Brazil come under huge pressure from their fans this summer
The Betting.Betfair editors pick out their best bets for Outright Winner and Golden Boot, as well as the best Cash Out opportunity and their own special England bet...
Mike Norman
Tournament Winner
Back Brazil @ 4.216/5
Home advantage is obviously a big positive but regardless of where this year's tournament is being staged Brazil would have been high up on my list of potential winners, as they usually are.
What I like about this side is that they don't have any glaring weaknesses. Their defence is rock solid with players who can actually defend - Thiago Silva being the perfect example - while full-backs Dani Alves and Marcelo have the ability to get forward and cause any side in the world problems.
The likes of Paulinho and Fernandinho will do the engine work in midfield, enabling Brazil's incredible attacking line-up to do the goalscoring. That line-up could include the likes of Chelsea's Willian or Oscar having a free role behind a front three of Fred down the middle and Neymar and Hulk cutting in from wide. It's a frightening prospect.
Brazil have been matched at a high of 5.24/1 to win the World Cup, but as long as they can handle the pressure of an expectant home nation then I'm more than happy to take 4.216/5 about the five-time winners going all the way.
Golden Boot Winner
Back Fred @ 19.018/1
Barcelona striker Neymar is understandably the favourite to take the Golden Boot honours but at more than twice his price I'm willing to take a chance on Fred, who has incredibly been matched at a high of 300.0299/1.
What you want in this market is a runner that is almost certain to start in every game for a nation that is fancied to go a long way, so with Fred being his side's main out-and-out striker, playing for the tournament favourites, then we have no worries on that front.
What's more, Fred has pedigree. The 30-year-old was the joint top scorer at the 2013 Confederations Cup with five goals including two in the final against Spain. He has a record of a goal every two games for his country, an even better strike rate for his club side Fluminense, and it's impossible not to see him getting amongst the goals with a relatively easy group to commence his side's World Cup bid.
Best Cash-Out Opportunity
Back Switzerland to win World Cup @ 150.0149/1 (lay at quarter-final stage)
I fully expect Switzerland to qualify from a group that includes Ecuador and Honduras, and I quite fancy their chances of toppling France and finishing top of the pile.
The importance of finishing top of Group E is huge as it will almost certainly mean avoiding Argentina in the last 16, so the clash between the Swiss and the French on June 20th is likely to be a very tense affair, and if we're being honest France aren't brilliant at keeping composed and handling high-pressure situations.
Ottmar Hitzfeld's men are a well-organised side who conceded just six goals in qualification, and it's that solid defence - that includes Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner - that can set them up for a good tournament. Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler is their experienced captain, while Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri is the man charged with creating chances for their young forward line that is likely to feature the very promising Nurnberg striker Josip Drmic.
France are a decent side themselves of course but the loss of Franck Ribery is a huge blow and overall Les Bleus remind me very much of England in that they can often be disappointing at major tournaments (2002 and 2010 springing to mind).
It all depends on what nations progress from the groups, but if Switzerland can get to that quarter-final stage then we'll be able to lock in a sizeable profit.
Best Special England Bet
Back Group Stage @ 2.56/4 in England Stage of Elimination
I hate to be negative about our chances but I see nothing in this England side that Italy and Uruguay should be scared of. Wayne Rooney is hardly firing on all cylinders but yet seems a certain starter - I don't get that.
Defensively England were dreadful against Ecuador proving that we have little strength in depth, and although our first choice back four is very strong it's the Three Lions' attacking players that I'm concerned about, we just seem so pedestrian and unable to break teams down - Honduras for example.
No matter what comes out of the England camp, failing to beat Honduras with virtually a full strength side was very poor and will have done nothing for confidence. Roy Hodgson said it was a good night as his side didn't pick up any injuries. Well if the sole aim was not to get any injuries then why play the friendly? A practice match between the 23 squad players would have been better surely.
Italy will be far too good defensively I sense and Uruguay will be more adept in the conditions as well as having a very good side. England will need to win one of those two games to qualify and I just don't see them doing it. I hope I'm wrong of course, but 2.56/4 about England not getting out of the group looks a decent wager to me.
Dan Thomas
Tournament Winner
Back Spain @ 7.613/2
While Brazil and Argentina are rightly at the head of the market, I can't help but think there is a bit of value in backing Spain to retain their crown as world champions at 7.613/2.
