I like Belgium but I am rooting for Poland. Probably fave teams to watch though are Germany and Spain.
I have picked Argentina and Belgium as good bets (nice odds) so I was happy to get Belgium. Poland though may be my underdog.
Rooting for the Scandinavians to get out of their groups, but realistically only Denmark has a chance to finish second in their group behind France and ahead of Peru and Australia. Sweden is in the group of death with Germany, Mexico, and South Korea. It'd be a miracle if Iceland manages a point in a group with Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria. So in reality, I'll be pulling for Colombia to make the quarters, where they will most likely face Germany. I have Germany playing Argentina and Brazil playing France in the semis with Germany beating Brazil in the Final.
Belgium is my dark horse favorite to win. I know it's probably gonna be Germany or Brazil but Belgium has underperformed in recent tournaments including the last World Cup where this group, which is a once in a generation group par excellence, was young. The Euros they washed out against Wales and learned that losing sucks. Now they are all in their prime and from front to back have a GREAT roster, one of the best in the tournament. Their starters are some of the biggest names in club football and parts of the biggest successes in the past couple of years, Courtois, Kompany, Hazard (both brothers), Dembele, DeBruyne, Felliani (aka broccoli man), Lukaku, Januzaj. I predict they could go all the way and you could do a lot worse in a pool. I am rooting for these guys to go the distance because I'm tired of seeing Germany and Brazil win and Netherlands and the USA aren't even in it so I'm on board! Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg). Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City). Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur). Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Belgium is probably the third or fourth most talented team in the world. For a country smaller (population) than Illinois and way smaller (area), it is something.
To be truly honest without my USA I am rooting for some upset stuff even if it is a draw for Iceland. A win for Australia. Etc.
Germany! 'nough said I think Spain is more dangerous, now that they do not have a coach. I would imagine that this has pissed off the Spanish players to no end. I hope they implode and are embarrassed every game (except against Portugal, Sergio Ramos should take out Ronaldo early in the game. I am thinking torn ACL or vagina)