The 21st World Cup kicks off in Russia tomorrow and with some of the best players on the planet set to compete, picking a winner can be a difficult task.
Everyone knows the favourites for the tournament. Yet there are always a few outsiders along with a dark horse or surprise package that shock the world and make a run at lifting the iconic golden trophy.
Here is a run through of all the contenders and their chances of being champions come July 15th.
FAVOURITES
Brazil (4/1) seem to saunter into each World Cup with the favourites tag regardless of the players available or the form of the team. Neymar is still a lingering fitness concern going into the opening game but having breezed through CONMEBOL qualification and being handed a group containing Costa Rica, Switzerland and Serbia, you would fully expect Tite’s side to top the group and set up a favourable clash in the 2nd round, worthy favourites.
Germany (5/1) are another who enter each tournament cycle with stereotypical clichés of efficiency and being hard to beat. They come to Russia as defending champions from 4 years ago. Considering their pool of talent has only increased in the four years since and sitting in a group containing Mexico, Sweden and South Korea, it looks as if they are ready to make their standard deep run in the competition.
France (13/2) arguably have the best depth in the whole tournament. You could make a World Cup ready XI out of players they haven’t selected. The biggest worry for them as always, is mentality. The French have a history of imploding when the pressure comes on (see 2010) and in Didier Deschamps, they have a manager who doesn’t inspire confidence. It seems as if he still is unsure of his best team just days away from the opening fixture.
Spain (11/2) are looking to bounce back from a group stage exit in Brazil and have been handed a tough draw with Iberian rivals Portugal, Morocco and Iran in their group. This is not the same side that dominated teams in previous World Cup’s but new Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui hasn’t lost a game yet as manager and if they avoid a slow start, they are ones to watch as the competition progresses. Opening game against Portugal is crucial.
DARK HORSES
Belgium (10/1) are probably second only to France in positional depth this summer. This is a big tournament for the countries “golden generation” of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bryune, Vincent Kompany et al. Anything short of a semi-final berth would be a major disappointment but again similar to Les Bleus, you have to wonder if they have the collective mentality to come out on top on the world stage. It is now or never.
Argentina (10/1) limped into Russia, needing a last- minute Lionel Messi goal to book their ticket. They have been drawn in an awkward group alongside Nigeria, Croatia and giant-killing Iceland. Messi magic aside, the Argentinians look very average in the spine of their team. If teams can get a handle on the great one and make their role players try and win it for them, I can envisage an early exit and the end of an era for Lionel Messi.
Portugal (22/1) much like Messi, any team containing Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance of winning the tournament. The key question is whether their European Championship win of two years ago has given them the belief that they belong on the elite stage. Although having a much better overall supporting cast to that of Messi, the Portuguese will need a big performance in their opening game against Spain to have any hope of going beyond the first knockout round.
Honourable mentions in this category go to England (16/1), Uruguay (25/1) and Croatia (40/1) all of whom have the talent to beat any of the aforementioned teams on their day but stringing together a run of results in the knockout rounds may be beyond them. These three sides are also very susceptible to injuries in key positions with the gap from first to second string being quite large in some positions.
LONG SHOTS
If you are looking for a lesser known team to follow at bigger odds, that might not necessarily win the tournament but could upset the applecart along the way, having a second glance at these teams would do no harm.
Poland (66/1) are hoping that Robert Lewandowski can fire them out of a group containing Senegal, Colombia and Japan. They face two evenly matched teams in this group but if they emerge into the 2nd round, they won’t be a team that anyone is looking to face. Staunch in defence, hard-working and their side is trickled with quality in key positions. They have the potential to upset one of the big side.
Peru (150/1) are playing at their first World Cup since 1982 and they have a great chance of getting to the last 16 if not the quarter-finals. Argentinian coach Ricardo Gareca has restored the energetic, ball hogging, energy sapping style that announced the tiny nation on the world stage all those years ago. Their group contains France, Denmark and Australia and while taking top spot off the French might be difficult, they will have the determination and organisation to emerge as runners up.
Senegal (175/1) are the African team that have the best chance to break the continent’s duct and qualify for a World Cup semi-final this time around. They have a strong spine with Koudibaly, Idrissa Gueye and Saido Mane leading the line along with a couple of skilful wingers who will probably surprise many onlookers in Russia. Their biggest weakness is the goalkeeping situation but sitting in group H alongside Colombia, Poland and Japan, that might not be exploited until the knockout rounds.
