THE PG WORLD CUP 2014 WALLCHART Beers in the fridge – check! Wallchart on the wall behind the widescreen TV – check! Ante-post bets placed – check! Non-football fans banished when all matches are on – check! Yes, folks, we can only be talking about the start of the 2014 World Cup which gets under way in Rio where 32 teams battle it out in the most wide-open tournament ever. The PG has got his crystal ball out and filled in the excellent Belfast Sport wallchart and hopefully we’ve come up a few winners. Let’s start with the various groups and who we think will reach the knock-out stages. We predict a South America-dominated event and have even tipped up a 150/1 shot to reach the quarter-finals. We have rubbished the European challenge this year with holders Spain, Belgium, and France all falling before the semi-finals with only Germany catching our eye. There’s money to be won, we hope. Here’s our wallchart in words... Let’s get stuck in to Group A and we can’t see anyone stopping hosts and tournament favourites BRAZIL, who should win all their games, starting with Croatia on the opening night (Thursday, 9pm). The race will be on for second place and we are siding with MEXICO over Croatia and Cameroon; the 1-2 forecast pays 7/4. On to Group B and reigning World Cup champions SPAIN face a tough test against the likes of Chile and Holland. It’s the Spanish to win the group for us and CHILE to shock the Dutch for xescond spot; the forecast pays around 11/8. Group C is wide-open and we are banking on the South American factor in this one with COLOMBIA, who could win the group. JAPAN could shock and join them in the last 16; the forecast pays around 4/1. A fascinating round of matches in Group D, which could the Group of Death for England. Again we are going with the South American theme and taking Uruguay to win the Group at 9/5 with ITALY to oust England and take second; the forecast pays 7/2. Already halfway there and on we go... Group E is another wide-open affair and we expect a shock in this one, taking ECUADOR to win it at 4/1. A tight thing for second, but FRANCE to take it ahead of Switzerland; the forecast pays around 9/1. Into Group F where second favourites ARGENTINA are as short as 2/9 to win it. Expect goals galore for Messi and co who should top the group at a canter. Bosnia-Herzegovina can grab the second spot at the expense of Nigeria; the forecast pays a modest 5/4. On to Group G and what a tough one this is to call. We have gone down the European route and are taking GERMANY to win the group with Portugal edging the second place from USA and Ghana. The group forecast pays 13/10. Finally Group H and we expect the European class to shine through and are taking RUSSIA (2/1) to win the group – just – from well-thought-of Belgium. The forecast pays a handsome 10/3. WORLD CUP LAST 16 So group stages done and dusted it’s on to the knock-out stages this is the way our wallchart pans out. Hosts BRAZIL will take on and hopefully beat Chile and book their quarter-final place while we are taking ITALY to oust Colombia. SPAIN should see off the challenge of Mexico to book their last eight spot while URUGUAY can make it through with victory over Japan. Our surprise side, ECUADOR, can bank a quarter-final slot with a win over Bosnia while GERMANY can win the all-European clash with Belgium. ARGENTINA will be a step too far for the French and taking the final quarter final spot will be PORTUGAL who should take care of Russia. WORLD CUP QUARTER FINALS Up first in the quarter-finals according to our wallchart are hosts Brazil taking on Italy and what a game this should be (if it happens). We’re taking the favourites to book their semi-final berth in what will be a tough game. Our surprise package, Ecuador, will tackle the mighty Germany but we think it will be a step too far the South Americans and we expect this strong German side to progress to the semi-finals. Next up, according to our wallchart, are URUGUAY against the holders Spain. We’re going for the outsiders in this one and taking Suarez and co to make the semi-finals while ARGENTINA should see off the threat of Portugal. WORLD CUP Semi FinALS On to the semi-final and what game with BRAZIL taking on the only European team left in the competition Germany. We expect the host country to book their place in the July 13 final but it will be a hard-fought win. In the other all-South American semi-final ARGENTINA tackle Uruguay and it’s a tough game to call, but we think Messi and co can book a place in what would be a dream final. WORLD CUP FINAL The Brazil v Argentina final itself is priced at 9/1 with Sean Graham bookmakers and that has to be worth a fiver of anybody’s money. If you have bet that special and both teams outright, like the PG, then you can sit back and enjoy what could be a epic final. We are siding with hosts Brazil who have lost one game on home soil in 51 years and that stat, folks, is hard to shy away from. Well, there you have it – 64 games later we have come up with our senario and it could be completely wrong or it could be very close. The PG will be in Malaga for the first week of the finals and will be tweeting bets in every game, every day. But we will be back here in the hotseat next week with more World Cup bets and free bet giveaways. Betting @SPGBETTING