However, the reality when it comes to predicting games is usually you get them right, but occasionally the odd underdogs will turn the predictable on its head. So, to show you what I think will happen in the World Cup, I'll give you a run down of my predictions for the greatest show on Earth which starts tomorrow.
Group A
Brazil are going to be hard to predict.
On paper they are one of the favourites to win the trophy, but they have left out some experienced stars like Ronaldinho that may weaken their team in the long run as they seem to be going for a defensive side this year. I think they'll ease through the group. Their friendlies boast a 100% record, but they haven't came up against the strongest of sides.
Then the match that could decide everything - Cameroon vs Mexico. If Cameroon win, I think they'll go through, however I am leaning towards Mexico at the moment. After a poor qualifying which seen them finish 4th out of 6 teams in the CONCAF region, they thrashed New Zealand to earn a place. Their defence may be a little leaky, but they have reached the last 16 in their past 5 World Cups and Cameroon's strikeforce may not be up to the task. It will be close between the two, but I fancy Mexico this year.
Brazil
Mexico
Cameroon
Croatia
Group B
Poor Australia. What an awful group to get! Chile is a tough ask as a third seed as it is, but they also play the finalists of the last World Cup - Spain and Holland. I think it's safe to say that Australia are pretty much out of the competition. If they manage to qualify, manager Ange Postecoglou deserves some recognition - maybe even a knighthood.
Elsewhere, we will see a repeat of the final in the first match. Although Spain's golden generation are beginning to wither, they still have a tough team who are expected to get to at least the quarter finals. Spain are a certainty to go through - unless something disastrous happens. Holland on the other hand, are going through a regeneration period. their side lacks a lot of experience and have slipped up against the bigger teams (see their loss to France and draw with Colombia) but they seem to cope with the smaller sides. In hindsight, maybe playing Wales before playing Spain wasn't the best preparation. It will be close between them and Chile.
You'd wonder how great a team Chile could be if there were more Chileans that played football. Their team lacks depth - so much that Championship players such as Gonzalo Jara and Jean Beausejour are in the fold - yet they can spur upsets everywhere. They lost solely to a single goal to Germany and Brazil away from home as well as beating a bunch of teams including England and Costa Rica by a few goals. Without sounding boring and predictable, I'm sure that Chile will fail to beat the Netherlands despite their good use of tactics.
Spain
Holland
Chile
Australia
Group C
Ah, the group of opportunity. This is the most unpredictable group in the tournament and no wonder. We have: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan fighting for two spots where no one is safe or out. The favourite for the group will be Colombia after their great qualifying campaign. Their side boasts a bunch of big names and if they play the way they have been, they should finish top of the group.
The other three. Greece were squeezed for first by Bosnia and Herzegovina and had to settle for a play off spot, beating Romania in the process. They drew with Portugal in their friendlies, but apart from that they've been pretty unimpressive. Japan finished top of their group in qualifying and they have a 100% winning streak in friendlies, albeit against weaker opposition (most of the time). With a little luck and some stand out performances, they could make it out of the group. Finally, Ivory Coast made their debut in the World Cup in 2006 and returned in 2010. Both groups that they featured in were groups of death, so this is an opportunity to qualify for the last 16 and they have what it takes.
Colombia
Ivory Coast
Japan
Greece
Group D
Arguably, this is the 2014 Group of Death. England's choice in who to play in friendlies before the draw cost them dearly as they were unseeded from Europe and given an out-of-form Uruguay and solid Italy side. Costa Rica finished off the group. However, I think it looks a lot worse than it actually is. The Three Lions haven't had a good run of friendlies, but neither have their rivals Uruguay and (especially) Italy who drew with Luxembourg and Ireland. Personally, I think England will win the group due to Uruguay's awful qualifying campaign and Italy's inconsistency at World Cups. Many think England will struggle in the heat, but they should make it through the group, despite what the majority say. Uruguay will get by if Luis Suarez can bang in the goals like he did last season for Liverpool.
Italy showed last time around that they can have a strong team and still be humiliated. They drew with Paraguay, then held to another by minnows New Zealand. They ended their disastrous 2010 campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Slovakia, despite attacking late. This sums up Italy as a team who don't usually lose, but don't usually win either as most of their games end in draws. I haven't spoken much about Costa Rica. Mainly because they - just like Australia - are stuck in a group with teams that are more than likely to whip them. It'd be a great underdog story if they managed to go through, but I really doubt their chances.
England
Uruguay
Italy
Costa Rica
Group E
Group E is a little like Group C, there are opportunities for all to qualify, but I think that it will be more straight-forward than expected. Switzerland to top the group over France is my tip as the Swiss defence will be organised enough to keep France at bay in their match. Honduras are a surprise package, but just like Chile, they lack depth and an injury to one of their stars could ruin their chances. They showed against England that they are a competitive team, a team that can secure third place over Ecuador anyway. France will go further than Switzerland in my opinion, but they won't beat them in the group.
Switzerland
France
Honduras
Ecuador
Group F
Argentina
Nigeria
Bosnia
Iran
Group G
I'm about to make a bold statement about Group G - I think that Ghana will go through.
Germany will win the group. They are a team that hardly have a weakness. Their defence is probably the weak link, but Germany have always been an organised team and will be strong going forward, making this group a piece of cake for them.
USA have a nightmare draw and will be very lucky to make it through. Their team is never short of passion, but this is no group like 2010. Ghana are just as ambitious and Germany and Portugal are heavyweights in this competition. Very unlikely to see them past this stage.
As for Ghana and Portugal, Portugal are a side that slip up on many occasions. In qualifying, Paulo Bento's side had to come back to defeat Luxembourg, drew with Northern Ireland and drew twice with Israel. Ronaldo may be in that team, but one man doesn't make a team. Ghana on the other hand, hammered Egypt to get to Rio and look like they can upset Portugal if things go their way.
Germany
Ghana
Portugal
USA
Group H
The final group is made up of European group winners Belgium and Russia, as well as South Korea and Algeria. Four years ago, this group would have been a free-for-all. However, the times have changed and Belgium have become the dark horses of the World Cup and Russia's side has looked pretty menacing as of late. Algeria have bad luck written all over them at World Cups as they always struggle to make an impact, but South Korea will go into this tournament with an awful record after such a successful qualifying. In 2014 they have played five matches and lost four - winning against Greece in March. Last night's defeat to Ghana shows that they are not much to worry about in the tournament, despite their respectable track record.
Belgium should win this group. Russia are a better side than four years ago, but they partially won their group due to Portugal's mistakes. They're unbeaten in friendlies this year, but most came against teams like Morocco and Armenia. Belgium's players have been inspiring this year. Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard took the Premier League by storm last season and they'll be backed up by arguably the best goalkeeper of last season - Thibaut Courtois who was a rock in goal for Atletico Madrid last season. Belgium could realistically go as far as the final if they play the way their players have been performing this year.
Belgium
Russia
South Korea
Algeria
Next Time: I Predict the Knockout Rounds.
Follow me on Twitter: @mickyhaitch
