These were the pre-tournament odds listed on the Sporting News website. I have added some comments
Country Odds Comments
Brazil 7/2 Odds were always too short given that they've gone out in the QF in their last three away WCs now.
Germany 4/1 Seemed reasonable at the time but obviously there was a rot at the heart of the squad
Spain 6/1 Doomed when the coach was sacked
France 6/1 Should have been favourites. It's "their" time. Best team of post-2014 era.
Argentina 9/1 Odds too short given historical failure in Europe, poor form in qualifiers, creaky defence, Mascherano, no Plan B
Belgium 10/1 Odds about right. The draw meant they had to beat Brazil and France just to make the final. Shaky defence. Martinez.
England 16/1 Exceeded expectations even though these odds were shorter than logic would have suggested at the time due to mug punters. Losing a dead game to Belgium paradoxically meant they went a round further than would otherwise have been the case because it's very unlikely they would have beaten Brazil in the QF that Belgium got.
Portugal 20/1 Generous odds for European champions until you consider that they had a weaker draw in 2016 than here
Colombia 33/1 Surpassed expectations until stupid tactics and bad temperament fucked up the winnable England game
Uruguay 33/1 Surpassed expectations with their quality of play. Unlucky to draw the champions-elect.
Croatia 33/1 Crazy that their odds were more than double England's. Odds set by a market with a poor grasp of history.
Russia 40/1 Odds were about right. Surpassed expectations but largely because Spain fucked up and Croatia almost fucked up
Poland 50/1 Most undeserved top seed (excepting the hosts) I can recall for a long time. Plodders.
Mexico 80/1 Exceeded expectations by defeating Germany but then fell into the old pattern of last 16 elimination
Denmark 80/1 Last 16, par performance on European soil.
Switzerland 80/1 Last 16, par performance on European soil.
Sweden 100/1 Got lucky because Germany's collapse meant they avoided Brazil last 16 exit
Nigeria 150/1 Would have predicted 4th in the group so almost getting through probably exceeded expectation
Egypt 150/1 Biggest flop of any non-European side compared to expectations. Couldn't even get a point off the Saudis.
Senegal 150/1 The African side that most impressed, in a group that turned out to be tougher than predicted.
Serbia 150/1 Shouldn't have been in Pot 4 but were still poor. Contrast with Croatia.
Japan 250/1 Exceeded expectations of everybody except some of those who studied the Asian qualifying tournament.
Morocco 250/1 I think they fell a bit short, even of these odds
Peru 200/1 Should have been able to take a point off Denmark. Disappointing.
Iceland 200/1 Got found out this time, or were simply past their peak.
Australia 400/1 Performance reflected their indifferent qualifying form
Costa Rica 400/1 Just way too negative. Very disappointing after 2014.
South Korea 500/1 Beating Germany obviously exceeded anybody's expectations, even after Germany lost to Mexico
Tunisia 500/1 Another plodder
Iran 500/1 Exceeded expectations and would have qualified from some groups.
Saudi Arabia 750/1 Bottom two deservedly
Panama 750/1 Worst team I have seen at the finals for a long time. Torrid canal hammering ( © Nishlord)
Country Odds Comments
Brazil 7/2 Odds were always too short given that they've gone out in the QF in their last three away WCs now.
Germany 4/1 Seemed reasonable at the time but obviously there was a rot at the heart of the squad
Spain 6/1 Doomed when the coach was sacked
France 6/1 Should have been favourites. It's "their" time. Best team of post-2014 era.
Argentina 9/1 Odds too short given historical failure in Europe, poor form in qualifiers, creaky defence, Mascherano, no Plan B
Belgium 10/1 Odds about right. The draw meant they had to beat Brazil and France just to make the final. Shaky defence. Martinez.
England 16/1 Exceeded expectations even though these odds were shorter than logic would have suggested at the time due to mug punters. Losing a dead game to Belgium paradoxically meant they went a round further than would otherwise have been the case because it's very unlikely they would have beaten Brazil in the QF that Belgium got.
Portugal 20/1 Generous odds for European champions until you consider that they had a weaker draw in 2016 than here
Colombia 33/1 Surpassed expectations until stupid tactics and bad temperament fucked up the winnable England game
Uruguay 33/1 Surpassed expectations with their quality of play. Unlucky to draw the champions-elect.
Croatia 33/1 Crazy that their odds were more than double England's. Odds set by a market with a poor grasp of history.
Russia 40/1 Odds were about right. Surpassed expectations but largely because Spain fucked up and Croatia almost fucked up
Poland 50/1 Most undeserved top seed (excepting the hosts) I can recall for a long time. Plodders.
Mexico 80/1 Exceeded expectations by defeating Germany but then fell into the old pattern of last 16 elimination
Denmark 80/1 Last 16, par performance on European soil.
Switzerland 80/1 Last 16, par performance on European soil.
Sweden 100/1 Got lucky because Germany's collapse meant they avoided Brazil last 16 exit
Nigeria 150/1 Would have predicted 4th in the group so almost getting through probably exceeded expectation
Egypt 150/1 Biggest flop of any non-European side compared to expectations. Couldn't even get a point off the Saudis.
Senegal 150/1 The African side that most impressed, in a group that turned out to be tougher than predicted.
Serbia 150/1 Shouldn't have been in Pot 4 but were still poor. Contrast with Croatia.
Japan 250/1 Exceeded expectations of everybody except some of those who studied the Asian qualifying tournament.
Morocco 250/1 I think they fell a bit short, even of these odds
Peru 200/1 Should have been able to take a point off Denmark. Disappointing.
Iceland 200/1 Got found out this time, or were simply past their peak.
Australia 400/1 Performance reflected their indifferent qualifying form
Costa Rica 400/1 Just way too negative. Very disappointing after 2014.
South Korea 500/1 Beating Germany obviously exceeded anybody's expectations, even after Germany lost to Mexico
Tunisia 500/1 Another plodder
Iran 500/1 Exceeded expectations and would have qualified from some groups.
Saudi Arabia 750/1 Bottom two deservedly
Panama 750/1 Worst team I have seen at the finals for a long time. Torrid canal hammering ( © Nishlord)
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