Russia 2018: The best bets from every World Cup group and tips for most goals

NOT long now until the greatest show on Earth kicks-off so join us as we run you through the best bets in every group and some other sneaky speculators to keep you cheering.

NOT long now until the greatest show on Earth kicks-off … but how well do you know the groups?

While Brazil, France, Germany, Uruguay and Spain are almost certain to top theirs, there are plenty of dark horses.

We run you through the best bets in every group and then some sneaky speculators such as golden boot and golden glove winners.

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GLAMOUR: Meet the Aussie WAGs of the World Cup

GROUP A: Russia, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Uruguay take our fancy here. The South Americans are powered by Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. They are hot favourites to win Group A and are paying $1.72 with bet365. If you are looking for some value, Mo Salah’s Egypt are paying $2.50 to pip hosts Russia and get out of that group.

GROUP B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran

Following a period of dominance after Euros successes in 2008 and 2010, with World Cup glory in 2012, Spain are looking to put the disappointment of the last World Cup behind them. A hot tip for top scoring team (see more below) the Spaniards look a good thing to win their group and you can get $1.50 for them to do that. Portugal upset the odds when they were crowned European Champions in 2016, the squad hasn’t changed much since their success in France and Cristiano Ronaldo is in ominous form as ever. Despite that $1.22 to qualify is a bit skinny for us and we’re chasing the near enough 4/1 for Morocco to reach the Round of 16. Morocco are ranked 42nd in the world but could cause problems for Portugal and Spain.

Hakim Ziyech, who won Dutch Footballer of the Year after his impressive season at Ajax, is a tricky playmaker capable of unlocking defences. bet365 are offering $4.50 on the North Africans to qualify.

GROUP C: France, Australia, Peru and Denmark

Paying just $1.05, France are the most favoured nation to qualify from their group — ahead even of Brazil in Group E. Denmark, boasting a very well balanced squad with plenty of international experience to choose from are paying just $1.72. Peru are unbeaten in their past 12 games and beat Croatia and Iceland and drew 0-0 with Sweden in their past five. Good form for a team paying $2.62 to qualify. Sorry to say, I just don’t see the Socceroos getting out of the group.

GROUP D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria

Every World Cup needs a ‘Group of Death’ and arguably this is it (with honourable mention to Group B). Argentina reached the final in the last World Cup but almost didn’t make it to Russia. It was a Messi hat-trick in the final qualifier that secured their place and it will all be about the Barca man again — on that basis we recommend looking for better value than the $1.61 for La Albiceleste to win the group. Of the other three, Iceland flew through qualifying and their tenacious style is perfect for tournament football while Nigeria might be the lowest ranked team in the group but you shouldn’t write them off. Nigeria beat Argentina 4-2 in November and have a Premier League frontline dripping with pace. That leaves Croatia, any team would be envious of a midfield containing Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic and with a tough defence and Mario Mandzukic leading the line, they rightly deserve their dark horse tag. Best bet may be to steer clear of this group.

GROUP E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia

Rightly favoured to top their group Brazil’s options in attack are a vast improvement from 2014 with Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho all at their disposal. The $1.28 on offer to top Group E is pretty juicy if you are putting together multiples. Of the rest, Switzerland’s stout defensive unit (which shipped just seven goals throughout WC qualifying) has them rated a $2 chance to qualify. Those odds seem a little ‘unders’ compared to the Serbians who will field a squad blended with experience and youth and led by Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic who are $2.20 to qualify.

GROUP F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea

How strong is the German squad? Well coach Joachim Low has opted to drop Manchester City star Leroy Sane so pretty damn strong and despite the quality of the next two teams they look good things to top their group at $1.33. Mexico ($1.90 to qualify) are making their 16th appearance at the World Cup and will be hoping to build on their impressive performances from 2014. Javier Hernandez has had an indifferent season with West Ham but will lead the line for Mexico this summer with high expectations placed on him. While, Sweden ($2.37 to qualify) defied all the odds when they knocked out Italy to progress from the play offs. Even without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden have showed that they can compete with the big sides and could cause some shocks in Russia.

GROUP G: Belgium, England, Tunisia and Panama

The group looks like a safe one for England ($1.12) and Belgium ($1.083) to qualify but fans, and punters, would be right to be wary of two of the great underachieving teams of recent history. Tunisia, currently ranked number 21 in the world, could be tournament dark horses after an impressive qualifying campaign. The North African nation are at their first World Cup since 1998 and could really cause England problems in their opening game. Were the Eagles of Carthage to cause, an admittedly unlikely, upset against England then you’ll be crowing if you have a piece of the $5 on offer for them to qualify.

