Four teams remain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Europe can claim bragging rights as all four belong to UEFA. France, England, Belgium and Croatia vie for the trophy and each can really make a case as a challenger here.

The two faves entering the World Cup, Brazil and Germany, fizzled out much earlier than either nation would have hoped with the former knocked out by Belgium in the quarters and the latter not even making it out of the group.

France and Belgium were always among the top five or six with England entering Russia around +1600 and Croatia around +3300. All four are worthy of their spots and it really makes for some potentially thrilling football.

But one side is alone at the top of outright winner odds.

France Alone as World Cup Faves

The 1998 World Cup winners were always among the faves and were +650 when 23-man squads were announced. France, now +200 to win the World Cup at online shop Bovada, started out rather drab with a less-than-stellar performance in a 2-1 win over Australia and an underwhelming 1-0 win over Peru. A predictable 0-0 draw with Denmark rounded out group play and many questioned what sort of side France was.

Some of that talk was quashed in a 4-3 win over Argentina in what turned out to be a thrilling contest which showcased what France could be. In attack, at least.

A 2-0 win over Uruguay looks good on paper, but without Edinson Cavani, Uruguay never looked like much of a threat.

Up next is a much different test for France in a semifinal matchup against Belgium. These two European neighbors haven’t faced each other in a meaningful match since the 1986 World Cup (click here for the match preview). Regardless, with a vast amount of star power on the pitch, it promises to be an exceptional game full of great betting value.

France has mixed experience with youth and manager Didier Deschamps has done a great job managing that mix up until this point. Does France have what it takes to win two more potentially grueling matches?

We have one week to find out and one week to get a futures bet in.

Here’s a look at the four sides left standing entering the semifinals at online shop Bovada:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds France +200 England +250 Belgium +275 Croatia +450

Odds as of July 9 at Bovada

Archived Articles

With a very good display against Mexico in the Round of 16, Brazil remains the favorite to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and sits at +300 with a quarterfinal date with Belgium looming.

Brazil has been at or near the top since futures markets were introduced and have seemingly improved with every match. They’ll hope for another stellar performance against a very tough Belgian side that is coming off a character-building effort against Japan where they came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

It’s been a wild ride thus far and the quarterfinals are shaping up to provide more thrills. Let’s have a look at some other movers and shakers plus the rest of the odds in 2018 World Cup futures markets.

Is It Actually ‘Coming Home’?

England was consistently hovering around +1600 or +1800 leading up to the tournament which seemed reasonable considering the well-documented shortcomings post-1966. But there was always something different about this side and now with a ticket to the quarterfinals, The Three Lions sit at +400 at Bovada.

Manager Gareth Southgate brought some different tactics into the side and then they started winning games. In 22 matches in charge, Southgate has lost just three games; two of those were in friendlies and the third was against Belgium with a heavily rotated XI.

But really, this is Harry Kane’s team. Captain Kane has been one of the best players at the World Cup and leads the tournament with six goals. So prolific is he that he’s tallied 19 goals in 27 caps for England. A remarkable rate.

England has been rallying around the “coming home” banner and while there’s still work to be done, including beating a very stingy Sweden in the quarters, there’s a very different feeling around this edition of England.

Uruguay Still Offering Great Value

I talked about them further down in the archived articles, but Uruguay has constantly slipped under the radar this tournament and is still offering great futures value at +1600 entering their quarterfinal matchup with France on Friday.

Oddsmakers have Uruguay as the second-biggest underdog of the quarterfinals at +335 and while they do face a stiff test against France, this is a side that can frustrate Les Bleus and is one that possesses the defensive acumen to contain the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

Uruguay has been one of the best defensive sides in Russia and both Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez have been a joy to watch as they turn defending into an art form much like the old Italian sides.

Their side of the bracket is much tougher with a date against the winner of the Brazil-Belgium quarterfinal next up in the semis, but Uruguay could be the one in that bottom half of the oddsboard to throw a wrench into the top half.

