Brazil to lead South America’s full quota to World Cup last 16

Given that all four World Cups to have previously been hosted in South America have been won by one of the continent’s nations, alongside both held in Mexico, there is some mileage in thoughts that they are favoured by conditions.

All five South American representatives made it through the group stages four years ago in South Africa and four progressed as group winners.

The one exception was Chile, who finished level on points in their group with eventual winners Spain, losing out on top spot by only a single goal.

This fact, alongside the home bias in South American World Cups, suggests that 7/1 is a profitable price that Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Ecuador all qualify for the knockout stages.

At the last 14 World Cups, Brazil have only failed to make it to at least the quarter finals once, which was a round-of-16 appearance in 1990.

With Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon in opposition, the tournament hosts are understandable favourites to top Group A.

Argentina faltered at the group stage in 2002, but they are arguably in the most straightforward group of all, against World Cup debutants Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria.

Colombia are also odds-on to progress from Group C where they will meet an ageing Ivory Coast, the lowest scorers in European qualifying Greece and a Japanese side that have never previously got further than the last 16.

Uruguay, Italy and England are all in the top 10 of the world rankings and something has to give in Group D, but Luis Suarez and co are expected to qualify based on the betting.

Chile have it tough in Group B against 2010 finalists Spain and Holland, but the latter do look considerably weaker now and are particularly inexperienced in defence.

Of all of the South American nations, the one which carries the greatest risk is Ecuador, who are pitted against France, Switzerland and Honduras in Group E.

But the French have gone out in the group stage in two of the past three World Cups, as have Honduras in their only two previous appearances on the world stage, while Switzerland failed to capitalise on shocking Spain in South Africa to finish third in group that also contained La H.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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