The 2018 FIFA World Cup has delivered over and again with record goal scoring totals, upsets, late-game dramatics and spectacular feats of skill giving soccer fans plenty to cheer about over the past three weeks. Now our focus narrows to the final four teams still standing heading in to the World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday. BetDSI Sportsbook has updated their odds to win the tournament now that the semi-final matchups have been set. Here is a closer look at the World Cup futures now that there are just four teams left in the tournament.
With Brazil, Germany and Spain eliminated, France stands alone as the pre-tournament favorite that has gone the furthest at this World Cup. The odds for France to win the World Cup have been adjusted a number of times throughout including after their quarter-finals win over Uruguay when they were adjusted from +400 odds to now +200 odds to win it all. France looked very comfortable against Uruguay and now they are fully healthy heading in to their semi-finals matchup with Belgium. Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Greizmann have led the way up front with three goals each. Meanwhile, France might be the best defensive team of the four still standing in this tournament. Les Bleus is now the obvious favorite to beat at the World Cup at +200 odds, according to BetDSI Sportsbook.
According to the sports betting odds, France is followed by one of the biggest risers of the tournament in England, which is now listed at +250 odds to win it all. England survived a Round of 16 scare from Colombia and after scraping through in penalty kicks they had no problem taking down Sweden with a 2-0 win in the quarter-finals. Harry Kane is the Golden Boot frontrunner with six goals but he hasn’t had to do it alone either. Croatia will be England’s toughest test yet and it will be interesting to see how they respond.
The best value on the board might very well belong to the two remaining teams on the board beginning with Belgium at +275. The Belgians clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Japan in the Round of 16 and in the process they became the first World Cup team to come back from down two goals to win in the knockout stage. Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne provide plenty of firepower up front. With all of their scoring capability, Belgium will be tough to beat if they can tighten up defensively.
Meanwhile, Croatia is the biggest long shot remaining in the tournament at +400 odds to win it all. That makes sense considering they won back-to-back penalties versus Denmark and Russia just to get this far. However, it’s worth noting that this Croatia side is still undefeated at the World Cup including a lopsided win over Argentina. The penalty kicks tested their nerve and they proved they could overcome. At +400 odds to win it all, Croatia is a capable sleeper pick to win it all at excellent value. Nobody will be overlooking Croatia as a legitimate contender still standing heading in to the final four.
