Group D may be the second strongest group in the tournament and three teams have legitimate World Cup betting odds to win it.
Uruguay was not impressive in qualifying, but they have a dynamic offense and were semifinalists in 2010. Italy wants to forget their disaster of the last World Cup and England has made it past the quarterfinals just once since 1966.
Costa Rica is the major long shot on most World Cup betting odds menus and with good reason with their lack of world-class talent.
URUGUAY
Odds to win group: +163
Odds to finish bottom of group: +1400
Odds to win World Cup: +2500
Uruguay is a solid squad, especially up front, that almost missed out on playing this summer and had to win an intercontinental playoff tie just to qualify.
Luis Suarez, who has the third best odds to win the top goal scorer, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan are the heart of the dynamic attack, but the squad has issues in the midfield and on defense.
When Brazil last hosted the World Cup Uruguay won the tournament. In facing teams in the South American qualifying process Uruguay was 3-2-1.
ITALY
Odds to win Group D: +163
Odds to finish bottom of group: +1200
Odds to win World Cup: +2500
Italy really was embarrassed after their terrible showing in the last World Cup and this time around they have the squad to go far this summer. Mario Balotelli is one of the most temperamental players in the game, but can be one of the best in the world when he is on. He will need to lead the Italian attack, which is not a dynamic one.
Italy went undefeated in World Cup qualification and in a couple of tune up friendlies they played to a draw against Germany and only lost 1-0 to 2010 WC champion Spain.
ENGLAND
Odds to win group: +225
Odds to finish bottom of group: +800
Odds to win World Cup: +3300
England, once again, has a solid squad, but there are many questions for the ThreeLions. Can Joe Hart be a No. 1 goalkeeper? Can Wayne Rooney shine on the world stage?
Can the squad break their streak of advancing past the quarterfinals just once since way back in 1966? Big questions.
The Three Lions have a solid offensive attack with Rooney and Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard is the leader of a good midfield, but the defense and goaltending are concerns. Hart has to be THE guy in goal and play like he can, not like he did in the middle of the season for Premier League champion Manchester City when he was benched for a spell.
COSTA RICA
Odds to win group: +5000
Odds to finish bottom of group: -500
Odds to win World Cup: +250000
Costa Rica has a great FW in Bryan Ruiz and a defense that went 476 minuses in WC qualifying without giving up a goal, but not much else. They are really outmatched by the other solid squads in Group D and they not only have the worst World Cup betting odds to win Group D, but the overall tournament as well.