ROY HODGSON was advising punters to back England to win the World Cup – but I'm glad I chose Brazil. Well, slightly pleased but they too drifted with the prospect of a last-16 clash against Spain or Holland.
England have been handed a tough draw and you can bet one certainty … John Ruddy won't be in goals for the Uruguay match.
Ruddy probably saw the draw that paired England with Luis Suarez's side plus Italy and Costa Rica and threw away his passport.
It's pretty tough with the Italians slight favourites to beat England and the hot and humid conditions favouring Uruguay and Suarez, who knocked four past Ruddy on Wednesday as Liverpool mauled Norwich 5-1.
Brazil will kick off the tournament against Croatia on June 12 and their group also features Mexico and Cameroon and it looks a stroll for the favourites.
Spain and Holland have been paired in Group B with the exciting Chileans and whipping boys Australia.
The world champions will start their World Cup defence with a repeat of the ill-tempered 2010 final against the Dutch.
Brazil, Spain and Holland all went out in the betting after the draw while Argentina and Belgium were cut after favourable pairings.
Argentina – World Cup winners in 1978 and 1986 – face a relatively straightforward task against Bosnia, Iran, and Nigeria, while popular outsiders Belgium will meet Algeria, Russia, and South Korea.
Germany are the third favourites to win the competition and will face their former manager Jurgen Klinsmann in Group G after they were drawn against the USA. Portugal and Ghana complete what is another difficult looking group.
Group A
Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B
Spain, Holland, Chile, Australia
Group C
Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D
Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E
Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F
Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G
Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H
Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
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In December 2020 we sadly 
I’t makes me kind of glad we didn’t qualify looking at those teams.. Personally i cant see past Brazil for the world cup, i think Germany will be the best of the Europeans as Spain seem to be loosing that edge, Looking forwards to see how Belgium do and was very impressed with Chile, glad to see the english media have finally realised they are not going to win this one for a change..
Argentina ,Germany , Brazil , Italy for me in semi’s
For a change? Sorry but that is just over hyped by what the media say as media over hype everything.
England have a chance like everyone has a chance in anything. Don’t compete you can’t win but turn up and you can. Hate false negativity. I’ll be behind England all the way like the majority of England fans are thats why we have one of if not the best set of fans.
Brazil of course are the favourites, hosts, decent side and conditions wont help any of the european sides.
We qualified which was the most important as we can compete in this beautiful tournament that will be celebrated in a country that knows how to do it in style!
Spot on Stormin, whole of Scotland will be behind you as well. In fact I am just waiting for my ‘Barmy Army’ membership so I can follow your cricket team everywhere as well….
Thats the spirit Raaljaca, I would be cheering on the scots! Always do the same when an English or British tean face everyone else. Except Leicester, wolves and villa they can all lose ;)
Haha barmy army are fantastic. Great supporters
Seriously ive taken a lot of flack over the years but yeah i will be willing on England in the finals who else would i support if Scotland aren’t there….
There is value out there now for a few trebles on the world cup group games. It wont be there long guys !
still like the look of belgium
english will struggle
may the best team win
Typical Jambo supporting England…..Brazil to win it.
‘Typical Jambo’ supporting England? If you had a sense of humour you would understand the post.
Garrr, another of the self professed best fans in the world brigade. If I may be so bold, if you asks me, I’d suggest the english “support” is one of the worst. Ridiculously quick to get on their own teams back should the winds not be a blowing in their favour and a terrible (if not quite so much recently) record of crowd trouble and hooliganism.
There be a much more realistic view of England in the media these days, so there is not the same pressure or expectation upon the team, which could be the best thing for them. They’re not a great side, which is generally accepted, but over 90 minutes they are still capable of competing with anyone and have a better chance of winning this than Greece did the 04 Euro’s.
I be backing Coasta Rica though. Setting sail for there soon, apparently the population there is the happiest in the world. See what they make of Steve’s sea monster. Har har harrr
I sooo fancy Chile to split Spain n Holland in qualifying but i don’t fancy the even money on them to do so, but if you look at it from another perspective then the bookies must think a lot of Chile’s chances…
stormin, give us tips not rants – and don’t blame the press for everything. We report the news – we don’t make it.
Steve, honestly don’t want to get into this. Bad enough yesterday when Nelson Mandela passed away. You guys need to get involved in other forums too.
As Mr F has said it’s a tipping website so let’s get on with some tipping and not bickering.
Brazil to win @ 3/1 bet365 definitely having a wee punt on the favourites
Keeping it about tipping…. what price are England to finish bottom of the group?
Argentina all the way! Think messi will immortalise himself!
No one did ask but you are entitled to your own opinion.
Anyway, I’ll be looking at group winners and coming up with top 2 for each and then checking odds. Some more obvious than others. Australia need a miracle. France have it easy and the most difficult to call is Englands group. Should be fun :)
My mind is telling me uruguay to win world cup.the only team to have previosly won it in brazil.whats the odds mr f.
Endrit, Uruguay have no chance in my book. Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and even Chile are currently better than them. Did you see the second leg of their play-off with Jordan?
Here goes might be talking through my backside I think england will draw with Italy and win the other two.
Close John. However England will win them all and laugh all the way to winning the final against USA. Now get me odds on that!
I wonder if that lady who put £80,000 to £160,000 on each world cup match at the last world cup, and won with William Hill, will be betting again. I think there will be plenty of draws in the opening matches.It was a Brazil v Italy world Cup final in 1970. I was only 7 at the time,still remember that Gorden Banks save from Pele as if it was yesterday.
mr Fixit hahahaha i will be betting on my country to beat brazil lol… we did it during the conferedation cup in 2003 tho. :D cameroonian for life
Cant say I am excited about the forthcoming world cup.If the Germans can handle the heat they will be hard to beat.
I have been following this site for the past ten days and I am amazed at the information that one can get for sports betting. Thanks mr fixit for the information. I need to comment on the world cup. No mention was made about Nigeria with their style of football. I am tipping Nigeria to finish second on the group and get to semi=final.
I think England will toil inworld cup. They concede possession to superior technical teams, and the heat will play part in opening game for them. My personal bet will be Rooney to score no goals at finals, as I think England will play only one up front in there games and try and go long. Looking to see what price Rooney is to get no goals.