World Cup 2018: Betting analysis of all eight groups

Following Friday's draw in Moscow, Dave Tindall guides you through all eight World Cup groups...

Group A: Uruguay 1.99, Russia 2.18, Egypt 6.00, Saudia Arabia 30.00

Russia will look to cash in on home advantage but Uruguay beat then hosts South Africa 3-0 in 2010 so have recent experience of spoiling the party. They topped the group on that occasion but, despite beating England in 2014, had to settle for second spot behind surprise packages Costa Rica the last World Cup. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani (netted 10 in qualifying) should fire them to the top but Egypt, back in the World Cup for the first time since 1990, are legitimate wildcards - especially if Mo Salah can continue his phenomenal scoring run. The Liverpool man likes a goal for his country too (five in his last eight internationals). Saudi Arabia have finished bottom of the group in their last three appearances.

Group B: Spain 1.49, Portugal 2.72, Morocco 14.00, Iran 30.00

Portugal v Spain is the likely group decider and it's first up. Forgotten now, but Spain lost their opener against Switzerland before lifting the trophy in 2010 although they did still top the group on goal difference eight years ago. They crashed out in third in 2014 after a 5-1 thumping v Holland. Portugal tend not to win groups in World Cups or Euros - they limped through in third before hoisting the trophy in Euro 2016 - and their sometimes sluggish early displays make them vulnerable to Morocco and Iran, who shouldn't be dismissed. Iran are interesting as they went unbeaten in qualifying and are managed by a Portuguese boss. Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson's former No. 2, will know all about them and a 0-0 wouldn't surprise.

Group C: France 1.24, Denmark 5.30, Peru 9.00, Australia 24.00

Are there any serious rivals to joint-tournament favourites France? Well, Australia have won just two of their 13 group games at this level although they did sneak through in second place with just four points in 2010. Denmark will recall with fondness the 2002 World Cup when they topped a group featuring France, Uruguay and Senegal although the French (then holders) were in disarray and won just a point. A similar French flop also saw them finish bottom in 2010 but they topped the group in 2014 and have six wins in the last sevenagainst the Danes. Peru are interesting dark horses having shown a penchant for tournament football in the last two Copa Americas (topped a group featuring Brazil in 2016).

Group D: Argentina 1.65, Croatia 2.98, Nigeria 7.60, Iceland 11.00

Argentina v Nigeria again! It's their fifth group-stage meeting in the last six World Cups and Argentina have won the previous four. Then again, these two familiar foes met in a friendly last month and Premier League duo Alex Iwobi (2) and Kelechi Iheanacho combined for three goals in a 4-2 Nigeria win. Croatia, who boast one of the best midfields in the tournament, have had the misfortune of playing Brazil in their last two World Cup openers (lost both times) so will hope to get off on the right note against Nigeria. Makeweights? There isn't one. World Cup debutants Iceland famously stunned England to reach the last eight of Euro 2016 and went unbeaten in their group. They also beat Croatia 1-0 in qualification in June following a 2-0 reverse in the first meeting last November. The betting suggests this has claims to be the 'Group of Death' although Argentina have topped their group in the last three World Cups so are understandable favourites despite leaving it late in qualifying.

Group E: Brazil 1.29, Switzerland 5.80, Serbia 7.00, Costa Rica 16.00

Brazil always seem to come away with an easy group and it's no exception here. If you want a banker, it's surely the Samba stars as they've topped their group in every single World Cup since 1982. Their nine-point haul in 2002 (the last time they lifted the trophy) included a 5-2 group win over Costa Rica, a rival they've beaten in eight straight games since 1960. Surprisingly, Switzerland have beaten Brazil in two of their last three matches but both were friendlies (1989 and 2013). The Swiss also topped their group in 2006, edging out France, South Korea and Togo but this is surely a race for second place and qualification as group runners-up. Serbia will have to step up on their past two World Cup efforts to achieve that although their one win (against five defeats) was memorable, a 1-0 triumph over Germany in South Africa in 2010. They then blew it with defeat against Australia and finished bottom.

