There are 14 UEFA teams at the 2018 World Cup including reigning world champions Germany
There are tons of markets for the 2018 World Cup and the bookmakers have focused on the European teams by offering customers the chance to bet on which UEFA side will go the furthest this summer?
Table of Contents
European Finalist
That means you can potentially back a team on this market and profit if they make the semi-finals providing there are two non-European teams lining up in the World Cup final.
You could also regard this betting market as “Betting without Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay”, with the other teams in the competition unlikely to be at the business end of the World Cup unless we get a real shock.
Top European Team Odds*
Germany 11/4
France 7/2
Spain 9/2
Belgium 8/1
England 10/1
Portugal 14/1
Croatia 25/1
Poland 25/1
Russia 25/1
Switzerland 50/1
Denmark 50/1
Sweden 66/1
Serbia 80/1
Iceland 100/1
* (betting odds taken at 4:17 a.m, on June 11th, 2018)
The favourites
Germany, Spain, France and Belgium form an orderly queue at the head of the market, with these teams trading at single figures at bet365 and the Germany top of the pile at 11/4 odds* (betting odds taken at 4:17 a.m, on June 11th, 2018).
Five years ago, it would have been strange to see the Belgians in this company and one wonders if they have the pedigree to win a World Cup despite a glittering array of stars who all operate for a top-notch domestic club.
The other trio are far more established although we would question why France are generally trading so short in every market considering that Didier Deschamps doesn’t seem to know his best team despite quality in the ranks.
The each-way bets
We are amazed to see England next on the list at 11.00 odds* (betting odds taken at 4:17 a.m, on June 11th, 2018), with the Three Lions seriously short of World Cup experience after bailing out at the group stage in 2014 and they didn’t fare much better in 2016 at the Euros.
Portugal and Russia are also passed over for similar reasons and the hosts will hope they benefit from some favourable refereeing decisions simply to go out of Group A and into the last sixteen.
However, there is no way that Croatia and Poland should be trading at 26.00* (betting odds taken at 4:17 a.m, on June 11th, 2018) considering they are both rugged teams with clear opportunities to make the knockout stage of the competition.
The Croatians in particularly will be confident of finishing ahead of Argentina and winning their group would see their odds on Top European team be slashed by the bookies.
World Cup 2018 outright winner odds at bet365*
Brazil 4/1
Germany 9/2
Spain 6/1
France 13/2
Argentina 9/1
Belgium 11/1
England 16/1
Portugal 25/1
Uruguay 28/1
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 June 11th, 2018 at 1.18 a.m.)
The outsiders
Trading at odds of 51.00 or bigger* (betting odds taken at 4:17 a.m, on June 11th, 2018) are Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Serbia and Iceland, with three of these five teams having qualified through the UEFA play-offs.
Denmark were probably the most impressive qualifiers, with the Danes winning 5-1 on aggregate over Republic of Ireland although they are probably over-reliant on the trickery and goals of Christian Eriksen.
Similarly, Sweden will hope for some midfield magic from Emil Forsberg and the Leipzig midfielder could help them finish ahead of Mexico at the group stage although they are almost destined to finish behind Germany. Sweden are 11/8 odds at bet365 to qualify* (betting odds taken at 4:17 a.m, on June 11th, 2018).
The Swiss, Serbians and Icelanders will all have a chance of making the last sixteen but it’s hard to see them having the requisite quality to challenge at the business end of the tournament.
