Hosts Brazil favourites to win Group A

Hosts Brazil favourites to win Group A

By Michael Gales Dec 16, 2013

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World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil are favourites to qualify from Group A ahead of Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. Can Brazil manage expectations and qualify for the knockout stage or is there a major upset in store?

Brazil: Big favourites to progress

Fifa Ranking: 10th

Best Finish: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 & 2002)

Overall Miles to travel: 2,523^

Odds to win 2014 World Cup: 3.950*

2014 World Cup hosts Brazil are the 3.950* favourites to lift the trophy for a sixth time. With the soccer mad nation desperate to see their samba stars win on home soil, can the Seleo manage expectations?

They performed well in the Confederations Cup – known as the World Cup rehearsal – beating a Spanish side that had claimed the last three major international tournaments.

But this is not the real thing, and the Samba Boys will undoubtedly be compared to their compatriots in 1950 – the last time Brazil hosted the tournament – who lost to Uruguay in the final. However, bettors should be aware as to how much relevance they place on historical data, after all there is 64 years between the two Brazilian World Cups.

Nevertheless the hosts are massive 1.040* favourites to progress through a relatively easy looking group. They have only failed to advance from the group stages twice – 1930 & 1966 – and have reached the final in three of the last five World Cups.  Brazil also have a 100% record against all three of their Group A opponents in previous World Cup meetings.

The ultimate question still remains; will they prosper with a home field advantage or buckle under the strain?

Brazil’s record against Group A opponents

H-to-H Record

Win

Loss

Draw

Win %

Croatia

1

0

1

50%

Mexico

16

8

4

57%

Cameroon

3

1

0

75%

Croatia: Lack of goals could be an issue

Fifa Ranking: 16th

Best Finish: 3rd (1998)

Overall Miles to travel: 3,429^

Odds to win 2014 World Cup: 151.000*

Croatia are the 2.140* second-favourites to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since 1998 – the first World Cup they entered as Croatia, having previously competed as part of Yugoslavia.

Apart from France 1998, where they finished third, Croatia have been eliminated in the group stages in 2002 and 2006, while they failed to qualify at all for the 2010 World Cup.

After finishing second behind Belgium in qualifying, Croatia needed the playoffs to confirm their place in the tournament where they beat Iceland 2-0 on aggregate.

Former Croatia captain Niko Kovac was appointed manager in October following the resignation of Igor Stimac. With little management experience – Kovac had only become Croatia’s under-21 boss in January – and little time in charge of his nation, will this inexperience affect them at the elite level?

Kovac will look to address Croatia’s issues in front of goal after they were one of two teams not to score more than twice in qualification, and scored just 1.17 goals per game in qualification – the lowest average for nations who have qualified.

To add to their problems, star striker Mario Mandzukic is suspended for the start of the tournament after being shown a straight red card against Iceland.

Croatia have never played Cameroon, but in their two World Cup fixtures against Brazil and Mexico in 2006 and 2002 respectively, they lost both.

3,429 miles is the distance Croatia will travel during their three Group A games, the second highest of any group. Could this gruelling schedule prove pivotal in deciding whether or not they qualify for the knockout stages?

Croatia’s record against Group A opponents

H-to-H Record

Win

Loss

Draw

Win %

Brazil

0

1

1

0%

Mexico

2

1

0

66%

Cameroon

0

0

0

0%

Mexico: Chaotic qualifying campaign leaves more questions than answers

Fifa Ranking: 20th

Best Finish: Quarter-Finals (1970 & 1986)

Overall Miles to travel: 662^

Odds to win 2014 World Cup: 121.000*

Mexico slipped six places in the Fifa Rankings after a turbulent qualifying campaign that left a number of unanswered questions. Not only did they use 47 players, but they also had four different managers.

Miguel Herrera became Mexico’s fourth coach when he was appointed in October to take charge for the play-off against New Zealand. Interestingly Herrera opted to call-up only domestic-based players in the play-off, but is expected to recall the likes of Javier Hernandez and co. for the finals.

El Tri qualified with a 9-3 demolition of New Zealand, but were all but out of the chance to be in the play-offs before a late comeback from the USA against Panama on the final day of qualifying saved them from elimination.

Bettors should be aware that Mexico scored 35% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of games in qualification but took no points from losing positions.

Mexico may have to endure some of the highest temperatures during their World Cup Group A games, but they have the advantage in terms of travel; they will only travel 662 miles, which is much shorter than anyone else in their group. How much of an advantage will this prove to be?

There is undoubted quality within their playing pool and odds of 2.380* suggest despite their recent turmoil the bookmakers at Pinnacle Sports still believe they have a reasonable chance of progressing out of the group stages for the sixth successive time.

Mexico’s record against Group A opponents

H-to-H Record

Win

Loss

Draw

Win %

Brazil

8

16

4

28%

Croatia

1

2

0

34%

Cameroon

1

0

0

100%

Cameroon: Off the field issues overshadow lack of quality

Fifa Ranking: 51st

Best Finish: Quarter-Finals (1990)

Overall Miles to travel: 2,922^

Odds to win 2014 World Cup: N/A

After a less than smooth qualification campaign Cameroon are the 5.110* Group A outsiders to qualify for the knockout stages.

Not only have Cameroon failed to qualify for the last two Africa Cup of Nations, their team has been shrouded in controversy following a row between players and Cameroon’s football federation – the Cameroon football federation was briefly suspended by Fifa in July because of government interference.

During qualifying Cameroon topped their first group – despite losing were awarded a win against Togo who had fielded a suspended player – and went on to beat Tunisia 4-1 on aggregate in the play-offs. However, more issues arose during the game with Tunisia when captain Samuel Eto’o claimed that players refused to pass him the ball following a fall out with coach Volker Finke.

Brazil 2014 will be Cameroon’s seventh World Cup appearance – an African record – but have only won one game since reaching the quarter-finals of 1990.

Can Cameroon overcome their issues off the field and live up to their nickname, the Indomitable Lions, or will they fail to get out of the group stages again?

Cameroon’s record against Group A opponents

H-to-H Record

Win

Loss

Draw

Win %

Brazil

1

3

0

25%

Croatia

0

0

0

0%

Mexico

0

0

1

0%

^ This is the overall number of miles each nation will travel during the group stages from their selected base camp.

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*Odds subject to change

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