Germany the team to beat in Russia: Financial punters
JOHANNESBURG : Germany will retain their World Cup title in Moscow to equal Brazil’s record of five wins in the tournament, according to a Reuters poll of financial specialists more used to predicting market moves.
In a May 16-31 survey of regular Reuters poll participants from across the globe, Germany’s national soccer team got the highest number of nods --- 43 out of 145 analysts --- to lift the trophy in July.
Brazil placed second with 37 votes, evoking prospects of a final between the two long-term rivals.
Four years ago, Germany humiliated then hosts Brazil in a crushing 7-1 defeat that reduced fans clad in yellow, blue and green to tears and stunned silence in Belo Horizonte’s Estádio Mineirão.
“Germany have a good combination of skill and discipline and are not overly dominated by any one star player, but rather a high level of players throughout,” said Frank Blackmore, chief economist at EFConsult in Johannesburg. “Hence, my choice of Germany as 2018 winners.”
Luiz Roberto Monteiro, a trader at Renascença brokerage in São Paulo, said many people wanted Brazil to win “because there’s a lot at stake after the Germany fiasco.
“But I think they are thinking with their hearts. Brazil depend too much on a small number of players, particularly (star forward) Neymar. It’s a good team but I don’t think they’ll get past the semifinals.”
Barcelona’s Argentinian striker Lionel Messi, who has scored over 600 senior career goals for club and country, is expected to win the Golden Boot an award for top goal-scorer, last won by Colombia’s James Rodriguez in Brazil.
Bookmakers agreed with strategists. The tightest odds were 9/2 on both Germany and Brazil to be crowned champions, and Messi was favourite to win the Boot.
Unfortunately for Russia, the poll suggests it has little chance of keeping the trophy at home after hosting the June 14 to July 15 showpiece. But most respondents said the country would at least make the round of 16 and the competition would give a small lift to the economy.