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South American teams to dominate in the 2014 World Cup

To excel in this year's World Cup look no further than the teams with home field advantage. Brazil and Argentina have drawn fairly weak opponents and should have little trouble getting through to the knockout stages of the tournament. Playing the tournament on home ground, Brazil is, indeed, a worthy favourite for the World Cup at 3/1 with most bookmakers.

In the 2013 Confederations Cup, Brazil had home advantage and progressed through to winning it. Every one of their matches was won in regulation time. The only team that came close to push Brazil into extra time was Uruguay, another South American team. Uruguay got knocked out two minutes into injury time by a Paulinho header. The much anticipated final between the two heavy-weights, Spain and Brazil, was very much a one sided affair, with Brazil firing in 3 goals in the last quarter of the game to win 3 – 0.

Argentina with its formidable team, including Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez, should be on the short list, having drawn one of the weakest groups. In the past, the problem was that this team of stars simply didn't seem to gel and therefore the players didn't achieve for the national team the same results they got individually in league competitions. Messi did not even score in the last World Cup, when he was the favourite for the Golden Boot, and Tevez is unlikely to be selected to play, if he remains out of favour with Coach Alejandro Sabella. With an easy group and avoiding Brazil and Spain in the second half of the draw, 5/1 is a cracking bet for Argentina to progress through to the latter stages of the competition and win the tournament.

In the top half of the draw, Uruguay appeals as a long shot at 28/1. The team, along with Italy, should get through their group at the expense of England and shouldn't face any of the really big teams until the quarter finals. In the quarter finals, Uruguay may end up facing Brazil. But considering the fight they have put up against the Brazilians in the Confederations Cup, they will be up for it and won't be fazed by their South American neighbours.

Out of the European teams, the Germans are looking strong; while the Italians can be counted on to give a good show. Italy took third place in the recent Confederations Cup and had a close game against the Spanish in the semi-finals.

Personally, I look to a South American team to come out on top, with Argentina at 5/1 and Uruguay at 28/1 as a lively outsider.

2014 Football World Cup Winner Odds

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All odds displayed in decimal format style (exchange like), hover over to see traditional fractional odds.

19 Mar 2014

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