World Cup 2022 odds: Brazil and Argentina heavily fancied as England's chances drift slightly
The excitement around a World Cup is usually underpinned by a sense of uncertainty because with 32 nations from around the globe, containing the planet’s finest player, the law of averages states there is rarely one outstanding favourite.
Over the last five World Cups, the pre-tournament favourites have won it just once - Spain in 2010 - adding to the feeling that whatever is said about a team prior to the tournament - until it kicks off, you can never be quite sure how they’re going to perform.
There are some unique conditions in Qatar that could explain how the bookmakers’ forecasts are running at the moment with the heat sure to play a part and that, coupled with the quality of their squads, is perhaps why Brazil and Argentina sit on top of the betting markets for outright winner.
Both have proven world class players in key positions, strong supporting casts and enter the tournament having performed well in qualifying and the subsequent friendlies in the build-up. However, it should be noted that of the five World Cups this century, Brazil have been considered favourites three times (2006, 2014 and 2018), and Argentina once (2002) and neither have won it with such billing.
As for the European nations, holders France sit top of the tree and a win for Didier Deschamps’ side will mean they become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend the trophy.
England’s chances appear to be slipping slightly in the eyes of the bookies as they’ve ever so slightly drifted to fifth favourites, sandwiched between Spain and Germany, with their form in 2022 not good enough to consider them credible winners, at least not yet.
You can see the full list, via Oddschecker, below with all figures quoted correct at the time of publishing…
- Brazil - 4/1
- Argentina - 11/2
- France - 15/2
- Spain - 9/1
- England - 10/1
- Germany - 12/1
- Netherlands - 14/1
- Portugal - 17/1
- Belgium - 19/1
- Denmark - 33/1
- Uruguay - 50/1
- Croatia - 66/1
- Serbia - 125/1
- Switzerland - 130/1
- Senegal - 139/1
- Mexico - 209/1
- USA - 239/1
- Poland - 250/1
- Ecuador - 275/1
- Wales - 300/1
- Morocco - 300/1
- Japan - 425/1
- Canada - 500/1
- Australia - 500/1
- Ghana - 500/1
- South Korea - 550/1
- Iran - 550/1
- Cameroon - 650/1
- Qatar - 750/1
- Saudi Arabia - 900/1
- Tunisia - 900/1
- Costa Rica - 1,000/1
