Brazil will be hard to stop
IT’S here. The one month every four years where your excuse for not doing anything is because Iran are playing Morocco. Three games a day. Absolute football bliss.
The World Cup is where players emerge and become household names. Think Toto Schillaci in 1990 or Michael Owen in 1998.
In the most open tournament ever, Black Type are top price on three of the first four in the betting and are the only firm offering four places each way.
Brazil are Black Type’s 9-2 favourites. Head coach Tite has returned the structure and tactical nous to a squad scarred by the 7-1 defeat to Germany and many, including me, feel they are back to their best.
World champions Germany are 5-1 but they have the worry of their captain Manuel Neuer’s fitness.
Germany legend Oliver Kahn says it would a gigantic risk to play Neuer and I agree.
For all their creative talent, 5-1 chances Spain look the strongest defensively and most reliable betting proposition.
Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal with David De Gea behind and Sergio Busquets in front of them? Impenetrable on paper.
France are 13-2 and make up the big four. They have a wealth of talent, energy and pace but too much depends on Paul Pogba.
England are a big-price 20-1 but do the Three Lions have the quality or goals to take them past a possible quarter-final with Germany?
Two outsiders worth an interest are Uruguay at 22-1 and the dangerous Senegal at a massive 125-1.
Finally, as a former goalkeeper it would be rude not to put up a goalkeeper-related bet.
De Gea is rightly favourite for the Golden Glove but better value is Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera at Black Type’s 33-1.