Odds people looking at country names only and ignoring any sort of actual performances over the past 1.5 years is what that is.
People calling France favourites, haven't watched France since their world Cup win. Simple as that. Like feck are they favourites with Deschamps. It's like being confused that United kept on being shit with Ole or Mourinho game after game after we finished 2nd. Yes, we were good a year before, and then the squad lost hope and just couldn't get it up for the manager, and so every game was shit. This is France now. Just like it was Germany until Flick replaced Low. And it is Portugal now. And it is England now. Those 3 aren't winning shit until they get a new manager with fresh ideas to get the squad to at least play to their level.
Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Argentina and Brazil have to be the top 5. And for me, Brazil is a clear bottom of that group. They play defensive, negative football and have an ancient back line. They don't play to their strengths at all. Netherlands, Germany and Spain all play to their strengths, with excellent managers, and excellent teams (varying depth). Argentina had a great game vs Italy in that one game that was a glorified friendly, but other than that have played basically garbage level opposition but have been comfortable throughout. Hard to judge them, but they have a very well balanced team and if Messi is back to his best, can make it all the way. They're the biggest unknown for me though and I'm going more of results and names for them than any performances that I've actually seen like with Germany, Netherlands, Spain.