The wait is almost over so before the first ball of this gigantic World Cup is kicked – it’s time for some predictions.
There’s so much to factor in. Who will best deal with the heat and travel? Which side might stumble upon a favourable run in the knockouts? And is Thomas Tuchel the man to finally help England stitch a second star on the shirt?
Here, Daily Mail Sports‘ experts have their say on how the Three Lions and Scotland will fare, who the surprise package and golden boot winner will be and which side will lift the World Cup on July 19.
Oliver Holt
Winner: Portugal
How far will England go: Semi-finals
How far will Scotland go: Round of 32
Surprise package: Morocco
Golden boot: Harry Kane
I’m most looking forward to… Seeing Mexico play in the Azteca Stadium in the opening game.
Thomas Tuchel’s England side are not tipped to win the World Cup by our experts
Ian Herbert
Winner: Brazil
How far will England go? Round of 16
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Vinicius Jr
I’m most looking forward to… Watching Ivory Coast’s teenager Yan Diomande, the explosive, direct winger with blistering pace who’s just lit up the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig and could take a strong Ivorian side to the quarter finals.
Ian Ladyman
Winner: Spain
How far will England go? Last 16
How far will Scotland go? Last 32
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Kylian Mbappe
I’m most looking forward to… Seeing if Carlo Ancelotti can make a decent whole of Brazil’s eclectic parts.
Craig Hope
Winner: France
How far will England go? Quarter-finals
How far will Scotland go? Group stage
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Kylian Mbappe
I’m most looking forward to… The prospect of England versus Mexico in Mexico City in the last 16.
Kylian Mbappe is among the hot favourites to win the golden boot at the World Cup
Jack Gaughan
Winner: Spain
How far will England go? Round of 16
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Julian Alvarez
I’m most looking forward to… Other than being proven wrong by England, watching how the differing styles of Japan and Ecuador match up against historically bigger nations when it really matters.
Mike Keegan
Winner: France
How far will England go? Semi-finals
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Lautaro Martinez
I’m most looking forward to… If things go as many predict, England will head to Mexico City to play Mexico in the round of 16. It’s an opportunity to banish the pain of my eighth birthday, when Diego Maradona punched it in, but more importantly it should provide a raw, frenzied assault on the senses – hopefully a million miles away from FIFA’s corporate money-making machine. Real football.
Riath Al-Samarrai
Winner: Spain
How far will England go? Semi-final
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Morocco
Golden boot: Harry Kane
I’m most looking forward to… Watching Kylian Mbappe in New Jersey next week. Assuming he hasn’t sulked away or fallen victim to a supporter petition for his removal.
Spain’s hopes could rest on whether Lamine Yamal is fully fit and on his sharpest form
Tom Collomosse
Winner: Brazil
How far will England go? Quarter finals
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Turkey
Golden boot: Julian Alvarez
I’m most looking forward to… Simplicity. I’m fed up of the Americanisation of our game – murals of set piece coaches, throw-in specialists, and data points for every possible aspect of the game. The World Cup is about the players, the coaches and, yes, the magic. Let’s enjoy it.
Matt Barlow
Winner: Spain
How far will England go? Quarter-finals
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Norway
Golden boot: Erling Haaland
I’m most looking forward to… A day when the World Cup feels once again like it was designed for football not profit.
Chris Wheeler
Winner: France
How far will England go? Quarter-finals
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Colombia
Golden boot: Kylian Mbappe
I’m most looking forward to… Seeing if Donald Trump tries to join in the celebrations in the final next month, as he did when Chelsea won the Club World Cup at the MetLife Stadium last summer.
Kieran Gill
Winner: Spain
How far will England go? Round of 16
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Kylian Mbappe
I’m most looking forward to… Bumping Bluey and Blippi for Australia and Turkey when my toddler wakes me up to go downstairs at 5am like usual – I’m choosing what’s on TV for the next month, son!
Nathan Salt
Winner: Spain
How far will England go: Quarter-finals
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Morocco
Golden boot: Michael Olise
I’m most looking forward to… Seeing how Japan – who haven’t conceded a single goal in their last 5 matches, including playing England at Wembley – get on with what is arguably their best ever World Cup squad.
Japan are dark horses and on superb form entering the tournament with their best ever squad
Tara Anson-Walsh
Winner: France
How far will England go? Quarter-finals
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32
Surprise package: Japan
Golden boot: Kylian Mbappe
I’m most looking forward to… England v Croatia, what else? The wait is finally over, and England’s first game is also their hardest of the group, which is the perfect way to kick things off, I reckon.
It’s also the first major tournament game of the Thomas Tuchel era, and the first time England fans will be able to see how his team fare on the biggest stage. I can’t wait.
Bobby Manzi
Winner: France’s strength in depth is hard to overlook — they have the most complete squad. Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele are electrifying. They have a solid base behind them, too. France vs Argentina final, where France will exact revenge for four years ago.
How far will England go? Quarter-finals. Following England’s projected run, Mexico in Mexico City in the last 16 will be tricky — but they will get through it. However, facing the South Americans in a climate they are more accustomed to will be a step too far. They’ll go out in the quarters, most likely to Brazil, which is about par.
How far will Scotland go? Round of 32. Scotland will progress from the group, likely as one of the best third-placed teams after a comfortable win over Haiti, before exiting at the Round of 32 stage.
Surprise package: Colombia. They’ll pip Portugal to win Group K but eventually fall to Argentina — who beat them in the Copa America final — in the quarter-finals.
Golden boot: Harry Kane. He’s scored 57 goals already this season and is in the form of his life. He did it in Russia in 2018, and hopefully, he will do it again. That said, if England go out in the quarters, then two games less than Kylian Mbappe might spoil his chances.
I’m most looking forward to… Michael Olise tearing up the World Cup for France. This tournament will confirm that he is one of the world’s best. To think he could have played for England…
