Who will win the 2018 World Cup ?

The 2016-2017 Premier League season is over but before football goes into full hibernation mode, we have some tasty World Cup qualifiers to enjoy. Qualification for Russia 2018 is really starting to take shape now. Most sides are halfway through their qualification campaigns and potentially just a few more big results away from making it to the finals.

With no domestic football to occupy us, we thought now was a great time to look ahead to Russia. So, to the big question: who will win the 2018 World Cup? We asked the experts at Football Betting Hub for their opinion and some insight into the latest odds and we discovered few surprises.

Germany, who won the 2014 World Cup, are the bookies’ favourites. They are as short as 9/2 with some bookmakers but shop around and you can get them at odds as long as 6/1 with Paddy Power.

Next up are Brazil, who have already qualified for Russia 2018. Neymar and co can be backed at odds of 7/1 with a range of firms, a price which could tempt many at this stage. Spain and Argentina are both available at odds of 10/1, with France a shade further back in the betting at 11/1.

Beyond those five main contenders there is a secondary group of nations whom the bookies fancy could spring a surprise. It is into this group - as seemingly ever - that England are placed.

Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions are the eighth favourites for glory in a little over a year’s time at odds of 25/1. Again, Paddy Power are going out on a limb somewhat, with most firms pricing England at 20s and some as short as 16/1.

Roberto Martinez’s Belgium are available at 16/1 with most bookies, whilst Italy are 20/1 with Coral. Portugal may tempt some at odds of 30/1 with Colombia at 33/1 and the host nation Russia on offer at 40/1.

So, those are the key odds, but, back to our question: who will win the World Cup? Well, as the prices indicate, things are looking pretty open at the moment. It’s interesting to see Argentina as short as 10/1 given their lacklustre qualifying campaign. Lionel Messi and his team-mates may not even be at the finals if they don’t improve and so they are certainly not for us.

In truth, it’s hard to see past the Germans, who tick all of the right boxes. They have continuity, class, experience and most of all tournament know-how, as well as their famed winning mentality. Odds of 6/1 seem about right but we think there may just be a shade more value in plumping for Brazil.

At 7/1, our prediction for who will triumph in Russia just has to be Canarinho. They have been through some humbling and humiliating experiences over the last three years or so but we think they can bounce back. They have been very good in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and in Neymar they have a talisman who can deliver on the biggest stage.

So, to back Brazil or anyone else, check out FootballBettingHub, where you can get a raft of World Cup offers to help boost your odds of making a profit from betting on Russia 2018.