Brazil will win the 2014 World Cup, according to a study by a sport economist.

Dr Nicolas Scelles, of the University of Stirling in Scotland, analysed more than 2,800 international matches in the past three years and considered 18 different variables - including gross domestic product and population difference - before coming to his conclusion.

He also found that Scotland could have reached the knock-out stages of the competition had they - and not Croatia - qualified for the tournament. But Dr Scelles predicted that England can expect a quarter-final defeat at the hands of World Cup holders Spain.

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