We all know how difficult it is to become the world champion in any sports discipline, but winning the FIFA World Cup title seems like one of the toughest challenges. As a quadrennial tournament, FIFA World Cup doesn’t offer a lot of chances in players’ careers, while all teams need to pass through qualifying rounds to become a part of the World Cup final tournament. Only eight countries have managed to lift the World Cup Trophy in 20 held tournaments so far, while for some of the others even qualifying for the tournament is a massive success.
On the other side, there are some nations who look like World Cup’s perpetual losers, upsetting their fans whenever they show up, so let’s take at those teams who underperform in general, and check out their odds (provided by BetDSI Sportsbook) at 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
BELGIUM
Once fourth-placed from Mexico in 1986, the Red Devils are certainly one of the FIFA World Cup’s biggest losers, as in 13 involvements they’ve managed to reach the Quarter-Finals only twice. After Mexico 1986, Belgium made it to the last eight in Brazil 2014, but it was another disappointment for their fans, as the Red Devils were among the strongest favorites to beat the World Cup. Four narrow wins before they’ve met Argentina in the Quarter-Final enounced a bitter end, and Gonzalo Higuain’s early goal sent them home way before they’ve anticipated.
This time in Russia, the Red Devils are set as the sixth biggest favorite to win the World Cup Trophy with the odds at +1100, so they’ll have another opportunity to upset the nation and show how to underperform in style. With plenty of talent among the squad, Belgium should easily make it to the last eight (the wages are at -175) where essentially the things get too hot for those who aren’t mentally prepared for big achievements. With names such as Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku, the Red Devils could finally make some serious noise, while the price on them to reach the Semi-Finals is at +225.
ENGLAND
How can the one-time champions find the place on a list like this one? Simply because they invented soccer, and for decades their domestic championship is among the strongest leagues in the world, while in the last 15 years it surely is the toughest competition. In 1966 England hosted the World Cup, beating West Germany 4-2 in the final match after extra-time, but you know what? They didn’t deserve it. Their third and decisive goal of the match shouldn’t have been given as the ball never crossed the goal line, but the referee Gottfried Dienst and his linesman Tofiq Bahramov decided it was a goal.
Besides this stolen triumph, in remaining 13 participation at the FIFA World Cup, the Three Lions made it to the Semi-Finals only once in Italy 1990. They were eliminated in the Quarter-Finals on seven occasions, even when they were huge favorites to win the title, like in Mexico 1986 when Maradona’s Hand of God goal sent the Three Lions home which was some kind of cosmic satisfaction. However, the biggest upset was that one from the previous tournament in Brazil where England has finished bottom of the group with the worst record ever – one draw, two losses and a 2:4 goal difference. After this disappointment, England is coming to the 2018 World Cup as a +1600 favorite to lift the trophy, while the odds on Semi-Finals are set at +300.
MEXICO
Mexicans fully deserved the place on this list, as in 15 partaking at the FIFA World Cup, they managed to reach the Quarter-Finals in 1970 and 1986, both times when they hosted the World Cup final tournament. On seven occasions Mexico has ended the journey after the group stage, while in the previous six involvements they were beaten in the Round of 16 which is kind of a strange record. Mexico was never a main force in the world of soccer, but El Tri cannot brag with a 14-14-25 record on the biggest stage, for sure.
Mexico is coming to the 2018 FIFA World Cup as a +10000 out-of-towner to win the title, and El Tri will even have a tough task to reach the second round for the seventh consecutive due to a quite stiff competition in their Group E. However, they look like a well-organized team, so eventual surprise and reaching the Quarter-Finals in Russia can pay some decent wages at +500. However, if Mexicans make it to the knock-out phase, they will probably play against mighty Brazil, so it looks like another Round of 16 loss with the odds at +200.
TUNISIA
The Eagles of Carthage were always far away from the top-class soccer team, reaching the FIFA World Cup final tournament four times before they’ve made it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Tunisia has never qualified for the Round of 16, recording just one victory along with four stalemates, seven defeats and a poor goal difference of 8:17. In their first appearance in 1978, the Eagles of Carthage surprisingly beaten Mexico, but on all other three occasions in 1998, 2002, and 2006 they completely disappointed their fans.
The bookmakers favor Tunisia at -600 to fail in the group stage at the 2018 World Cup, while the market on the Eagles of Carthage to reach the second round is set at +400. With Belgium, England, and total underdogs Panama alongside them in the Group G, Tunisians will have a mountain to climb, even though this competition could be their big chance – two perpetual losers and one debutant. At least, it is a chance for Tunisia to finally get that second World Cup victory in the game against Panama where they are set as +110 favorites by the bookies.
SAUDI ARABIA
The Green Falcons had an impressive debut at the 1994 World Cup held in the USA, reaching the Round of 16 after finishing at the second spot of their group ahead with two wins over Morocco 2-1 and, of course, Belgium 1-0, while they lost to the Netherlands 2-1. In the second round, Tomas Brolin and co. were too much for Green Falcons, as Sweden earned a convincing 3-1 victory, and since then, Saudi Arabia recorded two draws and seven losses with a miserable 4:26 goal difference. In 2002, the Green Falcons lost all three encounters without scoring a single goal, conceding twelve in a return.
The bookies set Saudi Arabia as an immense +100000 underdog to beat the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, sitting at the bottom of the list of favorites together with Panama, while the odds on Green Falcons to qualify from the Group A are set at +800. Unlike Panama, they will have some interesting rivals, as the hosts Russia and Egypt with Mohamed Salah are both mediocre teams, while only Uruguay implies as a heavyweight team. Hereof, the bettors should pay attention to Saudi’s games, as they can pick up some nice wages, especially with betting on the totals.
NETHERLANDS
A the end, I have to mention the major World Cup losers in my opinion, who’ll even miss the upcoming tournament after some appalling displays in the qualifying rounds. Holland has been at the FIFA World Cup Final three times so far, but they’ve never become world champions, while on two occasions they were beaten in the Semi-Finals. In 1974, Oranje had Johan Cruyff in the team, but it wasn’t enough for the host nation West Germany in the final match. Four years later, another hosts Argentina prevented the Netherlands to win the title, while in South Africa 2010, the Flying Dutchmen lost to Spain in the extra-time.