GROUP H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan

The roughest chance to qualify from the most open group in the Cup are Japan and they’re currently paying just $3 to do so. Poland’s hopes ($1.57 to qualify) very much depend on the goalscoring exploits of Robert Lewandowski after another stellar season from the Bayern Munich man. They’re a decent tournament team and had a good run at Euro 2016 but were hit by the news that key centre-back Kamil Glik will miss the entire competition through injury. The African sides look stronger than ever this year and with Sadio Mane headlining a pacy looking attacking line up Senegal ($2.25 to qualify) could cause some problems. Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the best in his position in the world while Everton star Idrissa Gueye is a battling presence in midfield. Colombia ($1.36 to qualify and $2.37 to win the Group) and James Rodriguez in particular really surprised a few in Brazil in 2014 and they’ll fancy their chances of getting out of the groups again. They have plenty of firepower in attack with Radamel Falcao and Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez is a key man at the back.

TOP GOALSCORER

Neymar — $10

Brazil are favourites for a reason and with their talisman back to full fitness again they’re a truly terrifying prospect. Neymar struck in Brazil’s last two warm up games and will be hellbent on banishing the nightmare of 2014.

Antoine Griezmann — $13

Griezmann’s stock is rising by the season and his stellar performances at Euro 2016 — where he won the Golden Boot with six goals — prove he can do it on the biggest stage. France are much fancied to go deep in the tournament and with a pretty straightforward group Griezmann could cause carnage early on.

Edinson Cavani — $21

Don’t sleep on Uruguay, whose tournament record is impressive in recent seasons and are spearheaded by a formidable attacking duo of Cavani and Luis Suarez. They should enjoy themselves in Group A alongside hosts Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Cavani is a bit of a flat-track bully so will be licking his lips.

Kylian Mbappe — $26

The French Golden Boy is playing at his first international tournament but nothing has fazed him so far. In a terrifying attacking trio alongside Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, Mbappe and France could scare the daylights out of anyone in Russia.

Iago Aspas — $ 67

Remember him Liverpool fans? Three seasons ago he was the laughing stock of Merseyside, but this campaign he was the top Spanish scorer in Europe. And Aspas’ form may give him the nod ahead of Diego Costa in the Spanish attack, which should be a relatively easy job given the ridiculous depth of creativity behind them.

Mario Mandzukic — $67

Croatia are always everyone’s dark horses and this summer they look really strong. Mandzukic is their figurehead in attack, ably supported by the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic who will all be looking to supply him.

HIGHEST SCORING TEAM

Brazil ($5.50 as top scoring team) and Germany ($6) may be the consensus picks to win the Cup but you should look farther afield for the top scoring team at Russia 2018.

Given the way the draw is likely to pan out, it is hard to see Spain ($7 to be top scoring team) having too many problems before the semi-finals at the very least.

Take the group games to start with, where Morocco and Iran will be little more than shooting practice and could both get a whacking.

And although Portugal are reigning European champions, they rode their luck hugely in France two years ago and they are a team now on the other side of the hill.

It is easy to see creaking defensive trio Jose Fonte, Pepe and Bruno Alves — combined age of over 100 — getting a real runround off the quick-passing Spaniards in the Group B opener.

Maybe Spain do lack an out-and-out attacking spearhead, a real focal point striker in the mould of England’s Harry Kane, or Robert Lewandowski of Poland.

But that doesn’t deaden their threat. You could argue the opposite, in fact.

Unlike previous coaches, Julen Lopetegui prefers to go with a definite number nine, rather than a false one, and has various options — and styles.

Diego Costa is favourite for the job and needs no introduction to English fans, any more than he does to opposing centre backs and referees.

But if Lopetegui opts for a trickier, run-off-the-shoulder of the last defender striker ahead of Costa’s more bullocking style, Iago Aspas, Rodrigo and Lucas Vazquez are all well capable.

Aspas in particular is interesting, because while Liverpool supporters remember him as a total flop, he has been scoring for fun since returning to Celta Vigo.

There are goals beyond the strikers too, with Real Madrid’s Isco always a danger.

Meanwhile David Silva chips in with as many goals for country as he does with Manchester City.

In the second stage Spain, presuming they top their section, will face the Group A runners-up — Russia or Egypt.

That offers another chance for goals, which will probably tee up a quarter-final against an Argentina side which is a poor imitation of former ones.

So then it’s the semis, which guarantees another two games even if they lose, and chance to bag a couple more.

It’s easy to see why plenty fancy Spain to go all the way this time.

It’s even easier to see why even more reckon they’ll outscore the rest whether they conquer the world or not.

This article originally appeared on The Sun

Originally published as Russia 2018: The best bets from every World Cup group and tips for most goals