The showpiece of football, the World Cup 2014 on in Brazil

It is 2014 World Cup fever here like all over the world what with the showpiece of what the game is all about now on in what is known as the home of football - BRAZIL.

Here in England it is all about England and them indulging in wishful thinking that they will be crowed the Kings of Football in samba singing and dancing BRAZIL. All newspapers here are gloating about their chances, their strategy and that they have the players who could deliver, with nothing much being given publicity about the other participating countries.

But for England who previously won the World Cup in 1996 when it was conducted in England it will not be smooth sailing. England are placed in Group ‘D’ with Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica. ‘RACING POST’ has put out a World Cup guide and in an article headlined - ‘Four stars to follow in the scoring showdown have also given odds on the four players to be top goal scorers. LIONEL MESSI 8-1 -One of the oldest sayings in betting is never ignore the obvious and Lionel Messi must have an obvious chance of finishing the World Cup with the most goals to his name.

The Barcelona superstar is constantly being told that he will never reach Diego Maradona status in his homeland until he wins the World Cup and this could be the time Messi reproduced his club form on the biggest stage of the lot. NEYMAR 10-1 - I this turns out into a South American shootout then watch for the fireworks between Messi and his Barcelona team-mate Neymar. There is a huge sporting rivalry between Brazil and Argentina and the hopes of a nation rests on the shoulders of Neymar who scored four goals as the Samba Stars won the Confederations Cup last summer. ROMELU LUKAKU 25-1. Chritian Beneteke’s injury has opened the door for Romelu Lukaku and the Belgian beast is good enough to make a major impact in Brazil.

Belgium have a nice group-stage draw against Russia, South Korea and Algeria and Lukaku showed he was in good nick with a hat-trick in the recent friendly thrashing in Luxembourg. Lukaku notched 15 times in the Premier League for Everton this season and scored 17 times for West Brom in the 2012-1 term. THOMAS MULLER 20-1 - If you like your course and distance form then Thomas Muller is the man for you. The German finished joint-top of the goal scoring charts four years ago and is always liable to be in the right place at the right time.

The odds on the teams:

GROUP – A: BRAZIL 3-1, CROATIA 150-1,
CAMEROON 750-1,MEXICO 150-1.

GROUP – B: AUSTRALIA 750-1, HOLLAND 28-1,
CHILE 40-1,SPAIN 6-1.

GROUP – C: COLOMBIA 25-1, IVORY COAST 150-1,
GREECE 250-1, JAPAN 125-1.

GROUP – D: COSTA RICA 2,500-1, ITALY 25-1,
ENGLAND 28-1, URUGUAY 28-1.

GROUP – E: ECUADOR 150-1, HONDURAS 2,500-1,
FRANCE 20-1,SWITZERLAND 100-1.

GROUP – F: ARGENTINA 9-2, IRAN 750-1, BOSNIA-HZ 150-1,
NIGERIA 250-1.

GROUP - G: GERMANY 11-2, PORTUGSL 25-1,
GHANA 200-1, USA 150-1.

GROUP – H: ALGERIA 1,000- 1, RUSSIA 66-1,
BELGIUM 14-1, SOUTH KOREA 250-1.

RACING POST also analysis the chances:

GROUP A:

BRAZIL - PROSPECTS - Brazil have to considered the favourites and should go close.

CROATIA - PROSPECTS - The second round is the aim for Croatia and that looks a realistic target.

CAMEROON - PROSPECTS - Cameroon face a tough task in Group A and could be on the way home after the opening three matches.

MEXICO - PROPECTS - Look set to be in a battle with Croatia to follow Brazil out of Group A and it’s only they could lose in a tight tussle.

Group B:

AUSTRALIA - PROSPECTS - It should be three and home for Australia.

Even getting a point looks a tough ask in such a hot group.

HOLLAND - PROSPECTS -Holland’s firepower can take them to the second round but a later date 16 with Brazil may be the end.

CHILE - PROSPECTS - They are becoming dark horses and being in South America is a boost but they may still be found out against the Europeans.

SPAIN - PROSPECTS - If you like proven winners then Spain are the bet for you. They have an obvious chance of going the distance.

COLOMBIA - PROSPECTS - Colombia have been considered the tournament dark horses for some time and they will fancy their chances of going for in Brazil. Should be good enough to reach the quarter-finals.

IVORY COAST - PROSPECTS - Ivory Coast have been given a fair chance by the draw and have the ability to make the last 16.

GREECE - PROSPECTS - There is an overreliance on older players which could be a problem in the heat of Brazil and a first-round exit is likely.

JAPAN - PROSPECTS - There are other teams in Group C who appear more to qualify and Japan may be set for an early exit.

 GROUP D:

COSTA RICA - PROSPECTS - If Costa Rica get a point then they will have done well but three defeats look on the cards.

ITALY - PROSPECTS - Italy may turn out to be the best team in the section but others appeal more to lift the trophy.

ENGLAND - PROSPECTS - It’s a tough group but England are not without a chance of at least making it to the second round.

URUGUAY - PROSPECTS - Dark horses if they get out of the group but there is no certainty.

GROUP E:

ECUADOR - PROSPECTS - They could sneak into the second round but that’s it.

HONDURAS - PROSPECTS - Honduras can score a goal - unlike at the last World Cup - but an early bath is almost certain.

FRANCE - PROSPECTS - The kind of team who may go well if everything falls into place but a last-eight exit looks likely.

SWITZERLAND - PROSPECTS - Not great. This may be a couple of years too early for the Swiss youngsters.

GROUP F:

ARGENTINA - PROSPECTS - They look booked for a semi-final spot but maybe that is the limit.

IRAN - PROSPECTS - It should be three and out for Iran and they could lose all of the matches without scoring.

BOSNIA-HZ - PROSPECTS - Bosnia should be backed to qualify alongside Argentina but anything more in unlikely.

NIGERIA - PROSPECTS - Should be between them and Bosnia for a place in the knockout phase and preference is for Bosnia.

GROUP G:

GERMANY - PROSPECTS - Germany have the talent to go all the way and must be on the shortlist of potential winners.

PORTUGAL - PROSPECTS - If Ronaldo gets hot during the tournament then Portugal could become the dark horse.

GHANA - PROSPECTS - Ghana are a decent side but the draw has not been kind.

USA - PROSPECTS - It looks like USA will lose to Germany and Portugal so should exit early on.

GROUP H:

ALGERIA - PROSPECTS - They are no mugs but are unlikely to split the two European teams in Group H.

RUSSIA -PROSPECTS - The easy group should mean they can qualify for the next phase.

BELGIUM - PROSPECTS - Should have absolutely no problem topping this section bit then it gets much tougher for them. A potential late meeting with Portugal may be decided by the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo.

SOUTH KOREA - PROSPECTS - Belgium and Russia are preferred to qualify.

They face a battle with Algeria to avoid the wooden spoon.

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