The eyes of the world will be on Russia when the 2018 World Cup opens play on June 14 with group play determining which teams will have a shot to win soccer's most coveted prize. Defending champion Germany is the favorite, going off at 7-2 in the latest 2018 World Cup odds. Brazil (4-1), France (6-1), Spain (6-1) and Argentina (6-1) are among the other top contenders in the eyes of oddsmakers. With so much parity among the top teams, the World Cup winner might seem up for grabs. But Thomas Rongen is highly confident he has the winner, and you need to see who he's taking. The Dutch-American TV commentator boasts an incomparable soccer background -- assistant coach and chief international scout for the U.S. men's national team; MLS coach of the year; head coach of the U.S. men's under-20 team. Following his breakdown of every World Cup roster and every potential matchup, Rongen locked in his four semifinalists and World Cup champion. We can tell you he has identified England as his sleeper pick, saying it has the pieces to make a deep run. "If they can provide service for Harry Kane (30 goals in the Premier League last season), then England really doesn't have any weak points," Rongen told SportsLine. "Raheem Sterling has a breakout season for Manchester City, you've got a very special playmaker in Dele Alli, you've got Jordan Henderson who had a great year for Liverpool marshaling the midfield." But while he likes England as a dark horse, that's not the team he's taking to win it all. Based on his inside knowledge of these players and coaches, Rongen has isolated a critical x-factor that he says will determine the World Cup champion. He's sharing what that is, and who the winner will be, over at SportsLine. Will Germany repeat? Will Brazil capture its first World Cup since 2002? Or will another contender win it all? Visit SportsLine now to see who you can bank on to win the 2018 World Cup, plus see which sleeper surprises international soccer, all from the Dutch-American soccer coach who served as the chief international scout for the U.S. men's national team.<doc-sep>Who will come out on top at the World Cup group stage? We challenged the Soccer Saturday pundits to predict the eight winners... The pundits might be in agreement that some of the favourites at Russia 2018 will breeze through their opening fixtures but they're divided when it comes to some groups - including England's. Read on to find out who Paul Merson, Charlie Nicholas, Matt Le Tissier and Phil Thompson are tipping to prevail. You can also plot your predictions with our Road to Moscow virtual wallchart, with £5,000 up for grabs for the leader come July 15. Group A: Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay Merse predicts: Uruguay Charlie predicts: Uruguay Le Tiss predicts: Uruguay Thommo predicts: Uruguay Le Tiss says: "I don't think this one is a particularly strong group but Uruguay were second only to Brazil in South American qualifying so, with Mohamed Salah a doubt, I'm backing them to secure top spot." Image: Will Mo Salah be fit enough to inspire Egypt? Group B: Iran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain Merse predicts: Spain Charlie predicts: Spain Le Tiss predicts: Spain Thommo predicts: Spain Merse says: "I think that even if Portugal can get a draw in the opening game against Spain then they might still struggle as they'll be too negative and Spain will score more goals in the remaining games." Image: Spain are fancied again under Julen Lopetegui Group C: Australia, Denmark, France, Peru Merse predicts: France Charlie predicts: France Le Tiss predicts: France Thommo predicts: France Charlie says: "I can see France winning this group by a distance. It should be nice and easy for them, wrapping it up in their first two games and being able to rest and rotate in their final game, which is a big advantage." Image: Olivier Giroud's France are among the favourites in Russia Group D: Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria Merse predicts: Argentina Charlie predicts: Argentina Le Tiss predicts: Croatia Thommo predicts: Argentina Le Tiss says: "This is an interesting one and I'm torn between Croatia and Argentina. Lionel Messi is obviously a big factor, but I'm not sure the Argentines are strong enough beyond their forwards." Image: All but one of the Soccer Saturday