World Cup Betting Preview – Stage of Elimination

Today we’re going to take a look at another interesting market available for the World Cup in Russia, and that is Stage of Elimination. This is a fairly self explanatory market in that you are betting on what stage you think a team will be eliminated in the competition (Group Stage, Last 16, Quarter Finals, Semi Final, Runners Up). There are some excellent odds available with this market and with there usually being one or two big name casualties in the group stages, there is money to be made in my opinion. In this article, I will be taking a look at four different countries involved in the competition and predicting at what stage I think they will be eliminated. All of the odds in this article come courtesy of Coral and are accurate at the time of writing.

Argentina

I’m going to start things off with a controversial one, and that is backing Argentina to be eliminated in the group stages at 11/2. Argentina come into this tournament after finishing as runners up in 2014, but I think they will struggle in Russia. Argentina were very poor in qualifying for Russia, and their qualification went right down to the wire before they finished in third place. They won just seven of their 18 qualifying matches and finished a massive 13 points behind rivals Brazil. Obviously they boast a fearsome attack led by Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero, but they look very poor defensively and in midfield. They have been drawn in a tough looking group alongside Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria and I think they will be the big name casualty of the group stages.

Group Stages – 11/2 (Coral)

Germany

Germany come into this tournament as second favourites to win it, but I think they will fall just short and be knocked out in the semi-finals. Germany won the World Cup in 2014 and they certainly have a squad littered with quality players. Their recent form will be a cause for concern though and the decision to leave out Leroy Sane could come back to hurt them. This German side looks short of quality in attack and I think they will only make it as far as the semi-finals. I believe that Brazil, France and Spain are all better than them and I’d back any of those three to beat this German side.

Semi Finals – 9/2 (Coral)

Croatia

Having tipped Argentina to fall at the group stages, I’m backing Croatia to top Group D and make it as far as the quarter finals. If this talented Croatian side manage to top the group, they will play the runners up from Group C, which is likely to be Denmark. I’d back this side to beat them, but fall at the next hurdle. Croatia have some talented players at their disposal with the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic and they definitely have the ability to cause plenty of sides problems and I can see them doing well in Russia.

Quarter Finals – 9/2 (Coral)

Uruguay

Uruguay are another side who could cause plenty of team’s problems at this World Cup. Boasting Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in a fearsome front line, I’m backing them to make it as far as the quarter finals. Uruguay should top Group A, which would see them play the runners up in Group B in the Last 16. That is likely to be Portugal and I fancy this Uruguay side to beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s ageing Portuguese side. If they beat Portugal they would then likely face France in the quarter finals and that is as far as I can envisage them going.

Quarter Finals – 3/1 (Coral)

As you can see, there are good odds available on the Stage of Elimination market and it is one that is definitely worth looking into ahead of the opening game next Thursday.