There are a billion ways you can bet the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but for this piece of betting content, I’m going to give you a Brazilian ways to bet the upcoming World Cup!
Now that I got that awful joke/lede out of the way, Brazil is a familiar face to the most prestigious prize in world football, having won more World Cups than any other nation (five) and having played in every single edition of the World Cup.
While Canarinho are among the favorites to win outright (+450 at online book), you can also find some good value in Brazil Specials at the same shop.
Here is a look at all three specials that are offering ahead of 30-man preliminary squad selection.
Brazil’s Top Goal scorer
As always, the Brazilian side is loaded with attacking options and if they have their way, the side will comfortably fill the back of the net. Now, that said, the last time we saw Brazil in the World Cup, they were being humiliated by the Germans so the team will be playing to erase that shoddy performance from memory.
Online shop has a list of three players and “other” on the board for this bet with Neymar at +150, Gabriel Jesus at +300, Philippe Coutinho at +1000 and “other” at +150.
Since heading to PSG, the sensational Neymar sits second in the club with 19 goals, only bested by Edinson Cavani’s 27. What’s remarkable is that Neymar bagged those domestic goals in just 20 appearances for his club, basically scoring one per game.
The 26-year-old has a remarkable 53 goals in 83 caps for the national squad and is fourth all-time in goals, sitting two behind Romario and nine behind Ronaldo.
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus is a pretty strong call at +300. Considering the pace he’s been scoring at with the national team, nine goals in 15 caps, he’s a great option.
The diminutive forward has bagged 12 goals in 26 appearances in the Premier League (a vastly tougher league than the one in which Neymar plies his trade) and has remained fairly healthy throughout, which is the biggest knock on Jesus.
As for Philippe Coutinho, he has 10 league goals split between his time at Liverpool and Barcelona but has just three of those in La Liga. He is more of a midfield playmaker and set-piece danger but will no doubt factor in the goals for the side throughout. However, at the price of +1000, there is better value in backing Gabe Jesus.
Then, there is the “other” option. This will allow you to have guys like Roberto Firmino, Willian and Douglas Costa chipping in if you decide to back this wager.
Brazil will no doubt play in a 4-3-3 with Neymar and Jesus featured heavily in the attacking trio (probably with Firmino) so in my opinion, you can back this comfortably with a slew of “other” talent on the side to lead the side in goals at Russia 2018 if you’re so inclined.
Will Brazil Win All Three Group Stage Matches?
This is an interesting wager with YES priced at +125 (NO -155).
Brazil is certainly not in the easiest group, but neither are they in the toughest. They’ve got Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica with all three having the capability of playing them extremely tough, especially Serbia.
As it stands on the date of publication, Brazil is -275 to beat Switzerland, -450 to beat Costa Rica and -275 to beat Serbia so they are sizable faves in moneyline markets in all three.
Brazil won two and drew one in the group stage of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and last swept the group stage in 2006 when it shared a group with Australia, Croatia and Japan, scoring seven and conceding just one en route to a full nine-point haul.
I’m not in love with YES here at +125 and I’m actually more inclined to back the NO option as there could very well be a draw in the cards, especially with the final game coming against Serbia, which could have massive implications for a pretty talented Serbian side.
Will the World Cup Top Goal scorer be Brazilian?
The YES option certainly has a ton of value here at +360 with NO coming back at -625. We’ve already gone into some of the names that will feature for this side so the talent pool is there.
The last time a member of the side was top goal scorer was the great Ronaldo back in 2002 in their Cup-winning campaign in Japan and South Korea. Ronaldo finished with eight that year, which is the most since Gerd Müller bagged 10 for the West Germans in Mexico ’70.
Neymar and Gabriel Jesus have the talent to do this and with Brazil being among the oddsmakers’ favorites and the propensity to make deep runs in this tournament, it could be worth a little sprinkle. Neymar had four in the last World Cup so I think it’s fair to assume that the tricky superstar eclipses that number this time around.
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