Which team looks to be the best dark horse?

I fancy Denmark to upstage France in Group D and topping that section would see them rewarded with a favourable knockout path. The Danes impressed on their way to the semifinals of Euro 2020, only losing to England in extra-time, and most of their squad are currently playing in one of Europe’s top divisions.

Serbia have got matchwinners at the top end of the pitch and could have a really strong tournament. They qualified ahead of Portugal and shouldn’t be too fazed about the possibility of facing the Iberians in the round of 16.

Senegal. African nations could benefit from conditions in Qatar and the Lions of Teranga were crowned Afcon winners at the start of the year. Sadio Mane, when fit, is a force up top, Edouard Mendy is reliable between the sticks, and they have a power-packed midfield and defence.

Sticking with the European theme, 2018 runners-up Croatia can go well again. They should be buoyed by an excellent Nations League campaign in which they finished top of Group A1 ahead of Denmark, world champions France and Austria, and they have a decent group draw alongside Belgium, Morocco and Canada.

Portugal. They trailed Serbia in a weak qualifying group then had to come through playoffs against Turkey and North Macedonia, but their squad and tournament tradition suggest they could go far in Qatar. They will need a desert breeze behind them, but it is as likely to blow for them as for anyone else.

I think you can be regarded as a dark horse if your outright price is in the mid-teens, particularly as one of the big boys usually wins, so I’ll take the Netherlands. They have the draw everybody wanted and should ease through to the quarter-finals. A sage old coach in Louis van Gaal should be an asset too.