Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Uruguay is the leader of the "group of death". In a double match against Jordan, Uruguay was the last team to qualify for the World Cup. Nevertheless, "La Celeste" is an outsider (or even more) for the World Cup. Luis Suarez (Liverpool) and Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) are two of the best forwards in the world. Suarez is currently the top scorer in the Premier League with 30 goals. If he can keep playing like this at the World Cup, Uruguay might reach the semifinal or so, like in 2010.
The weakest team of this group is Costa Rica. This is the fourth time "Los Ticos" have qualified for a World Cup, 2006 was the last time Costa Rica was present, in Germany. Joel Campbell is a very talented player, who has played 30 caps at the age of 21. He is contracted by Arsenal, but is loaned to the Greek Champions League participant Olympiakos. Bryan Ruiz, whom PSV loaned for half a year, is the other top player for Costa Rica. I don't think Costa Rica will manage to reach the round of sixteen.
England is one of the three teams that could reach the round of sixteen in this group.
"The Three Lions" rely on the experience of captain Steven Gerrard and co-captain Frank Lampard, but England has more world class players. Wayne Rooney is probably the most important player. Unlike most other teams, nearly all of the players play in their own Premier League. From all players that were called up in the last year, Jermain Defoe is the only one that doesn't play in the UK.
The last team in Group D is Italy. Along with goalkeeper Gianluige Buffon and forward Mario Balotelli, the midfielders are the strongest weapon. Andrea Pirlo, Daniele de Rossi and Marco Verratti are some of the players that will have to lead the "Azzurri" to the victory. Especcialy Verratti is very talented. He plays most of the matches for Paris Saint Germain, the French team that reached the quarter finals in the UEFA Champions Leaugue this year. I think Italy will reach to the semifinals at least.
My expectation:
1. Italy (winning chance 10%)
2. Uruguay
3. England
4. Costa Rica
