• World Cup betting

Bank on Neymar to score at 11/10

Shocks do happen in the first game of the World Cup - remember Cameroon beating Argentina in 1990 or Senegal stunning France 12 years later? - but it would be astonishing if Neymar and Brazil do not light up the footballing world on opening day against Croatia.

Despite injury concerns, Neymar will be certain to start the first match of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo. He shone in last year's Confederations Cup, with a goal in four of Brazil's five matches and was named player of the tournament, and there is no reason to think that he can't repeat the feat this summer.

Expect him to get off to a flyer, with William Hill pricing him at 4/1 to score any time against Brasil tonight.. If you're feeling bold, 7/2 for him to score the first goal of the tournament is smart thinking, and it's 20/1 for a hat-trick from the Barcelona star.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd