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Who can forget 2014 when Costa Rica, with very long odds of winning, shocked the world and made it all the way to the Quarter-Finals in Sudden Death. Now Gambling911.com looks at the 2018 FIFA World Cup possible dark horses and their high paying potential with the futures odds.
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ICELAND 200-1 - They represent the smallest of the countries to make this year's World Cup.
From CNBC Sports:
What would a darkhorse post be without Iceland? This tiny European nation shocked the world with its guts and swagger during a run to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals. The Boys followed that up by topping its UEFA World Cup qualifying group with seven wins in 10 matches.
Again, they have a chance to make history with Group D up for grabs behind Argentina. They will do battle with Croatia and Nigeria, two beatable opponents. They know Croatia well, having faced them twice during UEFA qualifying play in Group I, splitting the pair.
Iceland, though, has not won since January and will enter this year's World Cup in poor form.
PERU 200-1 - Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan, the later of whom proved himself to be as important as ever to the Peruvian cause during Russia 2018 qualifying, contributing important goals. Peru should challenge Denmark and Australia for an opportunity to advance out of the group stages.
From CNBC.com:
The crux of Peru’s knockout stage chances likely hinge on a defense in its prime. 34-year-old Alberto Rodriguez is the grizzled veteran of the group, but alongside him are 28-year-old full-back Luis Advincula and 29-year-old full-back Nilson Loyola, both of whom own over 60 caps each.
Daily Mirror writer Stan Collymore writes of Peru:‘Don’t underestimate Peru. They have their captain and all-time leading goalscorer, Paolo Guerrero, back after his drugs ban was reduced and that in itself can galvanise a nation.
‘South American qualifying is very strong and, like Poland, the feeling is that if they can get out of the group they can grow along the way.
‘They play with a real attacking flair, work tremendously hard for each other, and have a nice balance between youth and experience.’
EGYPT 150-1 - They do have one of the world’s most in-form players in Mohamed Salah while playing in a group where they should be able to advance. He is recovering from a separated AC join but is expected to play.
MOROCCO 250-1 - This is the best team coming out of Africa but has the misfortune of playing in a group that includes Portugal and Spain.
CROATIA 33-1 - Many consider Real Madrid star Luka Modric to be the world's best midfielder at present and Croatia is a rising star on the international Football scene. They are also expected to advance from the group stage.
lash sarkar of Sportskeeda writes of Croatia:
Even though they lost to the eventual winners, Portugal in the RO16 in a match stretched all the way to extra time, they showed the world that they are a rising power in the world of football.
POLAND 50-1 - We are hearing plenty of buzz here from the likes of Stan Collymore saying he was impressed with how this talented squad played. With 16 goals in ten appearances, the Polish Captain - Robert Lewandowski was the top scorer in Europe's 2018 world cup qualifiers.
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
