World Cup Preview – Back Brazil to Win the Big Prize

Spain and Brazil are favorites but Al Dannity sees two or three other nations having a say in the final shake-up in South Africa. With the 2010 World Cup kicking off tomorrow Al makes his calls.

England will beat the USA and go to the semi finals
Don’t worry USA fans, defeat to England won’t mean an early exit. I expect the Three Lions to make hard work of Bob Bradley’s team but pull through while the USA will do enough in the other group games to make the knockout rounds. On paper I rate England as the sixth best team in this World Cup but the schedule facing the Three Lions means a semi final place is there for the taking. While Serbia could provide a banana skin in the second round, England should pull through and set up a quarter final where they would be heavily favored to beat Mexico or possibly France. The last four will be the end of the road for Fabio Capello’s men in South Africa as by that stage they will finally meet an opponent that’s too hot to handle.

Cameroon will be the best of the underdogs
Picking a surprise team to make a deep run in this World Cup proved easier than usual. For starters there are fewer contenders to be this year’s equivalent of Senegal or South Korea in 2002. Chile have shown some potential but with a likely second round tie against Brazil I expect an early exit for one of the most exciting teams in this World Cup. Ivory Coast travel to South Africa with big expectations but with key man Didier Drogba a doubt it’s hard to see them even getting past the group stages.

If you haven’t an account with Sports Interaction, open one now and we’ll bonus your first deposit by 100% up to $116!

Usually the host nation in a World Cup is a solid bet for a deep run but while I like South Africa to make it out of their group, a likely second round tie with Argentina would bring a swift end to the campaign for the Bafana Bafana. That said if South Africa pull off the unlikely feat of topping their group then a second round tie with one of Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea would guarantee at least one underdog in the last eight. With all of these teams likely playing their way out of contention it leaves just one serious contender. Cameroon should get out of Group E and set up a winnable game against an aging Italy team to move to the quarter finals. I like the Indomitable Lions to prove good value for the +500 on offer from Sports Interaction to exit in the last eight.

And your 2010 World Cup winner is…
Brazil. While this team doesn’t play with the same recklessly entertaining style of the 1982 or 1970 editions, Dunga has put together a side which is still fascinating to watch and tough to beat. Outside of Brazil I’m not so hot on co-favorites Spain. The European Champions face a brutal run in the knockout rounds and look poised to fall apart when the heat is on. Outside of the two favorites look no further than Argentina and the Netherlands. These two squads both have plenty of depth, a critical factor in tournament player, and some phenomenal talents. Even an injury to one or two key players, like the Netherlands suffered with Arjen Robben, won’t rule out these two. Still I can’t see either topping Brazil in the final shake-up.

XXV: Gabriel Morency previews the World Cup

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITahRzzRFzY[/youtube]