France second favourite

 There is an argument that no other team in this World Cup has been as consistently convincing as France - except maybe, for different reasons, Colombia. Didier Deschamps has ensured they have solidity, creativity and durability.
As such, they have a real chance of ousting a much more unbalanced Germany.
It is a question regarding Brazil that probably reveals more about them than anything the actual team are doing. It's difficult not to think that home advantage is all that've got, except Neymar and maybe the pragmatism of Felipe Scolari.
None of their displays have convinced, and they are exceptionally fortunate not to be out. While all of the other big teams except for the Netherlands were only frustrated for long periods, Brazil were brought right to the brink of elimination by Chile. Of course, like Argentina, they do have the potential to grow from that. They could click
That has happened. Scolari can have that effect, home advantage can propel sides very far. It's just impossible to escape the perception that there's not all that much there.
 Germany probably still have the best and most devastating attack in this World Cup and, when on form, that forward line is close to unstoppable. The problem is there not that good at stopping anything going behind it themselves.
Their defence is astonishingly open, and Loew doesn't seem to have the tactical acumen to come close to fixing it.
 Colombia have proven themselves proper candidates to win the World Cup.
That cannot now be doubted, but that does not mean there aren't deeper doubts about their ability to go and actually finish the job.
For one, there is the fact that they haven't yet taken any of the better sides, but still looked dangerously open. Against superior opposition, that may begin to offset the excellence of James Rodriguez.
Secondly, there is tradition itself. The vast majority of eventual world champions evolved into tournaments gradually. The history of the tournament is filled with sides who initially blazed only to suddenly burn out in a single knock-out game.