Five World Cup Economies on the Decline: Australia

After a knockout round appearance in 2006 and a respectable showing in 2010, the Australian soccer team -- known as the Socceroo's -- heads to the World Cup in Brazil with one of the lowest odds of winning, according to Goldman Sachs. Fittingly, the Australian economy also is one of the most at-risk of a recession as the global commodity sector risks a stall after a generation-long boom. Goldman Sachs economists note that after 22 years of growth, a commodity slump, fiscal contraction, and a high dollar present major risks for Australia. Getting past those challenges would be "unprecedented in the country's long history of commodity booms followed by painful busts," Goldman concludes. One fun fact: Australians have bought 41 thousand tickets to World Cup matches, indicating only the USA will have more traveling supporters. The Socceroos kick off their World Cup against Chile on June, 13.