Who will win the World Cup?

I’m not happy Thiago has been left at home but I’ve long been convinced that Spain are the strongest European nation after their efforts at Euro 2020 and it would be silly to desert them now. La Roja have great depth and inherit a batch of talented youngsters who would have benefited from last summer’s spin.

There could be as many as 12 teams in with a chance of winning it but I’ll go for France despite reservations over Didier Deschamps. Their squad does not look any weaker than it was four years ago and Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe are the best front two at the tournament.

In a World Cup like no other, I’ll avoid the market leaders and plump for Portugal. Fernando Santos led a poorer team to glory at Euro 2016 and their squad is loaded with stars from Joao Cancelo to Cristiano Ronaldo, who could have a point to prove in Qatar.

Brazil and Argentina look short enough given that Europe has produced the last four World Cup winners as well as 13 of the last 16 semi-finalists. Portugal’s defensive and midfield options are as good as any in the tournament and they are a tempting each-way price.

Brazil. None of the top nine in the betting would surprise me if they won. And I prefer not to back outright favourites at an international tournament because luck can play such a big part over a small number of games. But there is nobody I like better at the odds than Brazil.

Brazil. It is just so difficult to detect a weakness in their squad and they have the potential to dominate their group. They conceded just five goals in 17 qualifiers and that did not include some of the walkovers European teams experienced. They are strong all over the pitch and look worthy favourites.