England
football fans - Source: Unsplash
Even though the World Cup is yet to get underway, online betting sites have had the
tournament priced up ever since Lionel Messi led Argentina to glory four years
ago. As soon as the curtain came down on that epic final against France in
Qatar, the bookies immediately got to work. But anyone thinking that the
betting odds remain the same as they did when they were first published should
think again.
France and Brazil were the two teams that opened up as
the early 6/1 frontrunners. Since then, however, much has changed, and on the
eve of the tournament, its reigning European champions, Spain, find themselves
in pole position. Websites offering soccer betting with Bitcoin currently position La Roja as the
short-priced 9/2 favorites, with much of that down to their stellar
performances at Euro 2024 two years ago. They were as long as 10/1 with some
outlets when betting on the 2026 showpiece was first offered.
Odds have been chopping and changing ever since the World
Cup winner market opened up. However, in recent weeks, the odds lists have seen
some whopping changes. Let's take a look at the biggest of them.
England: Was 11/2 > Now 7/1
England were the team that Spain famously beat to become
record four-time European champions in Berlin two years ago. The Three Lions
enjoyed a fairytale run to the final in the summer of 2024, managing
come-from-behind wins in every knockout round, thanks to heroics from the likes
of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka. It looked as if they would complete the
comeback in the Olympiastadion as well when Cole Palmer netted a late equalizer,
only for Spanish hitman Mikel Oyarzabal to bag an even later winner.
That defeat was England's second straight European
championship final defeat after also losing to Italy on home turf at Wembley in
2021. Those two trips to the final saw heightened expectations that ultimately
turned the English fan base somewhat toxic, and now-former manager Gareth
Southgate knew it, stepping aside to let someone else have a crack at the whip.
That someone is German former Chelsea Champions League-winning manager Thomas
Tuchel, and all was initially going well.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss led England to a
perfect eight wins from eight in qualifying without conceding a single goal.
That form prompted the bookies to slash odds on England finally ending 60 long
years of hurt down to 11/2, solely behind Spain in the betting charts. However,
the recent round of international friendlies has sparked concern.
England drew 1-1 at home to Uruguay, and they had central
defender Harry Maguire to thank as, had he not made a crucial last-gasp block
from Federico Valverde's goal-bound effort, the Three Lions would have been
beaten. Tuchel's men were actually beaten, however, just five days later, when
they were downed
1-0 by Japan after a dismal
performance at Wembley. And those two results have prompted the bookies to act.
The 1966 World Cup winners are now a 7/1 shot to reign
supreme at long last this summer and are no longer the second-favorites. They
will be aiming to find some kind of form in their warm-up games, or another
year of hurt could well be on the cards.
France: Was 7/1 > Now 11/2
France reached a second straight final in Qatar four
years ago, but unlike in a rainy Moscow in 2018, they were unable to emerge
with the trophy, despite a blistering Kylian Mbappe hat trick. In the immediate
aftermath of that thrilling defeat to Argentina, Les Bleus opened up as the 7/1
joint favorites alongside Brazil, and they have largely remained at those odds
in the four years since. Even a lackluster display at Euro 2024 couldn't derail
their position in the betting charts.
However, their recent friendly displays have prompted the
bookies to slash odds on Didier Deschamps' men reaching yet another final and
repeating their heroics of 2018. Goals from Mbappe and Liverpool striker Hugo
Ekitike secured
a 2-1 victory against Brazil in Boston, a result made even more impressive
considering that Dayot Upamecano was sent off in the 55th minute. They would
follow that up with a resounding 3-1 triumph against Colombia in Washington
D.C., and it's that pair of victories that have prompted the bookies to sit up
and take notice.
Nobody can deny France's World Cup pedigree. Two straight
finals prove their credentials. They will say that four years ago, nothing
could have stopped Messi's date with destiny. Not even the mercurial Mbappe.
This time around, however, the stars haven't aligned for anyone as they did in
Qatar, and that makes the French as dangerous as ever. A France vs Spain
semifinal, much like at Euro 2024, could well be on the cards.
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