Japan are the market leaders when it comes to Best Asian Team ahead of the 2018 World Cup
Five teams qualified for the 2018 World Cup from the AFC section, with Australia forming part of the Asian Football Confederation in recent years.
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Japan the best of the AFC?
The Socceroos are joined by Japan, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the Asian teams not expected to make a big impact on the tournament although one or two have a chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Japan are the 7/4 favourites with BetVictor to be the best Asian team in Russia, with the Samurai Blue thrust into an open Group H that also includes Poland, Colombia and Senegal.
However, Akira Nishino’s team might have their work cut out against quality opposition, with Japan having played thirteen World Cup matches aside from the 2002 tournament (where they had home advantage) and they won just two games.
Best Asian Team odds*
Japan 7/4
South Korea 10/3
Australia 10/3
Iran 10/3
Saudi Arabia 9/1
* (betting odds taken on June 13th, 2018 at 4:33 a.m.)
Iran with a lively chance
Therefore, we could look elsewhere and Iran strike us as having a lively chance in Group B despite being drawn in the same section as Spain and Portugal.
Carlos Queiroz’s side will go up against Morocco in their 2018 World Cup opener and a crucial win in Saint Petersburg could see Iran looking to squeeze out a point against Spain before a potential crunch clash against the Portuguese.
On first glance, Portugal look difficult to oppose after winning their World Cup qualifying group with nine wins and coming into them after winning the 2016 European Championship.
However, they are over-reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo and the Real Madrid superstar is sure to be marked heavily. Iran are a 10/3 chance* (betting odds taken on June 13th, 2018 at 4:33 a.m.) to claim the top Asian team prize and they look to have the best chance of all.
Saudi Arabia
We are happy to draw a line through Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that they were the only Asian side to score in all ten matches during the final round of qualifying.
The Saudis have also been given a fairly favourable group although hosts Russia are an unpredictable lot and Uruguay possess the class to go very deep in this tournament, while Egypt will pitch up with leading Premier League star Mohamed Salah.
Socceroos to struggle?
Australia look a touch short at odds of 10/3 wtih BetVictor* (betting odds taken on June 13th, 2018 at 4:33 a.m.) and the Socceroos are now managed by the experienced Bert van Marwijk, with the Dutchman having taken the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup and he’s since had a spell with Saudi Arabia.
The Aussies are in the same group as France, Denmark and Peru, with a tricky opener against Les Bleus likely to put the men in yellow on the back foot.
World Cup 2018 outright winner odds*
Brazil 4/1
Germany 5/1
Spain 6/1
France 6/1
Argentina 9/1
Belgium 10/1
England 16/1
Portugal 25/1
Uruguay 25/1
Croatia 33/1
Columbia 40/1
Russia 40/1
Poland 66/1
Denmark 100/1
Mexico 100/1
Switzerland 125/1
Sweden 150/1
Peru 150/1
Bar 200/1
* (Betting Odds taken from BetVictor on June 13th, 2018 at 4.18 a.m.)
The Taeguk Warriors
Finally, we have a South Korea team who are in the same group as a German side expected to win Group F at a canter, while Sweden and Mexico could be decent opponents for the Taeguk Warriors.
However, we are sticking with Iran to potentially emerge through Group B thanks to the sort of stubborn defensiveness that could see them go through in second behind Spain.