Here’s a look at the complete oddsboard entering the quarterfinals at online shop Bovada:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +300 France +400 England +400 Belgium +500 Croatia +600 Uruguay +1600 Russia +2000 Sweden +2500

Odds as of July 4 at Bovada

Archived Articles

With the dust settled on the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage, Brazil still tops the board in odds to win the World Cup at +350. Brazil entered the tournament as favorites and qualified from the group stage with seven points from a tough group that featured Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica.

They did it with some dramatics, flair and solid defending and what would a World Cup be without Brazil as the front-runners?

Three squads swept the group stage with Uruguay (+2200), Croatia (+1000) and Belgium (+600) all capturing nine points. Uruguay did it without conceding a goal while Belgium was the top scorer in the group stage with nine goals, one ahead of hosts Russia.

Brazil meets Mexico in a sumptuous Round of 16 clash while Uruguay faces Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, Croatia meets Denmark and Belgium faces Japan.

Spain is second on the board at +450 and could be considered lucky to win their group. Drama on Matchday 3 in Group B saw their five points seal the top spot and a date with the host nation on Sunday.

Here’s a look at the complete oddsboard entering the Round of 16 at online shop Bovada:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +350 Spain +450 Belgium +600 England +750 France +850 Croatia +1000 Argentina +1200 Portugal +2200 Uruguay +2200 Colombia +2200 Switzerland +3300 Mexico +5000 Russia +6000 Sweden +7000 Denmark +8000 Japan +15000

Odds as of June 28 at Bovada

Archived Articles

With Matchday 2 in the books and Matchday 3 kicking off Monday with A and B, it’s time once again to take a look at the futures board and any significant movement in odds to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Brazil, who left it late in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in Matchday 2, remains at the top of the board at +450 at online shop Bovada with Spain, who faces Morocco on Monday, at the same price.

Germany, needing last-minute heroics from Toni Kroos to grab all three points against Sweden, is third on the oddsboard at +650 while Belgium sits at +800.

Let’s take a look at where we are heading into Matchday 3 contests with still so much left to be sorted.

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Croatia Now +1400 After Thumping Poor Argentina

In what has to be considered one of THE jaw-dropping matches of the tournament, Croatia put Lionel Messi and Argentina to the sword with a dominant 3-0 display last week. Entering that contest, Croatia was +3000 at Bovada but following the win they’ve been adjusted to +1400.

Croatia presently tops Group D with six points and has a date with Iceland awaiting them Tuesday. The Croats need a result against Iceland to top the group while Messi and company need several miracles to go their way if they want to get out of the group.

If Croatia does win the group, as is expected, they face the runners-up of Group C, which at this point looks to be Denmark but could be France (if the Danes beat them) or Australia if the Socceroos can beat Peru paired with France beating Denmark and a favorable goal differential.

Croatia looks great through two matches. You’ve missed out on their best value at this point if you aren’t already holding a Croatia futures ticket but with a favorable Round of 16 matchup on the horizon, this team could be poised for a good run.

Uruguay Still Offering Great Value in Futures Markets

For a side with six points through two matchdays and yet to concede a goal, Uruguay STILL offers great value in futures markets at a staggering +3000, the same price as of the last update.

As I write this, we are not far off from their Matchday 3 meeting with Russia with the winner topping Group A, but this is a team that has full points through two games and looks like the best defensive outfit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. That is great betting value.

While they are still guaranteed passage to the Round of 16, a potential meeting with Portugal or Spain looms and either one will be a tough contest. Portugal is probably the more desired matchup but both will be a challenge.

Here’s a look at the complete oddsboard as of the end of Matchday 2:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +450 Spain +450 Germany +650 Belgium +800 France +850 England +900 Croatia +1400 Portugal +1800 Argentina +2200 Mexico +2500 Uruguay +3000 Colombia +3300 Russia +4000 Switzerland +5000 Denmark +10000 Senegal +10000 Serbia +10000 Sweden +15000 Japan +20000 Nigeria +20000 Iceland +40000 Australia +50000 Iran +50000

Odds as of June 25 at Bovada

Archived Articles

Ahead of Thursday’s Matchday 2 games in Group C and Group D, the field in odds to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup has been filtered down to 29 teams after the elimination of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco.

