World Cup Group A tips, predictions, best odds and free bets

Tuesday, 07 September 2021 15:57
Written by David Bet

The 2014 World Cup's Group A includes host Brazil, Mexico, Croatia and Cameroon. Naturally, Brazil is strong favourite to advance as Group winner. But who will advance to the knockout stage along with the hosts, and who will get sent home early? Find here a complete World Cup Group A betting preview with tips, predictions, odds, free bets and no deposit bonuses!

WORLD CUP 2014 GROUP A BETTING PREVIEW

As hosts and a country renowned for its attacking prowess BRAZIL are favourites to win the World Cup. As the host they did not have to qualify, but is undefeated in friendlies leading up to this summer including wins over Portugal and Chile. The Super-Star will be Neymar but their roster is fluttered with tons of big-club talent including Fred, Hernanes, Thiago Silva, Paulinho, Oscar, Fernandinho, Marcelo and Dante. Brazil should easily win this group, after their Confederations Cup performance last summer. Anything less than nine points and top spot will be a big disappointment.

CROATIA had to go via a Play-Off, against Iceland after finishing second in their qualifying group behind Belgium. They have high hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup even if they will play the World Cup opening match against Brazil, where they are expected to get no glory and defeat would put pressure on them to win the remaining two group fixtures against dangerous opponents. They will miss their top scorer Mario Mandzukic in the opening game against Brazil, with the towering Bayern Munich striker suspended after getting sent off in the final qualifier against Iceland. Defender Josip Simunic will miss the world cup due to a ban by FIFA. Their form is not extraordinary as they have only managed to win once in their last 5 competitive games drawing twice and losing twice.

MEXICO had their ups and downs in qualifying firing a few head coaches, but they did regroup with some good wins and beat New Zealand in an intercontinental playoff. They was 4th in the Concacaf qualifying grou, behind automatic qualifiers the United States, Costa Rica and Honduras. Anyway, with players like Hernandez, Dos Santos, Rodriguez and Moreno, they are certainly a dangerous opponent for any team. After having four managers in 2013, the Mexicans look to be settled on Miguel Herrera, who hasn't lost in five matches. The only times Mexico have reached the quarter-finals were when they hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986. Their opening fixture against Cameroon on June 13 in Natal will be pivotal.

CAMEROON won only half of the eight games they needed to qualify for Brazil, benefiting along the way from group rivals Togo using an ineligible player in a match in which they beat Cameroon but then had the points reversed. They qualified by beating Tunisia in a play-off. Since then Cameroon have been beaten 5-1 in a friendly in March by Portugal. They may is the lowest ranked team in the group but , despite they simply do not have the talent on the pitch to compete with the top teams, their players might find they can deal with hot temperature more easily. This will be a crucial factor. Eto’o's best days are well behind him but Stephane Mbia, Alex Songm Eric Choupo Moting and Jean Makoun might play an important role. In their 2010 finals appearance they lost all three group games.