Expert Picks

I am definitely getting better at domestic soccer because I know where to look. The WC is a bit trickier but I'm a tad surprised being offered 3.5. Ecuador is a defensive dynamo that had 13 clean sheets in qualifying and then allowed the one in an opening WC loss to the Ivory Coast. That's all I got ... have been to Ecuador if it matters, albeit briefly on the way to somewhere else in South America. I'd love to see Curacao, which is off the coast of Venezuela.

Germany brutally exposed Curaçao's limitations by thrashing the Caribbean nation 7-1 at the weekend. The winning margin could easily have been higher, as the Germans created chances at will. Curaçao is the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup - and it showed. Ecuador will be disappointed to lose 1-0 to Ivory Coast on Matchday 1, as they were the better team and hit the woodwork a couple of times, but they should bounce back with a comfortable win against this weak Curaçao team.