World Cup

Spain is the reigning World Cup champion and they have the fourth best betting odds to win it in Brazil. They also are the betting favorite to win their group, which includes Holland who they faced in the 2010 World Cup final. In European qualifying Spain went unbeaten, but Italy and Brazil both exposed some weaknesses facing them in the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Germany was drawn into the dreaded Group of Death, but have the best betting odds to win the group. They also have the best odds to win the World Cup from teams not in South America. Germany is a stacked squad with many world-class players and they won their European qualifying group without losing a match.

The Americans cannot be happy to be drawn into the Group of Death and on top of that they face a Ghana squad, who ousted them from the 2010 World Cup. USA has the worst betting odds to make it out of Group G and with good reason with Germany and Portugal in the group.

Italy has a ton of World Cup experience on their squad and they looked solid in qualifying not losing one match. They have a slew of world-class players including the hero of the 2006 World Cup in GK Gianluigi Buffon. The Azzurri have a great defense and as a team they are very tactical. There are no main weaknesses, but some of their key players are not spring chickens any more, as they are not a young squad.

Italy was drawn into a tough group with England and Uruguay, but they along with Uruguay have the best odds to win the group.

Portugal was drawn into the Group of Death for the second straight World Cup and will they advance to the last 16 like they did in South Africa. Odds makers think so having them with good odds to move to the last 16 along with Germany with the USA and Ghana being long shots.

It helps that the squad has one of if not THE best strikers in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, but defense was an issue in qualifying and will remain so in Brazil. Still, Portugal is a dangerous team with many world-class players and with Ronaldo they can score at any time and quickly erase any deficit.

Under accomplished head coach Fabio Capello the Russian squad now has a great defense, which was their weakness in the past. They have a good midfield and while not a great offense they use great movement all over the pitch to create scoring chances.

The Russians’ defense was great in European qualifying and they will have to play well in that area in the field in their group, which consist of Algeria, South Korea, and Belgium. Russia has the second best betting odds to make it out of their group.  

Mexico has the third best odds to get out of Group A and while host Brazil is in the group they did beat them in the 2012 Olympic final. They had a tumultuous time qualifying for the World Cup firing a few coaches in the process, but they have an attacking and solid offense and the big question is can they advance past the last 16?

Mexico has played in the last five World Cups and has made it out of the group stage every time, but has lost the next match every time as well.

Uruguay has a little history on their side and while a top pod seed they are in a tough group and had a far from easy time qualifying. The last time the World Cup was in Brazil Uruguay won it all. However, that was way back in 1950 and while they are tied with Italy for having the best odds to win their group they also have England and Costa Rica to deal with.  

With the likes of Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, and veteran Deigo Forlan up front the offense is not the issue, but the midfield is not a great one and the defense is also a concern.

South Korea, aka Korean Republic, has made it to the last 16 in each of the last two World Cups, but can they do it in Brazil? They did not look great in qualifying, but they are not in the toughest of groups and they have a good offense.

The Koreans are great at controlling the ball on the pitch and they will have to use that tactic and have a strong tournament from their attacking midfield to progress to the last 16 for the third straight World Cup.

Argentina are the HUGE betting favorite to make it out of their group in Brazil, but can they end their run of disappointing World Cups? Since they were the runner up in 1990 in Italy Argentina has not progressed past the quarterfinals. If they cannot improve upon that in Brazil this World Cup will be seen as a major disappointment.