World Cup 2018 Outright Betting Tips and Preview
The 2018 World Cup in Russia is edging closer to its kick off and we couldn’t be more excited! All of our guides, acca tips, predictions and previews to the tournament will be surfacing over time as we aim to give our readers the knowledge and insight well in advance.
With teams confirming their qualification for the tournament, we have decided to take a look at the Outright betting market for Russia 2018.
In 2014, third favourites for glory Germany toppled hosts and pre-tournament favourites Brazil in the semi-finals before overcoming two-time winners Argentina in a tense World Cup final. Those three teams, along with France and Spain, head the outright market for the 2018 World Cup.
Previous tournament record holders include one-time winners England, France and Spain, two-time winners Uruguay and Argentina, while the others have all been won by Italy, Germany or Brazil. Germany’s 2014 triumph was their fourth success story, equalling the feat that Italy achieved in 2006. Brazil’s last win came in 2002, where Ronaldo scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Germany – that was their record fifth World Cup title.
We decided to take a look at some of the bookmakers leading candidates to win the 2018 World Cup outright:
Germany
Germany were sensational in their 2014 World Cup success, overcoming France, Brazil and Argentina en route to hard-attained glory. The impressive strides the German FA made in the long-term certainly didn’t stop there, however. Joachim Low watched his veteran stars Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski retire and gradually introduced the next generation of German mega stars to the ranks. Despite an unfortunate semi-final loss to France at Euro 2016, Germany wrapped up some national silverware as their mix of fledglings and experience triumphed at the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Jogi Low’s squad for the 2018 World Cup will feature some of the world’s greatest team players hitting their peak. The likes of Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil will help get the best from exciting youngsters like Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sane and Timo Werner. The team ethic and elite mentality among the ranks makes Germany a very fair leading contender for Russia 2018 – can they become only the third team to win back-to-back World Cup titles?
Brazil
Brazil faced perhaps the toughest test of all in the build-up to Russia 2018 – bounce back from that humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in Belo Horizonte. Under the guidance of the excellent Tite, Brazil have passed that test with flying colours. Initially, a struggle looked possible again as underwhelming Dunga shamed the nation in a Copa America group stage exit. Tite’s appointment from Corinthians foresaw a miraculous change from top to bottom however, including results.
Tite’s overhaul also saw plenty of personnel tweaks. Gone are World Cup 2014 disappointments like Julio Cesar, Ramires, Hulk, Oscar and Fred; replaced by highly motivated, respected team players of the present and future like Alisson, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus. The world’s most expensive player Neymar still leads from the front, but the pressure on his shoulders is slightly lessened with ever-growing team spirit. The samba superstars appear to be rejuvenated and ready to compete – they look really solid as second favourites.
France
France have slowly but surely developed into a proposition as their next era of talents have come through under 1998 World Cup winner Didier Deschamps. Les Bleus crashed out to Germany in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals before suffering the ultimate heartbreak of a Euro 2016 final loss on home ground. A potentially difficult World Cup qualifying group followed, but France are now on course to Russia 2018.
Didier Deschamps has watched multiple young talents arrive and evolve since taking over from Laurent Blanc in 2012. At that point, none of Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Benjamin Mendy, Djibril Sidibe, N’Golo Kante, Thomas Lemar, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann or Kylian Mbappe had been seen in a France shirt; some not even seen at club level. Infact, Kylian Mbappe was just a 12 year old boy playing for SC Bondy in the suburbs of Paris! Now this exciting group of stars look essential in France’s quest for a second World Cup success. Performances under Deschamps haven’t been consistently excellent, but such an array of talent should surely be considered huge contenders for the crown.
Spain
Brazil 2014 will undoubtedly bring back some horrific memories for Spain, crashing out in the group stage after demoralising losses to Netherlands and Chile. Pivotal stars of Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 successes Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa called it a day shortly afterwards. For most, La Roja’s era of domination was all but over. Failure at Euro 2016 two years later all but confirmed those fears. However, with the departure of esteemed veteran boss Vicente del Bosque and the arrival of exciting young coach Julen Lopetegui, a new era is now dawning.
Lopetegui’s Spain have played marvellous football in their World Cup 2018 qualifying group, toppling an Italy side who were previously unbeaten in 55 qualifying matches along the way. Lopetegui’s team play with a similar footballing philosophy to del Bosque’s Spain, holding a high line, maintaining possession and patiently waiting for an opening. Perennials Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and David Silva remain offering wisdom to the likes of Isco, Thiago Alcantara, Koke and Alvaro Morata, who have earned their right with consistently mesmerising displays at domestic level. The key to success will lie in Spain’s game management.
Argentina
Argentina’s tale of woe began but certainly didn’t end at the Maracana in 2014. Alejandro Sabella’s final misery at the hands of Germany was infact just the start of a torrid few years for one of the great footballing nations. Tata Martino stepped in following that failure, only to see his side leave Copa America in both 2015 and 2016 as bridesmaids once more. Two managers later, with Martino resigning and his successor Edgardo Bauza not upto the job, former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli is at the helm, hoping to bring the glory days back to Argentina. His first task is to turn a poor qualifying campaign around and wrap up an automatic qualification spot.
With Lionel Messi in the ranks, you’d assume managing Argentina would be one of the easiest jobs in the world. However, La Albiceleste have struggled for goals over the last year, despite having Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi to choose from. Sampaoli’s arrival is expected to see a huge upturn in performances as he brings out the same passionate, high pressing, energetic displays his Universidad de Chile, Chile national team and Sevilla sides displayed. The quality lies mostly in attack, but Argentina’s notoriously shaky defence has stabilised recently. Could Argentina turn their hapless tournament luck around under new management?
