It is now down to the final eight teams left standing at the 2018 World Cup and England are one of those eight. So the excitement is still high in what has been a thoroughly entertaining tournament so far, where the majority of the big guns going into the event have crumbled and fallen away. It is Brazil who are still leading the way as the outright favourites to get their hands on the title but as we have seen, pretty much anything can happen and there is bound to be more drama along the way.
Here we take a look at World Cup 2018 quarter-finals betting odds.
Uruguay v France
France even money
Draw 11/5
Uruguay 18/5
* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm)
This is the opening of the quarter-finals at Russia 2018 and it should be a good one as well. Uruguay went into the tournament as one of the strong dark horses and they have fought and battled their way through to what pretty much was an expected quarter-final berth. Uruguay got the better of Portugal in the last round thanks to some strong defence and opportunistic quality in breaking forward. They are going to need all of their defensive strengths again as they host France who showed just what an attacking force they can be as they powered their way past Argentina in the round of 16.
Uruguay have Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani who between them have 98 international goals for their country. That is some strike partnership but Uruguay don’t really play on the front foot all that much so you can expect to see them sit back and is try and soak up some pressure. There is still a bit of an injury concern over Cavani, who got Uruguay’s two goals in their victory over Portugal. France have slowly found their feet at the tournament, getting better and better with each match. After finding themselves behind against Argentina they exploded into life to beat the South Americans 4-3. Both of these really have their strengths and it is worth looking over 2.5 goals for this game which is at 8/5 odds at bet365* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm).
Uruguay v France prediction
We are siding with the French to get the job done but only by a narrow one-goal margin. Uruguay’s defence is going to take some breaking, but France looked far better in their game against Argentina more of a cohesive unit. They may just have the creativity in their ranks in the second half to punish some tiring Uruguay legs.
Brazil v Belgium
Brazil 23/20
Draw 12/5
Belgium 27/10
* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm)
This is one of the predicted quarter-final match ups that always seem to be on the cards before a single ball was kicked in anger at this tournament. It pits Brazil, the greatest nation in the history of soccer against Belgium side who are supposed to be one of the next big up and coming things. You have two sides here who are both on great undefeated streaks of form. Belgium are undefeated in 23 games now and they have collected a win in all four of their fixtures at Russia 2018. They had a real fight on their hands in the round of 16 though in having to battle back from being 2-0 down against Japan in what was supposed to be a very easy fixture for the Red Devils. But to their credit they had a plan B up their sleeve and they got through the task.
Brazil are the very epitome of a cohesive team, something that Belgium haven’t looked much of at times. The Brazilians are on a long undefeated streak of form as well and since last September they have won 11 of their 14 games played, drawing the other three. Brazil had a bit of a slow start to the 2018 World Cup although they never looked in trouble at any point. They have won each of their last three games now at the tournament by a 2-0 scoreline but because Belgium do carry a big attacking threat especially on the break, much like Brazil themselves do, we are backing both teams to score in this fixture at 3/4 odds* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm). That will be an achievement for Belgium because Brazil’s defence has been superb for a long time now and they have conceded in just one of their last nine games.
Brazil v Belgium prediction
We are going with the Selecao to collect the win in this one but only by a one-goal margin. You have two very similar setups here as both are so quick and lethal on the break. But if you look at the two sides Brazil are more of a team than the Belgians are. Belgium have looked very guilty of being a collection of individuals as opposed to a team. Also because of Brazil’s superior defence, we are backing the South Americans to edge this tie.
Sweden v England
England 10/11
Draw 12/5
Sweden 15/4
* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm)
What an afternoon this is going to be as the two European nations square off for a place in the semi-finals. Sweden have really flown under the radar through the tournament but they are producing some fine stuff as a team. They have proven to be more than the sum of their parts and while they lack the individual talent, they work so hard as a team for each other and they have a simple game plan. They stick to it and it works for them. That game plan is to sit deep and to fire long balls forward and try to use pace and physicality to unsettle teams. Sweden are lacking a bit in the goalscoring department in terms of quality and that is where England could have the upper hand.
England’s World Cup has pretty much been reliant upon converting set pieces and that has been down to a lack of service to Harry Kane in open play. To be fair to Kane, the two players trusted most with serving him have been Raheem sterling and Dele Ali, neither of which have contributed a great deal other than effort. England buried a lot of ghosts in their penalty shootout win over Colombia in the last round and that will just have done their confidence even further good. This is a great opportunity for England to reach the semi finals for the first time since 1990, but they are going to be facing another well organised well drilled and tough physical side. It would not be a surprise if this game finished under 1.5 goals which is at 1/2 odds* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm).
Sweden v England prediction
We can see England finding a way to get the win on the board in this one. Out of the two sides, they are the ones who are clearly going to be pushing forward more but are going to have to come up with much more creativity from open play and they showed against Colombia. England have more match winners in their ranks than the Swedes do, but we are looking at England taking their place in the semi-finals.
Russia v Croatia
Croatia 6/5
Draw 21/10
Russia 3/1
* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm)
All credit due to Russia after what they pulled off in the round of 16 match when they got past Spain. Russia were heavy underdogs for that game but they stuck to their plans of just parking the bus and they got the job done via a penalty shootout. It may not have been the prettiest are from them but it was tactics and it worked. Russia went into this tournament as the lowest ranked side taking part and there will not have been many people even within Russia who will have expected them to be playing in a quarter-final tie. The question is can they produce another upset and make it through to the final four?
Croatia have been to the quarter-finals of the World Cup just once before which was back in 1998 when they finished third at the tournament. This is a very good crop of players that the Croats have at the moment but for a lot of them it will be their last chance at shooting for World Cup glory. Croatia have a fantastic midfield and they are strong at the back as well. Their one weak area perhaps is up front but they are likely to control most of this game and keep the Russians pressed back and so the Croats are likely to come up with chances enough to win this fixture. When it boils down to the individual quality that both teams can put out in their starting 11 is without question Croatia have edge.
Russia v Croatia prediction
As within the other quarter-final matchups, we see a tight game playing itself out here. Both of these went to extra time in the last round but of the two sides, Russia looked to have felt it more. Croatia just may have to be patient in this one to get the job done. We can see a draw/Croatia half-time/ full-time result for 4/1 odds* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm) playing out as Croatia are likely to get more space the longer this game draws on with the Russians tiring.
World Cup 2018 outright winner odds*
Brazil 11/4
France 4/1
England 4/1
Croatia 6/1
Belgium 6/1
Uruguay 16/1
Russia 20/1
Sweden 25/1
* (betting odds taken from July 4th, 2018 at 8:41 pm)
