Top Bet’s going all out to get you prepared for the 2014 World Cup, as you can see with our comprehensive previews of Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D. We continue today with our look at the soap opera of 2010 that was France and the rest of Group E. Also, see our comprehensive World Cup predictions.
Unless something unexpected and unprecedented (like 2010’s player revolt) occurs, 1998 World Champions France will be the team to beat in Group E, which features Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras. The French are unquestionably the strongest and most talented team in the group, leaving the Swiss and Ecuadorians in a battle for second place.
This looks like a relatively straightforward group for favorites France, but it wasn’t so simple last time around. If you think the French are bound for another epic collapse, create a betting account today and see who among the group can capitalize.
2014 World Cup Group E Preview and Predictions
France
With the dressing room drama that caused the 2010 World Cup debacle behind them, France heads to Brazil as big -135 favorites to win a relatively easy-looking Group E. Manager Didier Deschamps will have a youthful, athletic and very talented squad at his disposal in this year’s tournament.
Champions League winners Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema will lead the attack for Les Bleus while the long and rangy pairing of Blaise Matuidi and Paul Pogba will patrol the midfield. If Deschamps successfully mixes the youth and experience in his team, the French could be a decent sleeper at +2,500 to win a second world title.
Update: France has confirmed that Ribery and Clement Grenier will miss the World Cup due to injury. Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Montpellier’s Rémy Cabella will take their place in the squad.
Switzerland
Led by the very experienced and successful manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, Switzerland emerged from qualifying unbeaten to book their third straight World Cup appearance. They now look to carry over that fine form to Brazil, where they figure to be France’s biggest rivals in Group E at +300 to win the group.
Hitzfeld will rely on midfield skipper Gokhan Inler and exciting Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaquiri to supply quality to a very industrious and well-organized team. The lack of a top-quality striker to provide the goals in Brazil could be the Swiss’ downfall.
Ecuador
Unheralded Ecuador may not have a squad many people have heard of – their Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia is their only well-known player – but our oddsmakers still fancy the colourfully-dressed team at +380 to pull off a shock and top Group E.
La Tri has struggled winning away from home, where they enjoyed a massive advantage thanks to the high altitude, but their fast-paced attack could still catch their opponents off-guard regardless of location. Ecuador likely won’t go very far, but they should be at the very least involved in some action-packed games.
Honduras
For anyone looking to take a punt at the +100,000 odds of Honduras to win the World Cup, please bear in mind that in two previous trips to the World Cup, the Caribbean nation has yet to win even one group game.
Manager Luis Fernando Suarez led his native Ecuardor to the last 16 in 2006, but pulling a similar feat with the 2014 edition of Honduras’ team feels near-impossible. Even with a side containing English Premier League players Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa, as well as left-back Emilio Izaguirre, Honduras doesn’t figure to be a factor in Group E.
Key Game – Ecuador vs. Switzerland (June 15)
Ecuador and Switzerland will begin their fight for the right to finish behind France in their very first group game, which will be against one another. Both teams bring tremendous energy, and they’ll need every ounce in a game that could open the door to the Round of 16.
Writer’s Prediction
France’s implosion was one of the big surprises of the 2010 World Cup, but a similar bombshell doesn’t look likely. This figures to be a relatively straightforward group, with the favorites France and Switzerland (-135) to progress.