That price is no doubt reflective of both Spain's hammering by Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last summer and the fact no European team has ever won a World Cup held in South America but there are plenty of reasons to suggest Vicente Del Bosque's team can rise to the occasion for the main event once again.
For many, the Confederations Cup defeat marked the end of 'tiki-taka' with Brazil's more direct, aggressive style showing that there was a way to defeat a previously impregnable Spain.
But it's worth recalling that Spain had a day's less rest than Brazil before that game and, this time around, can mix up their tactics with an in-form - and more robust - Diego Costa available to lead the line (recovery from injury not withstanding).
And, given the heat and humidity teams are going to encounter over the next month, keeping possession might not be such a bad idea after all.
Golden Boot Winner
Back Diego Costa @ 29.028/1
I'm led by price once again with my selection, ignoring the main players at the top of the market, going for that man Costa at a decent looking 29.028/1.
As explained I think Spain will go far in the tournament and, if fit and firing, Costa should keep Fernando Torres and David Villa out of the team giving him plenty of opportunities to get on the scoresheet.
After a hugely impressive 27 goals in Atletico's title winning La Liga season, Costa goes into the tournament in confident mood and will be keen to impress in his country of birth.
Best Cash-Out Opportunity
Back Colombia at 48.047/1 (lay at quarter-final stage)
I'll put my glass of Rioja down for a moment and move away from Spain for my Cash Out bet, in the form of Colombia - largely because I think there has been a massive overreaction to Radamel Falcao dropping out of the squad with injury.
Colombia have plenty of other attacking options, including Teofilo Gutierrez, Jackson Martinez and Carlos Bacca, so I think there will be plenty of wriggle room in what looks to be a generous price of 48.047/1 given they have been matched at a low of 22.021/1.
Colombia should top a relatively easy looking group and then face the runner-up in Group D - likely to be England or Uruguay, teams I expect them to beat. If all goes to form, it would be a quarter-final against Brazil, so probably a good time to press the 'Cash Out' button.
Best Special England Bet
Back Steven Gerrard to be England Team Top Goalscorer at 11.010/1
I'm finding it hard to predict how England will get on in the group stage but fortunately Betfair has plenty of team specific markets for Roy Hodgson's boys and it's one of these I'm going for.
First choice attackers Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge understandably head the market for top England scorer but with the former struggling for form and the latter in his first tournament, there is more value to be had in backing Gerrard, especially with England unlikely to go too far.
The Liverpool captain was joint top scorer in 2010 - with a grand total of one - and outright winner in 2006, with two, so it shouldn't take too many strikes to win again. And given he is likely to be on penalty duty and is always near the front of the queue for free-kicks that price looks better and better.
Joe Dyer
Tournament Winner
Back Argentina @ 5.39/2
The money keeps coming for Argentina and it's easy to understand as they look set for a very good run at this World Cup.
Strong in all areas, Alex Sabella's men qualified with ease, have been drawn in a very winnable group and subsequently favoured by a draw that offers a relatively easy path to the semi-finals. The second favourites should arrive at the business end of the tournament primed and ready for success.
We all know Argentina boast an embarrassment of attacking riches but they back that up with an effective defensive unit that conceded 15 goals in 16 CONMEBOL group games and is currently on a five game run of clean sheets.
It's a winning combination and one that should be able to capitalise on that good draw by going all the way to a third World Cup win.
Golden Boot Winner
Back Edin Dzeko @ 55.054/1
For me, any Golden Boot candidate needs to answer yes to three questions - is he a regular starter, is he in an 'easy' group, will his team reach at least the quarter-final stage. After that, it's a question of price.
Argentina will score bundles but they boast so much talent that these will surely be spread around a touch and there may be rotation of personnel throughout the group stages. Brazil's Neymar, the 12.5n/a second favourite, has an exceptional international scoring record but the draw is against the host nation and the Barcelona kid's price is skinny. Germany's Miroslav Klose could be a huge price at 60.059/1 - he has 69 goals for his country but has struggled with injuries and is not a certain starter so he misses out.