Belgium
Currently the fifth best footballing nation according to the FIFA rankings (and previously THE best in 2015), Belgium are one of the most talked about countries in world football right now. After five years of discussing the potential of an astronomically talented bunch, it’s surely do-or-die time for Belgium’s ‘golden generation’. Brazil 2014 was a tremendously dull disappointment for Marc Wilmots’ side, while Euro 2016 saw a hitch in their plan for European domination in minnows Wales. That summer, it was a case of out with Wilmots and in with once highly regarded head coach Roberto Martinez and Belgium have looked plenty more menacing since that decision was made.
With Russia 2018 just around the corner, the former Everton boss will be delighted to see plenty of his stars flourishing at club level. Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens are scoring goals for fun at Man United and Napoli respectively, Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard have lit up the Premier League with their innovation and genius. Defensively, stars Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are at their peak in one of the best defences in the Premier League, while Thibaut Courtois gets better and better between the sticks at Chelsea. More importantly, Martinez has got the kind of performances from his side in qualifying that Wilmots should have been getting all along. Big quotes are floating around for the Red Devils to be successful and it’s getting harder and harder to doubt their credentials.
Italy
Italy’s World Cup fortunes have been scarcely believable after their Germany 2006 heroics against France. Since the Azzurri’s glory that summer, Marcelo Lippi has been and gone in separate spells, Roberto Donadoni and Cesare Prandelli haven’t lived up to the billing and Antonio Conte revived the nation briefly before departing. Distinguished former Torino manager Gian Piero Ventura now leads Italy, looking to build on the glimmer of hope Conte brought to the Azzurri in Euro 2016.
Ventura’s start to the job has been promising, going toe-to-toe with Spain in the qualifying stages, ultimately having to settle for second place. There’s a lot of work to be done to reinvigorate his side to achieve the greatness of past winners. Still, plenty of talent is emerging with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Verratti and Andrea Belotti adding to a strong core of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Daniele de Rossi. Despite poor showings in 2010 and 2014, Italy have garnered a reputation as a strong ‘tournament team’, capable of raising their game on the big stage. Could they step it up at the grandest stage of them all once more?
England
England know the feeling better than any other nation when it comes to being built up just to be let down. You’d have to go all the way back to 1966 to revisit England’s only ever major tournament triumph, defeating Germany 4-2 in the World Cup final. Since then, the Three Lions have rebuilt their squad time and time again, not once progressing past the semi-final stage. Despite horrific performances at Euro 2016 and the 2014 World Cup, hope is prospering once more that England can defy the odds and win their first World Cup in 52 long years.
Gareth Southgate is the manager tasked with the difficult job of leading the Three Lions to greatness. The former England U21 boss worked his way through the ranks to take the reigns following Sam Allardyce’s distasteful exit after just one game in charge. England have top class quality in plenty of positions, including one of the world’s greatest strikers in Harry Kane, lethal pace and penetration in Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, talent in abundance in midfielder Dele Alli and a highly regarded ball playing centre back in John Stones. Still, the prevalent feeling is that these stars will struggle to click as a unit once more. England’s archaic footballing tactics and philosophy will likely see them fall at the biggest stage of them all, but some will rightly or wrongly still believe.
Portugal
Fernando Santos has already worked wonders since his arrival at Portugal, taking over from Paulo Bento. Euro 2016 saw A Selecção pick up their first major trophy thanks to superb character, togetherness and unity from an-often underwhelming side, instilled under Santos’s regime. Portugal have shown that their success was no fluke in the aftermath, putting in some remarkable performances in qualifying for Russia 2018. Their captain and leader Cristiano Ronaldo has won everything in football other than the World Cup, and his supporting cast this time around may be his most talented yet at international level.
Although it’s predominantly a youthful bunch, the experience in the likes of Ronaldo, Pepe, Ricardo Quaresma, Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho will aid the development of a potentially dominant team of the future. Among the stars, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has the creative spark to unlock the tightest of defences, AC Milan striker Andre Silva looks destined for greatness as their poacher and left-back-cum-midfielder Raphaël Guerreiro is a born winner. Santos’s side are incredibly hard to break down and offer some real value as outsiders for a first-ever World Cup success in Russia.
Colombia
Colombia were one of the 2014 World Cup’s surprise packages, topping their group with three superb wins before elimination to hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals. Jose Pekerman’s side played attacking football at a great pace and were truly a joy to watch right up until their unfortunate demise. Thankfully, the Argentine boss remains at the helm for Russia 2018 and Colombia have done exceptionally well to qualify with such ease. Their last eight exit in Brazil was a highest ever finish ever at a World Cup, but it would be foolish to rule them out of surpassing that in Russia.
Brazil 2014’s Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez earned a mega-bucks move to Real Madrid after his dazzling tournament displays and he’s still the main man for Pekerman’s side. Several cogs in that tournament have hung up their boots or simply been moved on, including veteran defender Mario Yepes, Fredy Guarin, Pablo Armero and Juan Camilo Zuniga. A new breed of Colombian stars has arrived on the scene, and the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Edwin Cardona, Yerry Mina, Wilmar Barrios and Frank Fabra are ready to put their names up in lights. Evergreen striker Radamel Falcao has returned to full fitness and staggering goalscoring form in the years building up to Russia and he will provide the killer instinct to James Rodriguez’s ingenious. Don’t rule out Colombia making a big splash at a whopping price.
Leave a Reply