The 2018 World Cup finals are almost here and football fans are busy making their pre-tournament predictions and bets.
Brazil are currently the bookmakers’ favourites to win the showpiece international tournament at 4/1 followed by reigning world champions Germany (9/2), Spain (6/1) and France (13/2).
Then you have the likes of Argentina (9/1), Belgium (11/1) and England (16/1).
England’s odds appear to be rather short when you consider they haven’t reached a World Cup semi-final since 1990.
The Three Lions were dumped out of the 2010 World Cup in the Round of 16 by Germany, who recorded an emphatic 4-1 victory, and failed to get out of a group containing Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica four years ago in Brazil.
Two years after that, England hit a new nadir as they were knocked out of Euro 2016 by minnows Iceland.
Despite their disastrous performances at recent major tournaments, the Three Lions are rated as the seventh favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.
Mourinho predicts how far England will go in Russia
But how far does Jose Mourinho, one of world football’s most revered football managers, think England will go this summer?
The Manchester United boss, who will be on punditry duty for RT over the next few weeks, has revealed his predictions for the Round of 16 and quarter-finals.
He reckons that England will beat Poland in the Round of 16 before setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Brazil, who Mourinho expects will defeat Mexico en route to the last eight.
“Brazil - England… it’s a big match,” Mourinho says in the video. “It’s not bad for me that my players will go on holiday.”
More quarter-final heartache for England?
Yep, Mourinho predicts more World Cup quarter-final heartache for England.
The 55-year-old thinks Brazil will then face Portugal in the semi-finals, with his home country defeating France in the quarters.
On the other side of the draw, meanwhile, Mourinho expects a semi-final between Argentina and Germany.
He thinks Argentina will beat Spain in the quarters because they have Lionel Messi, while Germany will reach the last four after beating Belgium.
Do you agree with Mourinho’s pre-World Cup predictions? Have your say by leaving a comment below.