Given I'm unconvinced of the market leaders I'm taking a chance on a goalscorer we know well over here in the form of Bosnia's Eden Dzeko, available to back at 55.054/1. The Manchester City striker has 32 goals from 65 games and his country qualified well for the tournament. For the bet to stand a chance of landing Bosnia will have to beat some big names in the knockout rounds - there's a potential last-16 tie with France - but the 28-year-old can score heavily in 90 minute matches (seven braces last season) and could have a decent haul to his name by then anyway.
Best Cash-Out Opportunity
Back Italy to win World Cup @ 28.027/1 (lay at semi-final stage)
Strip out the friendly matches and Italy are a phenomenal team under Cesare Prandelli, reaching the final of Euro 2012 and going unbeaten in qualifying for the World Cup. I fancy them to trade a good deal shorter than their current odds of 28.027/1 suggest. If the draw works out as expected the four-time World Cup winners will have to get past Spain in the quarter-finals. If they do that - and I agree it's a very big if - we will be in Cash Out Dreamland.
Best Special England Bet
Back Under 4.5 Tournament Goals @ 2.466/4
Given England will do well just to qualify from Group D I think going low on goals is the way to play this Three Lions bet. Italy will keep it tight, and while there should be opportunities against Uruguay and Costa Rica those two teams aren't useless at the back. And while they may score in those games that might be the extent of it for Roy Hodgson's team.
Luke Moore
Tournament Winner
Back Argentina @ 5.39/2
It's a question of how Brazil handle the pressure, and I was worried for them after they failed to score in the first half of their friendly against Serbia and their fans turned on them. It's easy to see that happening again against a useful Croatia side in the opening game, and even after the Seleo get through the group it's not going to get any easier for Luis Felipe Scolari's men.
Argentina, on the other hand, have a decent run through to the quarter-final and can take advantage of the soap opera around the hosts. Going forward they are irresistible and they're not as bad at the back as people are making out, either. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero needs to hit the ground running - he's played hardly any football this season - but other than that I like the balance of Alejandro Sabella's side and the amount of goals in those forward players. 5.39/2, while not generous, is a decent bet.
Golden Boot Winner
Back Sergio Aguero @ 16.5n/a
As Joe rightly says, it's about picking a player that's going to go far in the tournament and has the chance of bagging a hatful in a group game against a weaker team, and Sergio Aguero fits that bill. Likely to start in a front three with Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, the Man City man can take advantage of the space afforded to him by Messi's movement and there is hardly a deadlier finisher in world football than the little Argentine.
Question marks over his fitness aside, I can't see why he's such a big price to top the scoring charts. I'll be having a bet on Fred as well, but Aguero is my tip here.
Best Cash-Out Opportunity
Back Chile to win the World Cup at 50.049/1 (trade at semi-final stage)
I like Switzerland's chances and think they can win their group before pushing on to the quarter-final, but as Mike's picked our Swiss brothers I think I'll look further field at another of my fancies: Chile.
I think Chile can qualify from their group ahead of Netherlands (who are too flimsy at the back); the South Americans are well-organised, robust and have more than a couple of star players that can make the difference. What's more, if they draw Brazil in the second round I think they have the tools to beat them, too.
A likely tie against England or Uruguay in the quarters wouldn't faze them either, and the semi-final should be a realistic aim for La Roja. Jorge Sampaoli's men have slipped under the radar thus far - they beat England easily at Wembley and were unlucky not to beat Germany in Germany recently with German coach Jogi Loew saying they were the best team his side had faced for a long time - but after this summer I get the feeling a whole new generation of football fans will know who they are.
Best Special England Bet
Back England to be eliminated in the quarter final at 4.77/2
England are a difficult one to call at this point, having looked to have picked an exciting young squad with some genuinely talented (and pacy) attacking players, before going on to under-perform in their final two warm up games. But, I think that on balance, no team in England's group should hold huge amounts of fear for Roy Hodgson's players.
Yes, Italy and Uruguay are talented teams, but they're not Brazil or Spain and should be treated with no more than a healthy amount of respect. England have the players to hurt every team in this group and, should they qualify, confidence should see the Three Lions get past any of the teams in Group C, including Colombia. I get the feeling there's a far better team spirit around England this time around and that could be vital come the big kick off.
Beyond the second round it'll start to get tougher, so a chunky price on a quarter final exit looks the best bet.
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