Brazil retains the top spot at +400 while Spain is next up at +450 with France and Germany following at +800 each at online shop Bovada.

Both Brazil and Germany have their work cut out for them as Brazil was only able to manage a draw against a tough Switzerland side and Germany fell 1-0 to Mexico in a thrilling contest in Group F.

Let’s take a look at where we are at heading into Thursday’s games with just a handful of Matchday 2 games under our belts thus far.

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England Climbs Oddsboard After Kane Heroics

The Three Lions entered the tournament at around +1600 to win their first World Cup since 1966 and thoroughly outplayed Tunisia in their opener despite needing a late winner from Harry Kane to secure the three points. The Matchday 1 victory moved England’s price to now +1200 as they await their Matchday 2 game against Panama.

Group G was always a favorable draw for England as it features fellow European heavyweight Belgium and minnows Tunisia and Panama. It always looked as if the two UEFA teams would advance and after both secured three points from their openers, we appear to be on that course.

Kane scored both goals for the English and the Tottenham striker now sits at +800 in top goalscorer markets. Considering he and England face Panama next, more goals and more points look to be in the cards.

The Matchday 3 contest vs Belgium is clearly the biggie here and will set the table for the Round of 16 games. The winner of the group faces the runners-up from Group H which is totally up in the air at the time of writing. Senegal and Japan have three points but Colombia and Poland have the squads to be able to shake things up further.

Uruguay Still +3000 After Securing 6 points

Uruguay looks to be an intriguing betting option as they are still hovering around the same price as when odds to win the World Cup hit the board some time ago.

Uruguay was +2800 when we first published this running piece and despite locking up six points from their first two games of the tournament, they are +3000 at online shop Bovada.

While not exactly terrifying opponents in attack just yet, Uruguay has put in two very convincing defensive performances, albeit against the underdogs of Group A Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

With their six points and Russia’s six points, those two have already made it through to the knockout phase with their Matchday 3 contest looming to figure out who finishes first and second in the group. The winner faces the Group B runners-up while the second-place side faces the Group B winner.

Those two Group B sides could be one of Spain (four points), Portugal (four) or Iran (three) so Matchday 3 over in Group B is a big one.

Here’s a look at the complete oddsboard as of Thursday morning:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +400 Spain +450 France +800 Germany +800 Belgium +850 Argentina +1100 England +1200 Portugal +2000 Croatia +3000 Uruguay +3000 Russia +4000 Mexico +4000 Switzerland +8000 Colombia +10000 Senegal +10000 Denmark +10000 Serbia +10000 Sweden +15000 Poland +15000 Iceland +20000 Japan +20000 Peru +25000 Nigeria +25000 Australia +50000 Iran +50000 South Korea +75000 Tunisia +75000 Costa Rica +75000 Panama +200000

Odds as of June 21 at Bovada

Archived Articles

What a wild first four days it’s been at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

We’ve seen Argentina and Brazil share the points with Iceland and Switzerland respectively and we watched in awe as Spain and Portugal drew 3-3 in an absolute classic.

Perhaps most noteworthy, however, was Mexico executing a master class in a 1-0 win over the heavily favored Germans in the Group F opener Sunday.

With that in mind, we’ve seen a bit of an odds shakeup in odds to win the 2018 World Cup betting markets, so with just a handful of Matchday 1 games left to go, let’s take a look at where we sit.

Bet on the World Cup here!

Germany Odds Sink After Loss

Germany was second on the oddsboard entering Day 1 of the World Cup at +475 but that 1-0 loss to Mexico has moved them to +750. Those holding Germany futures tickets should not necessarily fret quite yet, but the 2014 World Cup winners now have a monumental task ahead of them.

