FIFA World Cup 2014 Preview, Predictions: Picking the Top Five Contenders to Win the Cup

Last week, we took a look at the top five teams that will fail at the World Cup. Here is a list of the top contenders of this upcoming tournament.

Brazil

The Confederation Cup champions are the clear-cut front-runners for a number of reasons. They are confident after taking down Spain in the final of the Confederations Cup. They have a tremendous amount of young talent. Most importantly, they are at home in front of a tremendous crowd of beloved fans. Felipe Scolari is a genius who knows how to get his team mentally prepared and the team should be able to feed off the crowd.

Player to Watch: Neymar was the MVP at the Confederations Cup and has improved as the year has progressed. He seems confident with the spotlight shining on the biggest stages.

Glaring Weakness: Julio Cesar was solid in the Confederations Cup but he has rarely played all year. The alternatives in goal do not inspire confidence and this could be the major problem for the team.

Spain

The defending champions are filled with tremendous amounts of talent and are looking to make history by being the first-ever team to win four straight major tournaments. They have been lacking in their play of late and were even defeated by South Africa in a friendly. Teams have seemingly figured out Spain and could continue to give them issues in the upcoming tournament.

Player to Watch: Whoever is the striker. Spain's greatest weakness is at the striker position. The lack of the consistent finisher has plagued the team's ability to break down defenses with ease and is making them too easy to defend against. Alvaro Negredo and Diego Costa are currently the top players in the running for the spot as they have both excelled in their respective leagues. Costa has been ruthless in the early parts of 2013-14 and his speed and strength could tip the scales in Spain's favor.

Glaring Weakness: The team's slow passing game has been easy to defend against and the club seems to be beatable on the counterattack.

Argentina

With the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero, Argentina has arguably the most potent offense in the entire tournament. European sides have never won in South America and that fact alone makes Argentina one of the major contenders in the tournament.

Player to Watch: In 2010, Lionel Messi failed to score a single goal in the tournament. Don't expect that to happen again as Messi is in the midst of his prime and should deliver for his nation.

Glaring Weakness: Remember how Argentina was eliminated from South Africa in 2010? The team was decimated 4-0 by Germany. That's right. 4-0. Argentina's defense is still suspect and could implode against a high-powered offense.

Germany

The Golden Generation led by Coach Joachim Loew has all the right pieces but the question with the Germans is always whether they can go the extra mile and pull off the victory. The team failed in the Euro 2008 against Spain. It met the same fate against Spain in 2010 and was then shocked by Italy in 2012. This team has the pieces to be the winner but needs to figure out a way to get over the mental block that seems to haunt it year after year.

Player to Watch: Philipp Lahm. The captain is usually a defender for his nation but he plays as a midfielder under Pep Guardiola for Bayern Munich. The Guardiola experiment has been successful thus far and it is possible that Lahm could get more time to direct the midfield if Germany needs to shift into another gear against a superior team.

Glaring Weakness: Good goaltending? Germany has it. Solid defense? Check. Top ranked midfield? Undoubtedly. Goal scorers? Yes. So what is Germany's weakness? Many have asked the same question over the years when the team has faltered at major tournaments and have repeated been met with the same answer: This team has no weakness. The problem is that they cannot seem to find the winning formula. That is their biggest problem and mystery. If Germany can solve this riddle, then it might be the favorite to lift the trophy next summer.

Italy

The Italians are on the rise after a pitiful showing in 2010. The performances in the Euro 2012 and Confederations Cup in 2013 have made it clear that the Azzurri are back and ready to make a statement in 2014.

Player to Watch: Mario Balotelli. Super Mario is known for his antics as much as his goal scoring but he has the power to change a game. Just ask the Germans in 2012. If Giuseppe Rossi is set to be his striking partner, then Italy may have the best forward group in the entire tournament next summer.

Glaring Weakness: The midfield relies heavily on the Andrea Pirlo who is 33 and not getting any younger. The other midfielders will need to step up in order to give him the support that he needs to help Italy make a deep run.

Who are the favorites next summer? Do you agree with this list?