Who are the favorites to win the World Cup?
By Ty Finch
The 2018 World Cup is almost here. Who are the favorites to lift the coveted trophy this year?
In reality, there are around eight or nine countries that have a realistic shot at winning the World Cup. It’s not likely — in fact, it’s closer to impossible — that a country like Tunisia or Saudi Arabia can even reach the final, let alone win it. The bigger, more established teams will always have the upper hand.
Winning a tournament like this takes intense preparation, dedication and a lot of luck. Even qualifying for the World Cup can be tough; the winners of the 2006 tournament (Italy) won’t even be participating. Other established veterans like Netherlands and the USA are on the outside looking in as well.
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So, who are these eight of nine teams that have a realistic shot at taking home the trophy? According to a few odds-makers, 2014 winners Germany and 2002’s champions Brazil have the best chance to win it all. That’s not surprising in the least. Both teams are always in the mix to win every big tournament they enter, regardless of the year. The two met in 2014 in a match that every Brazilian in the world would like to forget, with Germany winning by an astonishing seven goals to one.
Along with those two powerhouses, both Spain and France will be confident they can go deep this year. Spain last won in 2010 during one of the most dominant international soccer runs in history, and France last took home the title in 1998.
Outside of those top four, there could be a dark horse like Argentina, Belgium, England, Portugal or Uruguay. None of them are favorites for good reason, but have enough talent to knock off the best teams on their day.