As I write, Sweden has just beaten South Korea 1-0 so Sweden and Mexico top Group F with three points apiece. Germany now must take three points from Sweden in their meeting Saturday or else we could be bidding auf wiedersehen to Die Mannschaft.

If you think Germany still has a shot, now is a pretty good time to buy in. While they looked completely outclassed against Mexico (who moved from +10000 to +4000 after the win), the final two group stage meetings against Sweden and South Korea look to be a bit more favorable.

A lot has to fall into place for Joachim Löw and his side, but if anyone in Russia can dig themselves out of this type of hole, it’s the Germans.

Portugal Odds Shorten After Ronaldo Display

As mentioned at the top, Portugal’s 3-3 draw against Iberian neighbors Spain set the bar extremely high for the best match of the 2018 World Cup. In particular, it was Cristiano Ronaldo at the peak of his powers.

Ronaldo notched a hat trick with a penalty, a long-range effort that handcuffed the normally dependable David de Gea, and scored a free kick that would have made Juninho Pernambucano envious. It was vintage Ronaldo and he looks ready to make a deep run in Russia.

Portugal saw a slight bump as they had been +2200 in odds to win the World Cup but as of Monday morning are +1800 after sharing the points with Spain.

Spain also saw their odds shorten, going from +650 before the tournament to now +450, just second behind Brazil.

Spain and Portugal were always chalky bets to escape Group B but both trail Iran who is on three points after beating Morocco 1-0 thanks to a disastrous own goal from Aziz Bouhaddouz.

Both these heavyweights return to action on Wednesday as Portugal faces Morocco and Spain plays Iran.

Here’s a look at the complete 32-team oddsboard as of Monday morning:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +400 Spain +450 France +700 Germany +750 Belgium +900 Argentina +1100 England +1400 Portugal +1800 Croatia +2800 Uruguay +3000 Colombia +4000 Mexico +4000 Russia +5000 Poland +8000 Switzerland +8000 Denmark +10000 Serbia +12500 Peru +15000 Sweden +15000 Senegal +20000 Iceland +20000 Nigeria +20000 Egypt +30000 Japan +30000 Australia +30000 Iran +50000 South Korea +50000 Tunisia +50000 Costa Rica +75000 Panama +100000 Morocco +200000 Saudi Arabia +200000

Odds as of June 18 at Bovada

Archived Articles

The 2018 World Cup is finally upon us with Russia and Saudi Arabia kicking things off Thursday in Moscow. While neither side is really looking like a major player come July 15, let’s take a look at the updated oddsboard on the eve of the curtain raiser at Luzhniki Stadium.

We last took a look about a week ago but there has been some odds movement at Bovada and some news to consider for those who haven’t gotten their wagers in.

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Spain’s Coaching Chaos

Speaking of “news,” the biggest piece of info is Spain’s firing of Julen Lopetegui mere hours before the ball gets rolling in Russia.

News broke Tuesday that Lopetegui was taking over the vacant Real Madrid job and then, less than 24 hours later, he was sent packing by the Spanish FA and replaced by Real Madrid club legend Fernando Hierro.

In the last update, Spain was still +600 in odds to win the World Cup, but as of Wednesday afternoon, they had seen a slight move to +650.

How this plays out, we will not know until that key fixture with Portugal on Friday. Maybe there’s a chance the squad – which is still so, so good – rallies around Hierro and doesn’t miss a beat. The flip side to that coin is that Lopetegui’s exit is disastrous and the team can’t get its act together.

Spain is in a manageable group so it could still see safe passage to the knockout rounds, but Hierro has a ton of work to do to get this team prepped mentally while Lopetegui is sent home with a chance that he is vilified for his decision to put club before country.

Brazil’s Odds Still Moving

Brazil now sits at +400 at online shop Bovada in odds to win the World Cup due in part to some stellar friendlies leading up to the start of the tournament.

The Seleção has been dynamite in four friendlies this year, dispatching Russia 3-0, Germany 1-0, Croatia 2-0 and Austria 3-0 since March 23.

