The World Cup 2018 is taking place across 11 different venues in Russia. 32 teams will be competing for top honours.

Here at Betting Top 10, we’ll be keeping you updated with all of the major incidents and news and bringing you any eye-catching changes in the betting markets – as well as bringing you our World Cup predictions and free bets.

Many pundits are already making their World Cup predictions for the 2018 tournament with France and Brazil dominating the market early on, with the latter looking very impressive under new manager Tite.

Top Goalscorer Predictions

The top goalscorer bet is one of the most popular markets both before and during the World Cup finals. This is where the world’s leading strikers battle it out to win the prestigious Golden Boot. The favourites for this year include Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Neymar, but Antoine Griezmann and Gabriel Jesus are also worth considering in the betting.

Below you’ll find our top goalscorers widget that will help you decide on who you want to bet on. The widget includes the top five favourites, the teams they play for, the probability of them winning the Golden Boot and the odds.

Top Goalscorer Odds

 

World Cup Winner Predictions

Brazil

Brazil swept through their qualifying group in South America and a recent friendly victory over Germany will have done wonders for their confidence. The Samba Kings look worthy favourites in the World Cup odds list to win for the tournament.

3 Reasons Brazil Could Win

  • Their team boasts plenty of attacking talent including Jesus, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho
  • They lost just one of their eighteen qualification matches and finished top of their group with a 10-point lead over Colombia
  • Their 7-1 defeat against Germany in the 2014 semi-finals could motivate them this summer

France

France have a strong line-up that includes an array of attacking talent. The likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe have the ability to destroy teams and it would be a major surprise if they don’t progress to at least the semi-finals.

3 Reasons France Could Win

  • Coach Didier Deschamps has improved the team defensively, with France conceding just six goals in ten qualifying games
  • Paul Pogba has struggled for Manchester United, but he remains an important part of the French team and will be eager to prove a point
  • In addition to Griezmann and Mbappe, France can also call on Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, Florian Thauvin, Thomas Lemar and Nabil Fekir in the forward areas

How are the favourites decided?

Traders are using a variety of techniques to decide which teams are selected as favourites. Recent form in qualifying games are always a good indicator in these kind of markets, and many World Cup predictions are often made on how each nation performed in their group.

Previous history is also a factor that can help determine the market. Only eight teams have ever been successful at this tournament and there are a number of sides who don’t possess the winning mentality and often crumble under pressure. England are one of the many sides who have previously won a World Cup, but their recent history and results suggest they may struggle to get beyond the semi-final stage of the competition so they are priced up accordingly.

Other World Cup predictions are based on historical statistics. For example, prior to Germany’s victory in Brazil in 2014 no European team had won the tournament when it was staged in South America. Brazil and Argentina were heavily fancied to lift the trophy, but the Germans beat both to claim their fourth World Cup success, and knocked out from this tournament.

Groups Stage Predictions

The groups stage is over – results and knock out stage

Check out our World Cup predictions of who we think will qualify for the knockout rounds from the group stage of this summer’s tournament in Russia.

Group A

Uruguay are strongly fancied to finish top of this group, while hosts Russia will hope to improve on their poor showing at Euro 2016. Mohamed Salah could inspire Egypt to spring a surprise, but Saudi Arabia look out of their depth.

Group B

Spain and Portugal look sure to fight out top spot in Group B, with Morocco and Iran set to fill third and fourth places. The Spanish are favourites to win the group and should oblige.

Group C

France’s array of attacking talent should prove too strong for their Group C rivals. Denmark look a good bet to seal second place, with Peru and Australia likely to be heading home after the group stage.

Group D

Lionel Messi is expected to lead Argentina to the latter stages of the World Cup and it would be a big surprise if they failed to win their group. Croatia are narrowly fancied to claim second place, although Iceland and Nigeria both have the talent to progress.

Group E

Brazil should breeze through the group stage, but who claims second spot is less clear. Switzerland have reached the knockout stages in two of the last three tournaments, but Serbia and Costa Rica will not be pushovers.

Group F

Germany are one of the most popular World Cup predictions amongst pundits to take top spot in Group F and Sweden should join them in the last 16. Mexico and Korea Republic could spring a surprise, although the European duo look a cut above that pair.

Group G

Belgium have assembled a squad full of talent and should narrowly claim first place ahead of England. Tunisia and Panama are expected to struggle.

Group H

Robert Lewandowski is the man to fear in Group H and he should fire Poland to the next round. Colombia are expected to join them, with Senegal and Japan exiting the tournament after the first stage.

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