With three days til the opening match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and may I say how excited I am about the upcoming tournament, what a feast of football awaits us (here's hoping) my thoughts are focused on my pre-tournament bets and as we stand I have still not finalised all of my best selections and predictions.
Having gone through the World cup Predictor on the Telegraph website, I ended up with a Brazil v Argentina final and that looks on paper, the most logical choice. It's so hard to see Brazil losing at home but this is hardly the best Brazilian team ever and while I cannot look past the hosts as winners for the tournament and i would be shocked if they failed to reach the final, they are by no means far and away the best team in this tournament and there are at least 6 other sides with decent chances to go all the way. Argentina I expect will be strong and with Messi back to fitness, in tandem with Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria and others, they have every opportunity to make the final especially with a real manager in charge this time. Sorry Diego. Germany are packed full of quality and champions Spain are going to go deep surely again in this tournament. I also think the likes of Belgium, France, Italy, Chile, and even England can make an impact. I have a feeling that we are in for a pretty open tournament and we always seem to have at least 1 surprise semi-finalist (think, Sweden and Bulgaria in '94, Croatia in '98, South Korea 2002, Portugal 2006, and Uruguay in 2010) and so there are opportunities for the B class nations to make a real push. Tournament top goalscorer is another market I have been considering and I think Neymar is just bound to hit the net consistently. He is second favourite to Messi and he could be my final pick in this market but I also fancy Muller for Germany (if he is starting up front) and Aguero for Argentina or Higuain could be real dangers. Of course Mr Flintstone, Fred, is my other tip for goals. Bosnia and Chile are my two outsider tips to get out of their groups (both are 3rd favourites to progress) and I think England could somehow do well. Belgium have a chance too but I think in the end, the cream will rise to the top and my 4 semi-finalist will be the hosts, Argentina, Spain and Germany. Of course this could all be debunked of any of them fail to win their respective groups and World Cups' are rarely without surprises. I think Australia might go home pointless and goalless and such a bet is worth having, just because it's funny to laugh at the Aussies and also because they look pretty rotten. Honduras likewise although they are far dirtier and almost as likely to go home empty handed. Scotland will surprise some with their bold, attacking approach unbeaten in six under the wonderful Gordon Strachan...oh wait, sorry, I have been nodding off as I write this.. So Scotland won't be playing and it always breaks my heart but hope springs eternal for the Scots who I will be BETTING HARD MONEY on qualifying for euro 2016. It's almost time boys, almost time... I remember fondly dreaming about going to this tournament to watch the Scots, undeniably more naive and less weary to Scottish woes back in those days and given the protests, the crime and the scandalous cost to actually go to a World Cup, my feeling now is that I am thoroughly excited to watch this tournament from the comfort of my terrace in Barcelona. Summer BBQ's watching the World Cup is an undeniable dream...but where does my heart lie in picking a winner? who can I support to aid the joy of watching the world's greatest event? Undoubtedly my heart and wallet have to go hand in hand and for that reason, Brazil will be my picks for glory. It would be a tremendous lift for a nation in need of a boost and if they beat Argentina in the final it will be all the sweeter. With 2 nights to go before the action kicks off on Thursday, I must finalise my selections imminently and as we stand, it's viva Brazil! BOna nit Comments are closed.
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