Who is the favourite to win the World Cup 2018? The latest betting odds for big tournament in Russia here
There will be no Leicester-win-the-Prem fairytale this summer, it's a straight shootout between France Brazil and Co
WE all know it will be one of the big guns... it’s just picking the right one which proves tricky.
Forget any thoughts of World Cup 2018 turning into an outsiders’ tournament.
There will be no repeat of Greece and their Euro heroics.
No Leicester-win-the-Prem type shock.
Those results simply don’t happen in the biggest football tournament on the planet.
This one will be no different.
Yes, there may be the odd shock outcome in the odd game here and there.
But come the final next month, you can pretty much bank on one of the usual suspects hoisting the trophy.
In my book the two to beat are France and Brazil – the only problem is they could well end up meeting in the semis.
France are slightly bigger odds at 13-2, but for all their flair, a tendency for the odd lapse in concentration sways me towards the Samba boys.
MARC OF DISTINCTION Marcus Rashford is a marvel… how the hell does Jose Mourinho not rate him
Admittedly they are favourites, but a tenner at 9-2 still buys enough pints for a hangover and they’re my idea of the winners.
Under boss Tite the memory of that shocking 7-1 humiliation against Germany in 2014 has steadily been erased, and they have lost only one since he took over – a friendly to Argentina.
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They have a tap-in with a simple group, almost certainly an easier last-16 game – and could you honestly see potential quarter-final opponents England beating them?
Neymar, Coutinho, Willian, Jesus, Thiago Silva... superstars wherever you look.
They even have TWO of the best keepers in the world, in first choice Allison, and back-up Ederson.
Germany always fire at the right time so ignore their hiccups in the run-up to Russia, but Spain look the best bet as the other finalists.
They have been reinvigorated under Julen Lopetegui, were unbeaten in qualifying and have an easy passage to the last eight.
In keeper David De Gea and centre backs Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique they have a rock solid defensive spine and there is stardust everywhere you look in midfield.
Unlike previous Spanish coaches, Lopetegui prefers to go with a confirmed number nine, rather than a false one, and they have various options.
Diego Costa’s talents are well known over here, but Iago Aspas – reborn since leaving Liverpool for Celta Vigo – and Rodrigo offer another kind of strike threat.
They could well go all the way to Moscow – before playing second fiddle to the boys from Brazil.