2014 Italy Odds to win the World Cup
Italy are +2500 to win the World Cup. They are slight favorites to win Group D at +175 and -200 to advance to the knockout stages.

Italy 2014 World Cup Group Play Schedule
Italy vs. England – Saturday, June 14 (6 p.m. EST in Manaus)

Italy vs. Costa Rica – Friday, June 20 (12 p.m. EST in Recife)

Italy vs. Uruguay – Tuesday, June 24 (12 p.m. EST in Natal)

Italy World Cup 2014 Team Analysis

With a perfect balance of veteran leadership mixed with dynamic young options, the Italians will be right in the mix of things in the 2014 World Cup. Italy features many stars from Serie A, including the four defensive standouts from league leaders, Juventus. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will feature along with club teammates Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bunucci, who have played a huge role in what should be another Italian title for Juve.

In the midfield, Andrea Pirlo, Riccardo Montolivo and Claudio Marchisio lead the way with experience, topping over 210 caps combined. They mesh with young star Marco Veratti, who looks to shine bright in Brazil having played a dynamic role for PSG in France this season. Veratti features with club teammate Thiago Motta, another viable option for Italy this summer in the midfield.

Now to the top of the Italian formation, by far the most interesting part of 2014 Brazil for the Azzurri as it is still unknown if Stephan El Shaarawy and Giuseppe Rossi will feature. Before getting injured this year, Rossi was leading Fiorentina with 14 goals in 18 matches, and he was in-form as any striker in the world. However, even without these two question marks, Italy still features Super Mario Balotelli, who aside from his distractions, is still one of the best young talents in football. Other options to attack are Pablo Osvaldo, super sub Sebastian Giovenco and the little lightning bolt that is Lorenzo Insigne.

Italy 2014 World Cup Tournament Picks and Predictions

Although the Italians are the favorite to get out of their group, they have to be wary of the promise of England and Uruguay and the world-class talent those teams possess. Fans of the Azzurri have to like their chances of getting out of this group but will most likely have to claim full points in one if not both their matches against England and Uruguay. This group looks to play out with Costa Rica taking few points against these big giants, while a close merry-go-round will likely see all three of these teams with similar points over the course of the group stage. It would be disappointing for any of these three to not make it into the next stage of the tournament, but I believe when all is said and done, the Italians will be one of the two progressing, with experience in and success in past World Cups being a difference-maker in getting through. And while getting through would be seen as quite reasonable, putting their stamp on Brazil 2014 may not be in the cards as I think the Italians will bow out in either the first or second phase of knockout play.

Strike Point Sports has established themselves as one of the top soccer handicappers with their success on the big tournament stage. From the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, SPS earned $100 clients over $8,200 in profit from these four major events. This summer’s World Cup is going to be another moneymaking opportunity, and they are looking forward to their soccer selections and another winning tournament.

Visit Doc’s Sports for coverage of the 2014 World Cup and more articles leading up to this summer’s major soccer tournament.