| Country | FIFA Rank | Odds to win WC |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 2 | +1800 |
| Canada | 41 | +25000 |
| Morocco | 22 | +25000 |
| Croatia | 12 | +5000 |
Belgium
Belgium are one of the harder teams to predict in this year’s tournament. Coming in at FIFA rank #2 but well behind a handful of their European counterparts in terms of odds-to-win, they certainly have both the skill & experience to be World Cup contenders. Since Roberto Martinez took over in 2016, Belgium’s “Golden Generation” has been impressive & feature a host of players who shine for their domestic clubs across Europe. Led by Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne, backed by in-form players like Leandro Trossard (Brighton) & Milan’s De Ketelaere, & supported by well-known European stars Eden Hazard, Courtois, Carrasco, & more, Belgian fans might view Qatar as their last shot to lift the cup ahead of uncertainty in future generations. They’re an exciting team to watch with loads of talent & I expect them to ease out of Group F before facing much stiffer competition in the round-of-16 that will need them to be at their best to earn the results they hope for.
Prediction: Winner Group F
Canada
Canada are a football team on the rise & shocked the world with their incredible run to top the CONCACAF qualifying table. Sitting at a lowly FIFA rank #41 however, they’ll need luck to be on their side if they hope to escape a group featuring the talented Belgium squad & experience Croatians. Alphonso Davies is already far & away the most celebrated Canadian footballer in history at the ripe young age of 22 & the Bayern Munchen starlet will be hoping to lead his team, alongside Lille star Jonathan David, to success in just the country’s second World Cup bid in their history. Despite Belgium’s #2 FIFA Rank & Canada occupying the lowest in their group, it’s not an impossible feat, albeit an unlikely one, that they could see their way into the round-of-16. As much as I’d love to see the North American outfit represent the continent well in Qatar, I do expect them to fall short & face elimination from Group F.
Prediction: Eliminated in Group Stage
Morocco
Morocco enter the tournament above Canada in the FIFA ranks but arguably below them in terms of momentum. Despite boasting experienced European talent from the likes of Hakimi and Sofiane Boufal, they face an uphill battle in what will be their sixth World Cup appearance. If it’s unlikely that Canada will see themselves out of the group stage I personally reckon to say it’s a bit less likely that Morocco would experience such success & I don’t see Group F going any way other than to its favorites in Belgium & Croatia.
Prediction: Eliminated in Group Stage
Croatia
Led by the massively experience & talented maestro Luka Modric, Croatia were simply superb in their run at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After seeing England out in the semi-finals, Croatia fell 4-2 to an insanely talented Les Bleus & were the hopeful champions of everyone watching who wasn’t from France. The squad remains largely unchanged from that run & while they sport more experience than exciting talent sometimes that is what it takes to get the job done. The like of Modric, Perisic, Brozovic, & Kovacic are all talented players with a wealth of European experience under their belts & will look to control the midfield against teams that fancy playing with a bit more pace & flair. A sound squad with the ability & tactical awareness to hang with any team in the world, I expect Croatia to see themselves into the round-of-16 but unable to repeat their success of 2018.
Prediction: 2nd Place in Group F
