Big guns France and Brazil are still the most popular sides amongst the betting public as we head towards the business end of the World Cup, but some punters have looked towards the weaker side of the draw to find some value.
The first quarter-final between Uruguay and France has seen by far the most betting action of the four matches with France the favoured side amongst the punters. Les Bleus have attracted twice as much money as Uruguay in the Head to Head market though someone is certainly expecting a tight clash with the biggest bet so far being a $1,200 wager on a Draw at $3.05. France are the second most popular option in the Outright Winner market, the biggest bet being $3,000 at $7.00 placed before their opening match of the tournament.
Brazil are the most heavily backed side to go all the way in Russia and it's a similar story in the betting for their quarter-final clash with Belgium. The Seleção have about three times as much money riding on them in the Head to Head market and double the amount of Belgium on them to progress. One punter will be eagerly anticipating the result of this clash after they got in early on Brazil with a $15,000 bet on them to make the semi-finals at $2.10, before the tournament even started. There was also a $3,000 bet placed on the Brazilians to lift the trophy prior to their Round of 16 match.
While many England fans are salivating at their path to the World Cup Final, the punters are not sharing the optimism for the Three Lions. Sweden are the better-backed side in both the Head to Head and To Progress markets with twice as much money coming in each category. One punter also backed Sweden, rather than England, to make the most of their softer side of the draw with a $1,000 on the Swedes to make the semifinals at $5.50 which was placed before their Round of 16 victory over Switzerland. There has been some action on England in the longer term markets however with a $2,100 wager coming in on the Three Lions to meet France in the final at $10.
Croatia's underwhelming performance against Denmark hasn't scared the punters off too much with the majority of the betting action for their clash with Russia being in support of Luka Modric's men. While Croatia have attracted over eight times as much money as Russia in the Head to Head market, the biggest bet riding on this match is a $2,450 wager placed on the hosts to make the semis at $6.
