THE World Cup is upon us in a week’s time and the opportunity to have a few beers, watch the footy and (hopefully) increase the enjoyment of the competition further by making some money. The outright prices for the tournament are as follows:

Brazil 9/2, Germany 5/1 (Skybet), Spain 6/1, France 13/2, Argentina 10/1 (Paddy Power), Belgium 11/1, England 20/1 (Spreadex), Portugal 25/1, Uruguay 33/1 (Betvictor), Croatia 40/1 (Skybet), Columbia 55/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Russia 55/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Poland 80/1 (Spreadex), Denmark 100/1, Mexico 125/1 (Spreadex), Switzerland 150/1 (Skybet), Serbia 200/1 (Bet365), Sweden 200/1 (Spreadex), Egypt 250/1, Senegal 475/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Peru 500/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Nigeria 500/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Iceland 500/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Morocco 500/1, Japan 500/1 (Betfair Sportsbook), Australia 750/1 (Skybet), Costa Rica 750/1 (Skybet), South Korea 750/1 (Bet365), Iran 2000/1 (Skybet), Tunisia 2000/1 (Skybet), Panama 5000/1 (Skybet), Saudi Arabia 5000/1 (Skybet).

A total 32 teams but not many that can realistically hope to hold the FIFA World Cup trophy aloft next month. Brazil, Spain and France will all have their advocates and they should make an impact but there is no reason to desert the tried and trusted and Germany at 5/1 (Skybet) rate a decent wager, particularly as the Yorkshire firm are refunding any stake up to £10 as a free bet if your selection gets knocked out.

The next three countries in the betting, Argentina, Belgium and England, can all be opposed on one count or another; Messi apart, Argentina look very ordinary, Belgium are continually priced up at around the 10/1 mark for tournaments and have not looked like delivering and there is nothing in this team that suggests the outcome will be any different while England have selected a very inexperienced line-up that will play without mental scars from previous flops but are likely to come up short against whichever of the more established countries they meet first. Ladbrokes are offering a refund of up to £5 (in free bets) when you back England at their 14/1 and they get eliminated.

Looking further down the list, there are few countries that even at three-figure prices you can make much of a case for. Portugal, the reigning European champions, are available at 25/1 but, even with Ronaldo, surely they will not be able to draw countless matches and rely on penalty shoot-outs again; Uruguay, with an easy group make more appeal at 33/1 but the feeling persists that a deep run to the quarter- or semi-finals without rewarding backers is the likeliest outcome for the Sky Blues. Poland at 80/1 appear overpriced. A solid, improving outfit with Robert Lewandowski as a goal threat ought to progress from an admittedly tricky group. Belgium or England would hold no terrors in the last 16; thereafter the opposition is likely to be tougher but it is worth chancing that the Poles can vault into the latter stages. William Hill are offering £5 as free bets for every victory your selection records in the tournament assuming a minimum stake of £10 (or £5 each way)

Prediction: Winners – Germany. Each-way value – Poland.