Germany is recognised as one of the great superpowers in international football. The three times World Cup winners also have a hat trick of European Championship wins under their belts. With such an illustrious pedigree, Germany are bound to be considered as one of the favourites going in to any tournament.

The bookmakers regard Germany as one of the pre-tournament World Cup favourites at Brazil 2014. According to the Group Betting World Cup 2014 - William Hill, they are ranked at 4/7 to win Group G and 11/2 to win the title outright for the fourth time.

The tactics
The current coach of der Mannschaft, Joachim Löw, follows a long line of cultured German football tacticians who have brought such a different dimension to international football. After the more cautious approach adopted by his predecessor Jürgen Klinsmann, Löw has introduced a more ambitious attacking style of play that allows his creative midfielders to flourish behind the strikers.

The players
'Jogi's' job has been assisted by the fact that he is surrounded by such an awesome collection of players. Defender Per Mertesacker has been the defensive rock around which Löw has built der Mannschaft. At 29 years of age, the former Werder Bremen man is reaching the peak of his career and he goes to Brazil on the back of a great season with English Premier League giants Arsenal. The weight and expectations placed on midfield playmaker Mesut Özil' have been lifted somewhat by the emergence of the precocious and creative talent in the shape of Julian Draxler. Bustling striker Lukas Podolski has had limited opportunities at Arsenal this season, but this means that the dynamic goal scorer is likely to go in to the tournament with fresher legs than most.

The contenders
As well as the much fancied Germans, World Cup hosts Brazil have been installed as the bookies' favourites to seal their sixth outright success at 3/1 and with odds of 1/4 to win Group A.

Brazil's South American rivals Argentina are placed as second-favourites at 9/2 to win the entire tournament outright while the White and Sky-Blues' are expected to top Group F with odds of 1/4.

Belgium are fancied to win Group H at 4/7 ahead of the Russians at 2/1.

Spain, the current world and reigning European champions face a tough task in Group B, as they have to better one of the northern European powerhouses, the Netherlands, if they are to top their group. With the Red Fury are quoted at 8/11 to crest the group and the Netherlands quoted at 2/1 to reach the summit, their 13 June contest in Salvador has an added spice attached to it.