World Cup 2022 Winner Odds: Gareth Southgate’s England third favourites

September’s wave of international fixtures are coming to a close with just a handful of South American games still to be played over the next few days.

As anticipation starts to build on the road to Qatar - now just 14 months away - we’ve taken a peek at the current top-five favourites in the betting for 2022 World Cup glory…

Brazil (Tite)

Joint-favourites alongside France. Brazil are cruising through qualifying having won all seven of their matches so far. As a result Tite’s men have opened up a six point lead at the summit of the South American table. It would be a colossal shock if they failed to seal a place from here.

A dominant Brazil have won 13 of their last 15 matches in all competitions, losing just once against rivals Argentina in the Copa America final. They look a far more cohesive unit than in previous years and possess a neat combination of experience, such as Neymar and Thiago Silva, alongside exciting young talents like Raphinha whose debut was unfortunately delayed.

France (Didier Deschamps)

Sharing top spot in the betting with Brazil are the defending champions France. Didier Deschamps’ men endured a disappointing Euro 2020 and had drawn five consecutive matches prior to the recent win over Finland.

Deschamps’ more pragmatic approach worked in Russia three years ago, but with such an astonishing array of talent France should be performing at a far higher level right now. There’s a spark missing, while their identity is unclear.

Still, they have world class players and an immense strength in depth to move forward and become back-to-back winners, although French fans will want to see their country up the ante against Belgium next month in the Nations League.

Otherwise, who knows, Deschamps could find himself in trouble with just over a year left until Qatar.

England (Gareth Southgate)

Difficult to beat, an exciting generation of players, and a manager who has improved every tournament. England are priced at a tasty 8/1 to build on a semi-final 2018 World Cup finish and runners-up spot at Euro 2020 by ending 56 years of hurt in Qatar.

Excluding penalty shoot-outs, England have not lost a match for nearly a year now, and are waltzing through qualifying with 16 points from a possible 18. There is still work to be done of course. At times they’ve lacked a cutting edge, while they’ve given up a 1-0 lead in games against Italy and most recently Poland.

However, there are plenty of reasons to be confident. May need to work on their pens though.

Spain (Luis Enrique)

It could be considered a surprise to some to see Spain ahead of the likes of European Champions Italy and Copa America victors Argentina in the betting. 

Spain lost to Sweden last week - their first World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993 - who now have two extra games to make up the four point gap, so top spot in Group B could be slipping away from the Spanish.

Luis Enrique’s men stuttered out of the blocks at the Euro 2020 but progressed as the tournament went on and in the end only lost to eventual champions Italy on penalties. There are certainly reasons to be optimistic; Barcelona starlet Pedri excelled in particular - he was voted Young Player of the tournament - and ​​Ferran Torres is in fine form for both club and country.

Italy (Roberto Mancini)

Fifth in the betting are Roberto Mancini’s Italy who currently hold the men’s international world record for consecutive games unbeaten, a tally they extended to 37 matches following a 5-0 thumping of Lithuania.

Mancini is eyeing up the double swoop of European and World Cup honours, which you wouldn’t bet against him achieving considering his side are undefeated in three years. Italy play fantastic, positive football, they have the pedigree and the panache, and will be buoyed by their Euros glory, while they’re currently six points clear in qualifying with 12 goals scored and just the one conceded.

Elsewhere

Should, as expected, Germany qualify they will enter into the World Cup with a manager that’s not Joachim Low for the first time since 2006. Former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is now running the show with his troops 12/1 to grab the spoils.

Argentina, managed by Lionel Scaloni, can be backed at the same price as they bid to lift their second trophy in the space of 18 months following their Copa America triumph.

We’ve been hearing it for years but could now be the time for Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ to step up and win a major tournament? Roberto Martinez’s men are 15/1 shots in Qatar, ahead of neighbours Netherlands who are priced at 16/1 under Louis van Gaal.

Fernando Santos’ Portugal are next in the running at 18/1, while Kasper Hjulmand’s in-form Denmark are sure to attract attention at a very juicy 50/1.

Full odds below...