Of note here is the fact that Brazil easily handled the Austrians on June 10 – just days after Austria posted its first win over Germany in some 32 years with a 2-1 victory in Klagenfurt.

Brazil is entering the tournament in excellent form with Neymar looking hungry for international success.

Russia’s Stock Continues to Plummet

Hosts generally punch above their weight at World Cups but bettors don’t seem to be buying into what Russia is selling.

Last week, Russia was priced at +5000 and even opened at +3300. With their opener against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, they now sit at +6000 to win the whole thing.

I think it’s fair to say that nobody expects Russia to hoist the trophy on July 15, but considering where they opened and where they sit now, it doesn’t bode well.

They haven’t played very well in recent friendlies but did manage some draws against the likes of Spain and, most recently, Turkey.

There is a lot of pressure on the host nation but this has the feeling of South Africa 2010 as opposed to South Korea 2002.

Here’s a look at the complete 32-team oddsboard:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +400 Germany +475 Spain +650 France +700 Argentina +900 Belgium +1100 England +1600 Portugal +2200 Uruguay +2800 Croatia +3500 Colombia +4500 Russia +6000 Poland +8000 Mexico +10000 Denmark +10000 Switzerland +10000 Senegal +15000 Peru +15000 Serbia +15000 Sweden +20000 Egypt +20000 Nigeria +25000 Iceland +30000 Japan +30000 Costa Rica +50000 Australia +50000 Iran +50000 Morocco +50000 South Korea +50000 Tunisia +50000 Panama +100000 Saudi Arabia +100000

Odds as of June 13 at Bovada

Archived Articles

June 4 was an important date on the World Cup calendar as it marked the deadline for competing nations to submit their 23-man rosters. Now that we know the 736 players who will be going to Russia, we can get a better grasp on how things are going to shape up.

Let’s have a look at some of the odds changes at Bovada since our last update.

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Brazil is Now Favored to Win

Germany had been favored to win the 2018 World Cup for what seemed like an eternity but after a friendly loss to Austria, Brazil slid into the top spot at +400 with Die Mannschaft slipping to +475.

This does seem like a bit of an overreaction given the Germans’ dominance in qualifying but when you consider that the defending World Cup champs haven’t won a game in 2018, it’s a tough move to argue.

Joachim Low made headlines when he left Manchester City standout Leroy Sane off the squad after a race for the final few spots concluded in what the longtime national team manager referred to as a “photo finish.”

Brazil, meanwhile, has done nothing but pour in results. They scored two spectacular goals against Croatia in a friendly fixture of their own and The Green and Yellow look like justifiable favorites.

The two nations are actually lined up to meet in the World Cup final if they both win their groups as they’re expected to. Yes, they’ll also have to win three knockout games each to make this happen but wouldn’t that be something?

Poland’s Odds Plummet

The Poles were always going to be long shots to win the World Cup but they were gutted recently to find out that their star center back Kamil Glik would have to miss Russia 2018 with a shoulder injury he sustained attempting a bicycle kick in training.

Poland’s odds immediately dropped from +6600 to +8000 and you can likely write them off with the heart of their defense now ripped out of an already thin lineup.

Uruguay on the Rise

A team to watch at the World Cup, Uruguay’s odds to win have been steadily increasing since groups were drawn in November and they reached an all-time high at +2500 when they announced the 23-man squad.

Not as reliant as they once were on star strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, the Uruguayans have a solid core of gifted midfielders and one of the strongest backlines in the tournament – just ask Atletico fans.

This team is no joke and should be seriously considered in World Cup futures with a fairly easy path to the knockout round.

Russia Heading in the Wrong Direction

Entering the tournament as the 66th-ranked nation according to FIFA, Russia might be in a spot of trouble despite their hosting privileges.

Opening up at +3300, Russia has tumbled past Colombia, Croatia and Uruguay all the way to +5000. While they have what could be considered an “easy” path out of the group, they’ll likely have to face either Spain or Portugal in the Round of 16.