Group F: Germany 1.32, Mexico 5.80, Sweden 6.00South Korea 24.00

A tough group even though holders Germany, winners of all 10 games in qualifying, are very clear favourites. Do they always breeze through the group? That would be a resounding 'yes'. It's back to 1986 to find the last time they didn't and you can add in the 2016 and 2012 Euros as well when compiling a list of German group wins. Sweden won a group featuring Holland and stunned Italy in the play-off so have form against Europe's elite nations although they haven't beaten Germany in 90 minutes since 1978. Mexico gave Germany decent games in the 1986 (0-0) and 1998 (2-1) World Cups and history says they're the best bet for second spot having qualified for the last 16 in each of the last six World Cups.South Korea had their hearts broken by Germany in the 2002 semis when co-hosting but have struggled in World Cups away from home.

Group G: Belgium 1.80, England 2.30, Tunisia 19.50, Panama 24.00

England will have to royally mess up not to get out of Group G although the market suggests it won't be as winners. That's fair enough. Top seeds Belgium cruised through their World Cup group in 2014, winning all three matches, while England finished bottom. The Three Lions also finished behind the USA in 2010 and were edged out by Wales in the group stage at Euro 2016. In all likelihood, the final group game between England and Belgium will be to decide who finishes top and England can play their way into form in their opening games against Tunisia (not won any of their last 11 group games at World Cups) and Panama(surprise debutants). As in 1998, England open up against the North Africans and a repeat of that 2-0 win in France would be most welcome. The head, history and Belgium's wealth of Premier League talent suggest the Red Devils will be hard to keep off top spot.

Group H: Colombia 2.26, Poland 2.58, Senegal 4.80, Japan 9.00

The tightest of the eight groups and the only one without an odds-on favourite. Is it a genuine four-horse race? Colombia enjoyed being on home South American soil when topping the group and reaching the last eight in 2014 but perhaps Poland will feel the benefit of geography this time. The Poles, of course, boast Robert Lewandowski, who was top scorer in the European qualifiers with 16 and they were only edged out on goal difference by Germany in the group stages of Euro 2016 after two wins and a draw. Senegalboast the talents of Sadio Mane and were unbeaten both in qualifying and the group stages of 2002 (their only other World Cup appearance) so could have a serious part to play. Japan tend to be light-middleweights in World Cups, winning just two of their last 11 games in the tournament. They were hammered 4-1 by Colombia in the 2014 World Cup when finishing bottom of their group.

Summary

Sometimes it appears straightforward enough to attempt to go through the card and select all eight group winners.

Brazil and Germany are always bankers and Argentina tend to get it right too.

And yet, let's remember these group winners from the past:

2014: Costa Rica (v Italy, England, Uruguay)
2010: United States (v England, Slovenia, Algeria)
2010: Paraguay (v Italy, Slovakia, New Zealand)
2002: Denmark (v France, Uruguay, Senegal)
2002: Sweden (v Argentina, England, Nigeria)
2002: Mexico (v Italy, Croatia, Ecuador)
1998: Nigeria (v Spain, Paraguay, Bulgaria)
1998: Romania (v England, Colombia, Tunisia)

The message here would be to oppose England and Italy! A shame the Italians crashed out in the play-offs to deny us that opportunity.

Having said that, it doesn't pay to be too contrary when betting on group winners.

By my reckoning, in the last three World Cup finals, 18 of the 24 group favourites came out on top.

That suggests a Group acca on the Sportsbook can be an obvious and profitable route.

On average, there will be two groups where things don't work out as planned.

For 2018?

Some possibles: Egypt at 6.00 to come on top v Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Croatia at just under 2/1 against Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland. Senegal at 4.80 to win the race against Colombia, Poland and Japan.

And maybe Peru at 9.00 could surprise if France make a mess of it again.