This winter sees the biggest event in football kicking off in Qatar – the long-awaited World Cup – culminating on the 18th of November with the winner lifting the trophy as the best team in the world.
With the players ready and waiting to go head-to-head in the Middle East, there are a few factors that could have an impact on the way they perform – like the temperature, which is a huge change to what European players will be used to this time of year!
As well as injuries that have cost a couple of teams some of their best. One thing is for certain, this competition will tempt many of us to place bets on our favourite teams, some chosen at random, as a way of making the action more exciting, and to win a bit of cash!
So, if you enjoy betting, or playing online casino games, read on as we take a look at the top three favourites to win the World Cup this year.
Brazil
As the competition kicks off in Qatar, all eyes will be on Brazil when it comes to deciding who is going to lift the trophy this year. No matter what, Brazil are always going to be the favourite, and with the players that have been called up – it’s really no surprise.
Fans all over the world might just be about to see a real show when it comes to goals from Brazil, with forwards like Gabriel Martinelli, who has helped take Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table since it began in August, Antony – who has been showcasing his skills with Manchester United before the World Cup Break, and Neymar who is going into the competition with 11 goals under his belt for PSG this season.
But as we know, it’s not all about scoring goals! Keeping your opponents from racking up the points is also key. Brazil’s defence is looking strong, with both Ederson and Alisson Becker to choose from in goal – both of which are incredibly strong choices, as well as Thiago Silva, Alex Telles and Eder Militao to assist defensively. The team cruised through qualifying, so it might be worth hedging your bets on the South Americans this winter.
Argentina
There’s only one man we’ll have our eyes firmly on when it comes to Argentina. It’s Messi’s last chance to snatch the World Cup win, and with a strong team of great players behind him – could this be his best shot? Throughout the last couple of Decades, the South American team have struggled to make it past the quarterfinals.
Much like Brazil, Argentina came out of their group qualification relatively unscathed, so considering their current form – they may just be on their way to the final. Along with Messi, fans should expect to see Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez taking to the pitch to defend, along with Angel Correa and Julian Alvarez up front. Argentina could be a risky one – it could go either way depending on the form they bring to the Cup.
France
The Europeans are always strong contenders when it comes to performing on a World stage, and this year shouldn’t be any different. France is in with a shout when it comes to lifting the cup this December – although their qualifying matches were slightly unconvincing, and with the added blow of a missing Benzema, it could go one of two ways. Players in with a chance of helping the team bounce back from this noticeable absence are Mbappe and Olivier Giroud, who will be hoping to bring home a few points for the French team, as well as big names from across all leagues, like Konate – currently playing for Liverpool and William Saliba who is having an incredible season at Arsenal so far. France is currently the third favourite to win the world cup – but with one of the top players missing, can they live up to expectations?