Read on for our complete survey of soccer experts everywhere and create a betting account today to make the most of what should be a thrilling World Cup.
[sc:Soccer ]
Experts Picks & Predictions for the 2014 World Cup
ESPN FC
Prediction
Roger
Bennett
John
Brewin
Michael
Cox
Rafa
Honigstein
Gab
Marcotti
Group A Winner
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Group A Runner-up
Croatia
Mexico
Croatia
Croatia
Mexico
Group B Winner
Spain
Spain
Spain
Spain
Spain
Group B Runner-up
Chile
Chile
Chile
Netherlands
Chile
Group C Winner
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia
Ivory Coast
Group C Runner-up
Japan
Japan
Japan
Greece
Colombia
Group D Winner
Italy
Uruguay
Italy
Italy
Italy
Group D Runner-up
Uruguay
Italy
England
England
England
Group E Winner
France
Ecuador
France
France
France
Group E Runner-up
Honduras
France
Switzerland
Switzerland
Ecuador
Group F Winner
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Group F Runner-up
B & H
Nigeria
Nigeria
B & H
Nigeria
Group G Winner
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Portugal
Group G Runner-up
USA
Ghana
Portugal
Portugal
Germany
Group H Winner
Belgium
Belgium
Russia
Belgium
Belgium
Group H Runner-up
South Korea
Russia
Belgium
Russia
Russia
ESPN FC’s collection of experts were unanimous in their picks that Brazil, Spain and Argentina will win Groups A, B and F, respectively, while Colombia, Italy, France, Germany and Belgium were all but consensus picks.
They were also almost in agreement that Chile and not the Netherlands would take second in Group B, which would be a truly shocking outcome for the Dutch.
Roger Bennett made some of the more unexpected picks as he thinks Honduras and South Korea emerge as unlikely runners-up. They differed most with the Group E runner-up, as the five of them picked all four teams as a possible second-place finisher.
While we can’t get behind Bennett with his Honduras or South Korea picks, it’s more than a distinct possibility that Chile can creep into second in Group B. The Netherlands is a much-changed squad from 2010, and the uncertainty regarding the health of star striker Robin van Persie means that the Oranje are by no means guaranteed a spot in the last 16.
Similarly far from a guarantee is Group E, where John Brewin thinks that Ecuador will emerge as an unlikely group winner. It’s certainly true that none of the four teams are sure things. France is talented but is just four years removed from a total meltdown, and the announcement that Franck Ribery will not being suiting up for the French is a major blow.
Switzerland beat Spain last year but still managed to crash out in the group stage. Ecuador isn’t as good away from the advantage of its home field altitude. And Honduras are +100,000 to win the World Cup for a reason.
We picked France and Switzerland to come through for their quality and track record. Ecuador still has a chance to get through either, but Honduras going through would be an incredible shock.
CBS Sports
Main Header 1
Jeff
Borzello
Tom
Fornelli
Evan
Hilbert
Jerry
Hinnen
Jason
La Canfora
Mike
Singer
Group A Winner
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Group A Runner-up
Croatia
Croatia
Mexico
Mexico
Croatia
Mexico
Group B Winner
Spain
Spain
Spain
Netherlands
Spain
Spain
Group B Runner-up
Chile
Netherlands
Netherlands
Spain
Netherlands
Netherlands
Group C Winner
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia
Group C Runner-up
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast
Greece
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast
Group D Winner
Italy
Italy
Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay
Group D Runner-up
Uruguay
Uruguay
Italy
Italy
Italy
Italy
Group E Winner
France
France
Switzerland
France
Ecuador
France
Group E Runner-up
Honduras
Switzerland
France
Switzerland
Honduras
Switzerland
Group F Winner
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Group F Runner-up
B & H
B & H
B & H
B & H
Nigeria
Bosnia & H
Group G Winner
Germany
Germany
Portugal
Germany
Germany
Germany
Group G Runner-up
Portugal
Portugal
USA
Portugal
USA
Portugal
Group H Winner
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
Group H Runner-up
Russia
Russia
Russia
South Korea
Russia
Russia
CBS Sports’ six footy experts were unanimous in their belief that both Colombia and Belgium will top Groups C and H, respectively. They were also nearly in agreement that the Ivory Coast, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia will be runners-up.
Surprisingly, two more experts backed Honduras to spring a surprise and finish second in Group E, while none gave England a shot to progress to the last 16.
As discussed in our complete World Cup predictions, we disagree with the CBS guys with how Groups C and H play out; we had Ivory Coast over Colombia and Russia over Belgium. The loss of Radamel Falcao is still a tremendous blow for Colombia, and despite the talents of their remaining strikers, none are in the same league as Falcao in terms of quality.
And with Belgium, people are too easy to anoint this talented crop of youngsters, but Russia’s coach (Fabio Capello) and players are fare more experienced, which should give them the edge.
England’s total exclusion from the knockout stage is a surprise, but understandable. Seeing as they are in the Group of Death, the young England squad may simply be overwhelmed by such strong opposition in Italy and Uruguay.
Prediction
Jeff
Borzello
Tom
Fornelli
Evan
Hilbert
Jerry
Hinnen
Jason
La Canfora
Mike
Singer
Champion
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Argentina
Brazil
Runner-up
Argentina
Italy
Argentina
Netherlands
Germany
Spain
3rd Place
Germany
Spain
Portugal
Germany
Brazil
Argentina
4th Place
Spain
Germany
Spain
Argentina
Spain
Germany
CBS’s experts also took a stab at predicting the final four all the way to the eventual champion. Five out of six predicted hosts Brazil emerge victorious on home soil, with Jason La Canfora going with Argentina. Not very bold, fellas. Two of them went for a Brazil-Argentina final, with Brazil winning on both occasions. Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands were the other countries picked to make the finals.
Four out of six think Germany will once again be losing semifinalists, the same number that see Spain falling short of another world title. Evan Hilbert believes that a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal makes it to a valiant third-place finish.
We agree with Jeff Borzello and Evan Hilbert that it’ll be an all-South American final between storied rivals Brazil and Argentina. But unlike them, we see the Argentinians prevailing. Argentina has a relatively easier path to the final compared to Brazil, which should see them fresher physically. And in the final, Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner Messi will fire them to victory.
Wild Animals and Inanimate Objects
Expert
Prediction
Nelly the Elephant
USA beats Germany in Group G
FIFA Simulation
Germany beats Brazil in the final
But of course, what’s a World Cup without some non-humans making predictions? Paul the Octopus shot to worldwide fame when he correctly predicted the 2010 World Cup final, but sadly, he’s passed on. Taking his place in the animal predictor hierarchy is Germany’s Nelly the Elephant.
However, one of Nelly’s predictions won’t be taken too kindly in his home country as she thinks the Germans lose to the United States in their Group G match. Whether that loss costs Germany a place in the last 16 remains to be seen, but Nelly better hope her prediction is wide of the mark, or she’ll never forget the uproar.
It’s probably more likely that the Germans listen to a video game than some silly elephant. That’s because EA Sports’ FIFA 14 title ran a simulation of the entire tournament and concluded that Germany will become this year’s champions after it defeats hosts Brazil in the final. It also had the Germans beating Argentina and Spain en route to the final, which is pretty impressive. It it happens, of course.
