do have a significant amount of depth. It’s been getting that depth to play together that has been the hard part. A difficult qualifying campaign wasn’t exactly how they wanted to kick off this tournament after the disaster that was 2010. An injury to Ribery has further damaged to morale and consistency of this squad so they’ve got a lot to overcome to make much noise in Brazil. Fortunately for them they drew a relatively easy group but any kind of slip up against the bottom two team suddenly creates a problem. Dropping 1 of those games could spell disaster for the French and I think they just may struggle against Ecuador. Deschamp has to be motivator as much as he does tactician for his squad here and with Ribery out that job just got a lot harder. France probably makes it through to the knockouts, but no further than the final 16.
Germany-
Odds to win the World Cup +695
Odds to win Group G -145
The Germans are definitely the class of the Group of Death, but that doesn’t mean things will be easy for them. All three group opponents have the ability to beat this team on a given day. Germany will have to bring everything they have from the beginning and that can go one of two ways. You either get worn out and slip somewhere in the knockout stages (assuming you make it), or you get in a rhythm that carries you through to the end. There have been injury concerns here and the latest to Reus was definitely a blow, but they are loaded with talent and depth and should be able to weather those concerns. Anybody that faces Germany will have to deal with relentless pressure and attacking both on and off the ball and the Germans are masters of finding open running room and exploiting seams. There are few real weaknesses if any, and having a top notch man like Muller as your field general is enviable of almost any team in the tournament. Assuming Germany does what they need to to get through the group (I see no reason why they won’t), they are definitely poised for a deep run. Some circles have voiced concern over the weather and how that will affect this European power house but it’s not really on my radar as giving it much thought unless there’s something drastic for them to deal with. Look for Germany as having a good chance to take home the Cup.
Spain-
Odds to win the World Cup +615
Odds to win Group B -150
Spain may be the favorites to win the group and advance here but it is far from a walk over affair. The Netherlands will be out for blood and Chile has the ability to beat this team, so they’ll have to be on their game from the starting whistle. The Spanish are not only defending World Cup Champions but Euro Champions as well, and they’ll be looking to put their name in with the list of the greatest teams of all time by defending their title in Brazil. With getting out of the group as priority number 1 it will be hard for Spain to look ahead at who they may have to prepare for in the knockout stages. The fact that a majority of the starters have the experience to know just what it takes to win these major tournaments will go a long ways in not overlooking the early games. There is some concern that having a large group of veterans may be a bit of a hinderance given the physical expectations of getting through an entire tournament in Brazil but I’ve not seen any reason to doubt them and i’m not about to start. A player that veteran core that knows what it takes to win and will assuredly make his name heard early and often is Iniesta. The Barcelona man plays second fiddle to Lionel Messi but there are few in the world that he would be in that position to. Iniesta has the class and form to take over a game and if he and a few of his teammates catch this tournament with their best football, it could be another final for Spain.
Argentina-
Odds to win the World Cup +445
Odds to win Group F -3000
Argentina’s group draw created about the only free pass in this tournament. There is no tangible reason why they should not be onto the knockout stages with relative ease. Looking ahead to a matchup against Brazil is almost impossible to avoid but Messi will certainly be focused on each and every game given his desperation to play in a Cup Final on his home continent. Sabella has this team in much better form than the frantic and disjointed Maradonna days, and the Argentinians are showing just HOW GOOD this talent can be. The obvious superstar here is Lionel Messi, and his inability to get the job done in the past has weighed on him heavily. Expect him to be at his top form, which is truly something to behold. I see no reason he won’t be at his best, but if he once again struggles to find the back of the net there is plenty of talent around him to go deep in this tournament…..just maybe not to a final victory.
Brazil-
Odds to win the World Cup +290
Odds to win Group A -525
This is the second time Brazil has been favored to win the World Cup on their home soil. The last time ended in heart break. Will it happen again? Honestly there’s a good chance. This team is loaded, as Brazilian squads always are. But there seems to be more talent across the board in this tournament than normal and I think the rest of the world has closed the gap on Brazilian dominance. Being at home helps a lot of course but there are a lot of South American teams tuning for them that will be far from being in unfamiliar territory. If Brazil is to accomplish basically the greatest thing their personal world of sport has ever seen, they’re going to need their group of international stars to come together as the did in their dominance of the Confederations Cup. One of those stars (my personal choice for the Golden Boot) that should see his legend grow in this tournament is Neymar. Pure flash, creativity, passion and dominance, Neymar is looking to become the Brazilian icon he has the talent to be. A Brazilian victory in the final and he will cement his name up there with the greatest Brazilian footballers of all time. Fail, and the disappointment and scorn will be epic. That’s a lot of pressure but I think they’re up to the task. While it’s not exactly going out on a limb to say that Brazil has the best chance to win this tournament, you’d be foolish to think there’s another squad out there right now in a better position to pull it off.
