Opta: France are clear favorites to win the World Cup
According to Opta's latest statistical projections, France currently holds the highest probability of winning the World Cup, while Argentina is seen as the underdog among the semi-finalists.
Les Bleus sont favoris pour remporter une troisième fois la Coupe du monde. (P. Lahalle /L'Équipe)
Ahead of the World Cup semi-finals, statistical analyst Opta has released updated predictions for the remainder of the tournament. France has emerged as the clear favorite to lift the trophy, with their probability of becoming world champions currently standing at 34.05%.
Interestingly, before the tournament began, the French team were ranked second favorites behind Spain. However, their strong performances have seen them overtake their rivals, currently holding a margin of over 10 percentage points ahead of any other remaining nation.
The other three contenders are closely grouped: Spain has a 23.45% chance of winning, while England follows with 21.94%. Argentina is currently viewed as the least likely to win the final, with a 20.55% probability according to the data.
Regarding the upcoming fixtures, France has a 57.7% chance of reaching the final when they face Spain this Tuesday. The other semi-final remains tight; England, who knocked out Norway in extra time, are slight favorites at 50.94% against Argentina's 49.06%.