Group A...
Qualifiers - Brazil & Croatia...
With everything going for them Brazil are a sure shot to qualify the group, seeing as they're the favourites to win the competition, the host nation and possess some of the most gifted footballers to grace the grass you'd be a fool to say they won't make it to the semi's at least. The South Americans back four has similar traits to concrete slabs and won't be broken down easily. My second choice for this group comes in the form of Europe's outsiders in Croatia. The squad has some solidarity and goalscoring ability as they have proven strikers like Mario Mandzukic and Hull Cities Nickica Jelavic; last time round in the Euro's Mario ended joint top goalscorer alonside a few other players. In midfield the Croatians have some serious experience in Luka Modric and not only that but they have the multi capped Kranjcar bulstered the center; it's going to be a struggle to say the least if Mexico or Cameroon are hoping to pull anything from this tournament.
Group B...
Qualifiers - Spain & Holland...
Spain's superiority in the footballing world will continue to dominate this summer and the ex world champions should smash the group. Some sports fans are saying that the mediterranean men don't have enough fire power and will fall short of their previous success but I beg to disagree. An in form Diego Costa mixed in with some La Liga superstars spells goal's with a capital g, meaning that these Spainiards will romp the group to victory. Obviously I've gone with Holland to qualify as runners up because the other teams in the group really don't pose a threat. Van Gaal is hosting his last tournament as the Dutch manager and his bonded relationship with players such as Van Persie will create fluent football; for some reason the flying dutchmen seem to cause major upsets and with some prestigious players expect them to reach the last sixteen.
Group C...
Qualifiers - Columbia & Ivory Coast...
This group has to been one of the hardest to predict out of the festival of football, every single team has some fantastic players, patriotic dressing rooms and a sparkling track record. An easier choice of the two was certainly Columbia despite the recent loss of their superstar Falcao. It's only of current years that the squad has really made a name for themselves and they should develop into a bright future. They have a battleaxe in Yepes at the back who has 97 caps and to sting in some goals Porto's prolific striker, Jackson Martinez. To qualify second, I've gone with my heart's choice, my second team.. the ballers that are Ivory Coast. Yes, the Greek may have the fighting spirit of a thousand spartans but not even that can stop the boulder like Toure brothers and the ex world's best Didier Drogba; the African nation has a quality past as they have won the African Cup of Nations a few times and also pushed into the finals of many world cups.
Group D...
Qualifiers - Italy & England...
Not many countries have the style and finess that the Italians have; no matter what the circumstance they remain calm, disciplined and yet maintain a great professional performance. Everytime they are asked to deliver, they do so as in past tournaments the success rate has been so high. Pirlo and Co will look to get far again this year again and with the beast like Balotelli feeding off young Lorenzo Insigne you may see a few goals netted. The same scenario appears every World Cup, will England repeat the '66 year? Will they make it out of the group? Will Suarez crush the dreams?. Well to that I say England will qualify. This year no pressure is on the lads as Roy's young starlets are the new breed of the national squad; we've already seen Lallana tourment defenders and Sturridge curess some cute finishes so we must believe. Get behind the boys and fill up your jug with patriotic passion, we will qualify.
Group E....
Qualifiers - France & Switzerland...
Everyone is overlooking the French squad this year as other teams are looking far too much for anyone to handle and also Frank Ribery is missing out because of an injury but don't be quick to rule them out. They have already proven in the World Cup warm ups that they aren't messing around by scoring right passed Jamaica and four passed Norway; I've got a feeling the top Goalscorer is going to be a Frenchman as well. Don't be suprised if they make it to the semi's. My second choice is going solely on experience and caps with the Swiss as every tournament they seem to remain consistent. For many years the squad has been recognised as a decent footballing nation and if you face them, you shouldn't expect a walk in the park. Ecuador have been praised to nick second but the big man, route one attack won't work against the veterans in the Swiss defence.
Group F...
Qualifiers - Argentina & Nigeria...
Most football fans I know are backing the Argentinians to win the tournament so topping the group should be a sure breeze. They potentially have the easiest group out of the competition and the best strike force to go alongside that nicely, if the South Americans fail to qualify I'd be extremely shocked. Nigeria is a possibly controversial decision but I feel it's sensible; they won the most recent African Cup of Nations and have some real battle torn players. For some of the squad this will be the last World Cup they play in with Ameobi and Yobo both notching up the years but this gives the Africans more incentive to kick up a storm.
Group G...
Qualifiers - Germany & Portugal...
This is such a coincidence that this group is group G as you'd only feel one thing if your nation was drawn into it and that is gutted. Probably the hardest group at the World Cup because you won't get no bypasses against the hard working teams on show. The best European squad in the Germans have got a lot to prove and are the the only team from Europe that are actually considered challengers to win the cup; since last time round players like Götze and Özil have had a chance to develop, giving the German boys a boost to that big time reputation they've always had. Portugal are a shaky pull but if recently selected worlds best player Ronaldo is fit you may see them do well. Without their talisman this group could prove intersting as USA are no pushovers. All in all I'm going with the Potugese as they have the better squad but this group could get seriously tasty.
Group H...
Qualifiers - Belgium & Russia
Well you could say you can't make a dramatic enterance into the footballing scene overnight but then again you didn't see Belgium coming. The European squad is being back to the hills to cause some upsets this year and it's not a suprise looking at the unbelievable depth in squad they have. From Kompany to Lakaku and Coutoris to Janazai, this team has more stars than above the Brazil badge and will be the best chance they have had yet. Every other team in this group is limp and weak but to pick out a tiny diamond in the rough, I'd have to go with Russia. Sadly whoever scrapes through in second will surely get shot down in the last sixteen so don't go cheering if you pull one of these out in a sweepstake.
Overall Winners - Argentina...
One of the easiest groups, some of the worlds best players and a cheeky rivalry with the host nation can forsee another World Cup in the argentine trophy cabinet. For Messi to be remembered as one of the all time greats like Pele, I believe that he has to prove himself as an all round international and shine above the rest in a massive tournament; this year he could do that and with the backing of his quality squad mates and a worldwide fan base the front man will make a massive difference if he performs. Not only that but it's rarer than the World Cup trophy shiny sticker that any European team has won a World Cup on South American soil. Brazil may be the favourites but as a spectator I just don't feel they have enough and Neymar might crumble under the pressure after being the competitions poster boy for so long. It's going to be a memorable affair but don't hold back on the Argetinians steaming to the final with no scrapes.
Top Goalscorer - Karim Benzema...
France have turned over squads in the friendlies scoring a whopping amount of goals and with a few defences that are weaker than a sparrows legs in the group you can expect a serious goal difference. Ecuador and Hounduras will flop on the relentless attack of the French Revolution and the midfielding maestros are going to tee Real Madrid's Benzema up for a goal filled buffet. I've backed a Frenchman over an Argentine because they only have a couple of goalscorers where Argentina have more than a few that can bag a finish; the French are definitely going to be a bogey team when they qualify, so I'm expecting big things. Karim Benzema, watching this space, he's worth a punt.
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