The best soccer in the world is almost here and today, to get you set for the action, our experts begin previewing each group in the World Cup field. We’ve already looked at several contending teams, with previews of the U.S.A., Italy, Argentina, and England, and now we dig into the first group in the competition: Group A. Also, see our comprehensive World Cup predictions.
Hosts Brazil headline Group A, which also features perennial World Cup qualifiers Mexico, Croatia and Cameroon. Brazil is widely expected to breeze through this group en route to the knockout stage, but it would be foolish to underestimate the likes of Mexico and Croatia, all of whom have the players capable of pulling off a surprise in any given fixture.
Whether you like Brazil to win this group or prefer the juicy +850 odds available on Mexico, set up a betting account today and read on for the key stories from Group A.
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2014 World Cup Group A Preview and Predictions
Brazil
The entire country of Brazil is expecting its team to win the World Cup on home soil, and so are the oddsmakers, who have installed the hosts as +300 favorites to win the tournament. Brazil isn’t expected to encounter many problems in Group A, which it is an overwhelming -425 favorite to win.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]The weight of expectation will fall heaviest on the shoulders of 22-year old Neymar. The Barcelona forward had a great showing in last year’s Confederations Cup, where he earned the Golden Ball award given to the best player, an award he is the +750 favorite to take home at the World Cup.
Head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari picked a relatively inexperienced squad, but the winning 2002 World Cup-winning coach has transformed the team into a functional unit that came away victorious in the Confederations Cup. This Brazil team may not have that trademark samba flair, but it is built to produce results and likely will.
Mexico
Comprised of the core members of the gold medal-winning 2010 Olympic team (Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera, Oribe Peralta, etc.) that defeated Brazil in the final, Mexico will look to advance from the group stages for the sixth consecutive tournament.
However, Mexico has failed to get past the Round of 16 in its previous five trips; the Mexicans are +130 to be eliminated in that stage again this year. But with a strike force of Hernandez (35 goals in 58 caps) and Peralta (10 goals in qualifying), El Tri may have the firepower to finally end that unfortunate trend.
Update: Mexico lost Luis Montes for the World Cup after he broke his leg in a warm-up match against Ecuador.
Croatia
Along with Mexico, Croatia (+850 to win the group) figures to be Brazil’s main competition to finish on top of Group A.
Led by Champions League winners Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic, as well as Europa League winner Ivan Rakitic, this talented generation of Croatian footballers is stacked with players plying their trade in the best leagues in Europe.
Croatia made waves by reaching the semifinals of their first ever World Cup in 1998. With Modric and Rakitic running the show in midfield and Mandzukic (13 goals in 48 caps) leading the line upfront this year, +10,000 long shots Croatia have the potential to make some noise in this tournament.
Cameroon
On paper, Cameroon is the weakest team of the four, as evidenced by its price of +2,500 to win the group. “The Indomitable Lions” have not fared well at all in the World Cup, advancing from the group stage just once (1990) in six tries. In South Africa 2010, Cameroon hit a new low as it lost all three group games for the first time ever.
This World Cup will likely be the last for legendary striker Samuel Eto’o, 33, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 55 goals. Eto’o will need support from experienced veterans Pierre Webo, Jean Makoun and Alex Song if he’s to go out with a bang.
Key Game – Brazil vs. Croatia (June 12)
Brazil and Croatia officially kick off the World Cup on June 12. The hosts will have the advantage of home support throughout the tournament, but there will also be a great deal of pressure on them to perform well immediately, and the Croatians won’t be distracted by the hype of facing the home field heroes.
Croatia’s players are experienced playing in high-pressure situations and the likes of Modric and Mandzukic in particular have the quality to unlock the Brazilian defense.
Writer’s Prediction
Brazil is a virtual lock to go through to the knockout stage, most likely as group winners (-450). The question is which team joins them. Although the Mexicans look to have the superior firepower, the Croatians have the quality and the balance throughout their squad. Expect Brazil and Croatia (EVEN) to advance from Group A.