It’s needless to say the Ruskies would be enormous underdogs in each of those matches and unless we see some funny business, that’s where Putin’s tournament will end.

Here’s a look at the complete 32-team oddsboard with 23-man squads now locked in:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Brazil +450 Germany +475 Spain +600 France +650 Argentina +950 Belgium +1200 England +1800 Uruguay +2500 Portugal +2800 Croatia +3300 Colombia +4000 Russia +5000 Poland +8000 Mexico +10000 Denmark +10000 Switzerland +10000 Sweden +15000 Senegal +15000 Egypt +15000 Serbia +20000 Iceland +20000 Japan +20000 Nigeria +20000 Peru +20000 Costa Rica +30000 Australia +30000 Iran +50000 Morocco +50000 South Korea +50000 Tunisia +50000 Panama +100000 Saudi Arabia +100000

Odds as of June 5 at Bovada

Archived Articles

We are now a little over one month away from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and it’s time to start betting on who will win the World Cup. Domestic leagues are winding down and World Cup 2018 chatter is picking up. If you don’t have your 2018 World Cup futures wager in yet, now is the time!

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a couple of the risers and fallers from Odds to Win the World Cup markets and see what kind of movement we’ve seen in the past month.

Odds are courtesy Bovada.

Bet on the 2018 World Cup here

Risers

Brazil – Was: +500, Now: +450

Not a big move by any stretch, but a significant one nonetheless.

Brazil, now joint favorites with Germany with odds to win the World Cup at +450, has won more World Cups than any other country (five) and fields one of the most talented XIs regardless of the year. The thing about Canarinho this time around is that they’ve got revenge on their minds.

The last time we saw Brazil at the World Cup, they were being systematically dismantled in front of their home crowd by a ruthless and clinical Germany by a score of 7-1. Fast-forward four years and Brazil will want to do their best to make that embarrassment a distant memory.

That four-year window has seen the likes of Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Casemiro and Philippe Coutinho blossom into incredible, global superstars that have the potential to beat anyone heading to Russia and do it stylistically and beautifully.

Backing Brazil at an international tournament – especially the World Cup – is never a bad idea, but doing it sooner rather than later is probably a wise move. They should have little to no problem advancing from a group that features Costa Rica, Serbia and Switzerland and value could evaporate.

Croatia – Was: +4000, Now: +3300

I fully understand Croatia’s slow but steady climb up the oddsboard. This is genuinely one of the most talented sides heading to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and may possess one of the best midfields in the tournament.

I could use this space to gush over the world-class players that are featured in this side but you already know the names. OK, fine, but last names only. Modrić, Rakitić, Perišić and Mandžukić – just a few of the names that have been great players on the global stage for this side and names set to make a deep push this summer.

The trouble with this futures bet is the group – it’s a tough one. Group D features a quartet of talented sides including Argentina, Nigeria and Euro 2016 heroes Iceland. It will be no small feat advancing to the Round of 16.

This team was playing some of the most sublime football in the group stage at Euro 2016 (two wins, one draw in a group with Spain, Turkey and the Czechs) before falling flat in a loss to (eventual champions, mind you) Portugal in the Round of 16 two summers ago.

There is always going to be risk if backing the Croats in futures markets, but one thing is for sure: the value is immense for such a talented squad.

Fallers

France - Was: +550, Now: +700

The injury to Laurent Koscielny is a notable blow to France as he provided some experience (51 caps) and stability at the back for what looks to be a young team.

Koscielny suffered an injury to his Achilles in the second leg of Arsenal’s Europa League fixture against Atletico Madrid and reports indicate he will be out of training until December. This means France will potentially lean on Raphaël Varane and Samuel Umtiti as a first-choice centerback pairing at the World Cup. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as the latter has emerged as one of the top CBs in world football since joining Barcelona, but he only has 16 caps at the senior level.

