The World Cup is coming, and Top Bet has you covered: after working through our predictions for Group A and Group B, we turn our attention to what should be one of the most intriguing groups: Group C. Also, see our comprehensive World Cup predictions.
In a group that doesn’t include any of the established giants of world football, emerging giants Colombia have been thrust into the role of favorite in Group C. But with the Colombians possibly without their best player, Asian force Japan, African powerhouse Ivory Coast and even one-time European champion Greece could pounce and take control of the group.
If Colombia does compete in the tournament shorthanded, Group C immediately becomes wide open. Create a betting account and read this preview to learn which country will ultimately win this very competitive group.
[sc:Soccer ]2014 World Cup Group C Preview and Predictions
Colombia
Currently ranked 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, Colombia finished 2nd behind Argentina in qualifying to reach its first World Cup since 1998. Blessed with a crop of highly skilled young attacking players, the Colombians are major-120 favorites to emerge as winners of Group C.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]However, doubts linger about the status of top scorer Radamel Falcao, who faces a race to get fit after suffering a serious knee injury in January. Losing one of the best strikers in the world would be a big loss, but the Colombians can still call upon prolific strikers Jackson Martinez and Adrian Ramos upfront.
With the electric James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado wreaking havoc from all angles by way of supplying their central strikers, the Tricolor could go far in this year’s tournament.
Update: Falcao has been left out of Colombia’s final 23-man World Cup squad after failing to prove his fitness following a major knee injury.
Ivory Coast
Eliminated in the group stage in their only two World Cup berths, this upcoming tournament could be the last best chance the Ivory Coast has of finally breaking through to the knockout round. The Elephants are priced at +375 to win Group C.
This World Cup will be the last for legendary players Didier Drogba (63 goals in 99 caps), Didier Zokora and Kolo Toure. But the hope of the country will ultimately rest on the shoulders of star midfielder, Yaya Toure, who is coming off the best season of his career (20 goals in 35 league games) to lead Manchester City to the Premier League title.
Japan
The first team to officially book its ticket to Brazil, Japan will be Asia’s best bet at +10,000 to win the World Cup. The Samurai Blue are armed with some incredibly talented, creative midfielders in Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa and rampaging fullbacks in Atsuo Uchida and Yugo Nagatomo that can slice opposing defenses apart.
The concerns for the Japanese lie in center of their attack and defense. Japan has long lacked a center forward capable of consistently providing the goals, while central defense is arguably the weakest part of its team. If head coach Alberto Zaccheroni can somehow minimize those weaknesses, Japan (+375 to win the group) will find itself in the Round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments.
Greece
Greece had an impressive qualifying campaign en route to only its third ever World Cup berth. The Greeks won eight of ten games before edging Romania in the playoff.
But while the Greeks possess a phalanx-like defense that saw them pull off one of the great shocks of Euro 2004, they don’t attack as well as the famed Spartan warriors. Kostas Mitroglou (eight goals in 28 caps) will be their main attacking threat, but apart from him, there’s not much else.
At +900 to win the group, their odds aren’t quite as long as 300 Spartans vs. the Persians, but it’ll still take a Herculean effort for the Greeks to advance to the knockout stage for the first time ever.
Key Game – Colombia vs. Japan (June 19)
Aside from being a very important game in the context of who advances from the group, Colombia vs. Japan could turn out to be one of the most entertaining games of the entire tournament. Both teams boast a wealth of attacking talent and a relative dearth of defensive know-how, which could lead to an open, end-to-end and high-scoring game.
This game could be especially important to Japan, who will face fellow group challengers Ivory Coast in the first game. Two poor results in their first two games would leave the Japanese’s chances in tatters.
Writer’s Prediction
Radamel Falcao’s presence likely won’t affect Colombia’s passage to the knockout round; they have enough talent to compensate for his loss. However, his presence could likely affect whether the Colombians win the group.
It’ll be a toss up between Japan and Ivory Coast for that other spot, but with a force of nature like Yaya Toure, the Ivorians should have the edge. Colombia and the Ivory Coast (+140), in some order, progress from the group.
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