Highest Scoring Team: Argentina @3/1
Argentina have one of, if not the best, attacking force in the competition. They will likely have Higuain, Messi and Aguero all occupying attacking positions, along with Di Maria who will get forward and add creativity despite potentially holding a slightly deeper role. Mascherano and, to some extent, his midfield partner Gago will hold back to protect the defence. This could easily stretch the game and leave gaps in midfield. This doesn’t necessarily bode well for Argentina at the back, but it should ensure a fast pace and an open game in which there will surely be goals. They have Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria in their group, which points towards goals, particularly against the latter two. You’d expect Argentina to concede as well, but I think they will definitely be up their with the highest scorers, particularly as I think they should go far in the competition.
Semi-finalists: Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal @85/1
First of all, I think Spain have been slightly overlooked by many, and remain huge contenders in my eyes. Their participation in the semi-finals doesn’t look hugely in doubt for me. If they win their group, it is likely they will face Croatia or Mexico in the next round, then Uruguay/England/Italy in the Quarters. Brazil, being hosts, have huge pressure on them, but you’d expect them to make the Semis. They don’t have a particularly difficult run to the last four and it’ll be a huge shock if they don’t get there. Argentina have a relatively easy group of which they are expected to top. In the next round they would likely play Switzerland or Ecuador, providing France top that group. This should set up a quarter-final with either Belgium, Portugal or Germany. However the gamble in this bet mainly comes in risking that Portgual top their group ahead of Germany. If Germany top the group, then Portugal will most likely be in Argentina’s half and thus play them before the Semis meaning the bet is lost. But if Portugal do top the group, which I think is possible considering they have a strong squad and usually do well in tournaments, they set up a probable meeting with France in the quaters which I think is definitely winnable. An outside bet for sure, but I think 85/1 is god odds – if Portugal top their group then it suddenly becomes a lot more likely to come in. For a safer bet, replace Portgual with Germany @16/1
Top Goalscorer: Karim Benzema @25/1
France have a group in which you would expect them to score goals. Ecuador & Switzerland have the potential to do well this World Cup, but its unlikely they will both concede less than 2 against France, and Honduras are pretty physical but not expected to progress. France will have a first-knockout round that should consist of Bosnia, whom could pose problems but you’d expect France to be scoring there. Benzema, although occasionally being moved out wide to accommodate Giroud in Ribery’s absence, should feature heavily in France’s games. I think he will start up top, possibly alongside Giroud but more likely in his place. He’s been in lethal form for Madrid this season and can act as a poacher, is an aerial threat, and has the ability to bang in a shot from difficult situations. He looks likely to be France’s main goal threat. I think that 25/1 is generous, although you’d probably be looking at needing a good group stage.
Diego Costa @22/1
Spain will surely benefit from having a target man in this tournament and, providing he stays fit, you would expect Diego Costa to be the finisher. He’s been in fantastic form this season and his physical presence, aerial ability and threat in the box should give Spain a new dimension for them to exploit and get goals when they need them most. I’d expect Costa to be the main lone striker, and have the greatest share of goalscoring chances, with some fantastic creativity coming in for him from midfield. Spain haven’t always scored a large amount of goals at major tournaments, with 1-0 seeming to be enough for them to switch off their attacking intent and preferring to hold onto the ball in some games. However, the inclusion of Costa in the starting line-up would indicate an intent to use him as ‘the goalscorer’. 22/1 is decent for a team that I would expect to make the semis at the very least.