pundits are tipping Lionel Messi's Argentina to win Group D Group E: Brazil, Costa Rica, Serbia, Switzerland Merse predicts: Brazil Charlie predicts: Brazil Le Tiss predicts: Brazil Thommo predicts: Brazil Thommo says: "This might be the most straightforward group to predict, especially if Neymar is fully fit. Brazil look to have a nice balance to their side along with their usual wealth of attacking talent." Image: Neymar scored for Brazil in a warm-up against Croatia on his return after injury Group F: Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Sweden Merse predicts: Germany Charlie predicts: Germany Le Tiss predicts: Germany Thommo predicts: Germany Le Tiss says: "It is very tough to look past Germany here. They have another strong squad and they very rarely fail to turn up in major tournaments." Image: Mesut Ozil's Germany are the defending champions Group G: Belgium, England, Panama, Tunisia Merse predicts: Belgium Charlie predicts: Belgium Le Tiss predicts: Belgium Thommo predicts: England Merse says: "I just think that Belgium are a better team individually. It's a hard one to call and it may well depend on how many goals they beat the other two teams by. With the way they keep the ball, Tunisia isn't an easy game to start for England, so I'm edging towards Belgium as they should build confidence with their opener against Panama." Image: Romelu Lukaku will be a familiar threat when England face Belgium Group H: Colombia, Japan, Poland, Senegal Merse predicts: Colombia Charlie predicts: Japan Le Tiss predicts: Poland Thommo predicts: Poland Thommo says: "This has got to be the toughest to call of the all the groups and perhaps the only one where any of the four sides could go on and secure top spot. However, I'm backing Poland based on the firepower of Robert Lewandowski."<doc-sep>
The 2018 World Cup in Russia is just days away with all of the international friendlies having been played, leaving many to wonder how the 32-nation tournament will play out. According to Las Vegas oddsmakers, many of the usual suspects will be favored. Brazil, the five-time champions, have the best odds at 4/1, but are followed close behind by defending champion Germany at 9/2 odds. This World Cup is considered an opportunity for redemption for Selecao, after the 7-1 humiliation on their home turf to Germany in the 2014 semifinals. Brazil, who welcomed back star forward Neymar from injury last week, have not reached the final since 2002. Germany won their first World Cup since 1990 in 2014 and once again have a very deep roster. Joachim Low's squad is No. 1 in FIFA rankings and will look to bounce back after losing in the semifinals of Euro 2016. Spain, the 2014 World Cup winner, have the third-best odds at 11/2, but France, the 1998 champion, are not far behind at 6/1. Spain are loaded with veterans and boast one of the world's best goalies in David De Gea. France lost on their home turf in the Euro 2016 final and will look to bounce back with a talent-rich squad that includes De Gea's Manchester United teammate Paul Pogba. Brazil, Germany, Spain and France are followed by longshots, though some have plenty of talent to make a deep run. Argentina (9/1), who last won a World Cup in 1986 and have one of the world's best players in Lionel Messi, and Belgium (11/1), whose roster includes Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku among other stars, are considered the tournament's dark horses. The biggest longshots are Panama and Saudi Arabia at 750/1. Host-nation Russia has 40/1 odds. Italy, the 2006 World Cup champions, failed to qualify. The World Cup kicks off Thursday when Russia face Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The final will be held on July 15 and will also take place at Luzhniki Stadium. 2018 World Cup Betting Odds (Vegas Insider) Brazil, 4/1 Germany, 9/2 Spain, 11/2 France, 6/1 Argentina, 9/1 Belgium, 11/1 England, 16/1 Portugal, 22/1 Uruguay, 28/1 Colombia, 33/1 Croatia, 33/1 Russia, 40/1 Poland, 50/1 Mexico, 80/1 Denmark, 80/1 Switzerland, 100/1 Sweden, 125/1 Nigeria, 150/1 Egypt, 150/1 Senegal, 150/1 Peru, 150/1 Serbia, 150/1 Iceland, 200/1 Japan, 250/1 Morocco, 300/1 South Korea, 400/1 Australia, 400/1 Costa Rica, 400/1 Iran, 500/1 Tunisia, 500/1 Saudi Arabia, 750/1 Panama, 750/1 Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images