France is loaded with talent from the sticks out with names like Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé peppering the team sheet. Les Bleues were runners-up at Euro 2016 and reached the quarterfinals of the last World Cup but Russia 2018 feels like a bit more of a tournament of growth for the next-gen stars that will see the bulk of the playing time for France.

Colombia – Was: +3300, Now: +4000

Colombia was the darling of the 2014 World Cup scoring golazos and dancing all the way to the quarterfinal before losing 2-1 to hosts Brazil in Fortaleza. Expectations will be – and should be – lofty for this talented and deep side. After all, they feature 2014 Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, who is just entering his prime.

This is a team that will play quick, counter-attacking football but it does find itself inside a deceptively tough group. Los Cafeteros share Group H with Japan, Poland and Senegal. Japan looks to be the pushover in the group but Poland and Senegal will be extremely tough matches.

Head coach José Pékerman has World Cup history as he helped steer Argentina to the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup so the leadership and experience is certainly there to guide this team to another deep run.

Much like Croatia, a little wager on this team at +4000 wouldn’t be the worst thing you’ve done today.

Here’s a look at the futures board with a little under one month until the World Cup:

ODDS TO WIN 2018 World Cup Team Odds Germany +450 Brazil +450 Spain +600 France +700 Argentina +900 Belgium +1100 England +1600 Portugal +2500 Uruguay +3300 Croatia +3300 Russia +3300 Colombia +4000 Poland +6600 Mexico +8000 Denmark +8000 Switzerland +10000 Sweden +10000 Senegal +15000 Serbia +15000 Egypt +15000 Iceland +15000 Japan +20000 Nigeria +20000 Peru +20000 Costa Rica +25000 Morocco +30000 Iran +30000 Australia +30000 South Korea +40000 Tunisia +50000 Panama +100000 Saudi Arabia +100000

Archived Articles

With domestic leagues the world over on hiatus for the international break, it’s time for a closer inspection on the odds to win the 2018 World Cup.

We last updated the World Cup odds in December and not much has changed since then. We have seen Belgium go from +1100 to +1000, no doubt bolstered by some incredible performances from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele and Borussia Dortmund striker Michy Batshuayi.

Belgium is going through its “golden generation” of football and is absolutely stacked with talent but has yet to make a serious run at any international trophies. They sit in Group G with England, Panama and Tunisia and are the -120 favorites to win the group at online shop Bovada.

Belgium’s best result in the World Cup came in 1986 when it finished fourth. Currently ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings, Roberto Martinez’s side has a lot to prove in Russia this summer. There is no shortage of talent from the sticks out and even with the current odds adjustment, the Red Devils are worth backing.

Another team on the move is Portugal, which now sits at +2500 after sitting at +2800 in our last update. This is likely due to the fact that superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been in beast mode of late with 17 goals in an eight-match scoring streak for Real Madrid in all competitions.

Portugal has a tough group with Iberian neighbors Spain in the mix as well as Morocco and Iran. Spain is currently -190 to win the group with Cristiano and company at +180.

The bulk of this side was vital in the nation’s win at Euro 2016 so the experience and winning mentality is there. Ronaldo is basically superhuman and is perfectly capable of winning matches and tournaments with little to no help so don’t be surprised to see him do just that in Russia.

Here’s a look at the futures board ahead of this week’s World Cup tune-up matches:

2018 World Cup Futures Team Odds Germany +450 Brazil +500 France +550 Spain +700 Argentina +800 Belgium +1000 England +1600 Portugal +2500 Uruguay +2800 Colombia +3300 Russia +3300 Croatia +4000 Poland +5000 Mexico +8000 Switzerland +8000 Denmark +8000 Sweden +10000 Senegal +12500 Serbia +15000 Egypt +15000 Iceland +15000 Japan +20000 Nigeria +20000 Peru +20000 Costa Rica +25000 Morocco +30000 Iran +30000 Australia +30000 South Korea +40000 Tunisia +50000 Panama +100000 Saudi Arabia +100000

Bet on the 2018 World Cup here