World Cup group outsiders all to finish bottom is 11/1

Coral’s World Cup countdown is almost into single figures, and today punters, enhanced odds of 11/1 on Cameroon, Australia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Iran and Algeria all finishing bottom of their respective groups in Brazil are available.

Here’s why this is such a worthwhile bet.

Cameroon have been drawn in Group A, which contains hosts and tournament favourites Brazil, Croatia and Mexico. Put simply, the Indomitable Lions are reliant on veteran frontman Samuel Eto’o as other attackers have not lived up to their potential.

Goalkeeper Carlos Kameni has also been dropped, because he has not featured at club level for some time, but his replacements between the sticks lack the penalty box presence to aid a naïve defence in front of them.

Australia, meanwhile, look destined for the wooden spoon in a hugely competitive Group B. Holders Spain, the last beaten finalists the Netherlands and Chile are also in this pool. There is no way for a young Socceroos side to get past superior quality in these opposing ranks.

Costa Rica are in Group D with England, four-time winners Italy and twice world champions Uruguay. Alvaro Saborio, their top scorer in qualifying, joins Everton’s left-sided star Bryan Oviedo in missing the Brazil finals through injury. Without these key outlets, they will surely struggle.

Honduras may have a number of their squad plying their trade in English football, but battle France, Switzerland and Ecuador in Group E. The forward threat of Franck Ribery, Olivier Giroud and others from Les Bleus; the set piece nous of Swiss centre back Fabian Schar; and guile of La Tri skipper Antonio Valencia are all dangers they may have no remedy to.

Iran occupy a spot in Group F, alongside tournament second-favourites Argentina, first-time qualifiers as an independent nation Bosnia and African champions Nigeria. Head coach Carlos Queiroz may have brought another of expatriates playing in Europe into the Persians’ ranks, but they are facing proven attackers in this pool like Lionel Messi and Edin Dzeko.

Finally, Algeria finished bottom of their group at the last World Cup in South Africa without scoring. Several squad members remain the same, but it will be even tougher this time round to make an impression. Group H contains dark horses Belgium, Russia and South Korea. The Desert Foxes have little hope of frustrating these opponents.