The knockout stage of the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US is under way. Following the outcome of the group stage, a supercomputer belonging to Opta, the sports data and analysis company, has calculated which country has the best chance of winning the World Cup. The Belgian national squad, the Red Devils, are given a 1.6% chance, whilst France is the favourite.
After Canada’s win against South Africa 31 teams are still in the running.
Following the group stage, we’ve had to say goodbye to 16 nations including Scotland.
Opta’s supercomputer has once again been set to work. The renowned data firm simulated the remainder of the World Cup 25,000 times and based on all that data, has put the remaining nations into a clear table.
Based on the chances of progressing through each round, France ultimately emerged as the winner. Before the World Cup, the French had to settle for second place behind defending champions Argentina, but after the group stage, the two nations have swapped places.
France now has an 18.7 per cent chance of becoming world champions, whilst Argentina’s chances stand at 16.3 per cent. Spain has been given a 13.5 per cent chance.
And what about the Pride of Belgium, the Red Devils? Opta gives the Belgians the edge against Senegal in their first knock-out stage match, with a 56.9 per cent chance of reaching the 16-team round but winning the World Cup will be a little bit more difficult, though not impossible! With a 1.6 per cent chance, Opta reckons no fewer than 14 other countries stand a better chance of lifting the silverware.