Brazil vs Haiti and Turkey vs Paraguay are the World Cup matches taking place in the early hours of Saturday morning and later in the day the Netherlands clash with Sweden and Germany take on Ivory Coast
Group C Brazil vs Haiti (Philadelphia)
Following the opening round of Group C matches it’s Scotland who top the group with 3 points. Brazil and Morocco both have 1 point and Haiti have yet to open their account. The picture will have changed come kick off time as Scotland will take on Morocco on Friday night and you can read our preview here.
Brazil:
Brazil opened up with a 1-1 draw with Morocco in New Jersey. They looked all at sea in the first quarter of the game, conceded the first goal after 21 minutes and at that time they were fortunate to be only 1-0 down. However they worked their way into the game and Vinicius Junior scored a cracking equalizer on 32 minutes. Chances dried up after that and there was no further scoring. Possession was pretty even, Brazil had 2 players booked (Ibanez and Casemiro), they were awarded 6 corners and 5 of their 12 shots were on target.
Haiti:
Haiti performed with credit and largely held their own against Scotland in their opening match but they conceded what proved to be the only goal of the game in the first half and couldn’t find a way back. The game finished 1-0 to the Scots to leave Haiti with a mountain to climb to reach the knockout rounds. Haiti edged the possession and registered more shots but only 2 of their 15 attempts were on target and the corner count was 4-3 in their favour.
The Betting:
Brazil are priced at around 1 / 8 to win the game with the draw available at 35/4 and Haiti can be backed at around 20/1.
A game of 4 goals or more is priced at 9/10 and its 27/20 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
Brazil were slow starters against Morocco and I’m wagering they won’t repeat that early showing here. Brazil to find the net 4 times in total is my play.
Bets: Brazil goals over 3.5 at 27/20 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change
Group D Turkey vs Paraguay (San Francisco)
USA top Group D with 3 points and a better goal difference than Australia who also have 3, those teams meet in Seattle on Friday and you can read our preview here. Meanwhile both Turkey and Paraguay are playing catch up and can ill afford another defeat here.
Turkey
Turkey conceded goals in each half in their 2-0 defeat to Australia in Vancouver first time out. Turkey dominated possession and the Australian had a terrific game. The stats show they had 30 shots of which 8 were on target and they were awarded 8 corners in total. The Australian woodwork was hit once but Turkey couldn’t find a way through.
Paraguay
Paraguay’s opening game against co-hosts USA in Los Angeles was something of a disaster as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat. An own goal from Damian Bobadilla on just 7 minutes had USA off to a flyer and Paraguay were 3-0 down by half time. They pulled a goal back through Mauricio on 73 minutes but conceded again deep into injury time. A total of just 9 shots and 1 on target, a solitary corner and 5 yellow cards sums up Paraguay’s performance.
The Betting:
Turkey are priced at around 11/10 to win the game with the draw available at 23/10 and Paraguay can be backed at around 13/5
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 11/10 and its 9/10 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
The pressure is both sides here and I’m struggling to identify a bet I really like. Paraguay had a reputation for being able to keep things ultra tight but conceding 4 to the USA would be a major concern.
Turkey failed to convert chances into goals against Australia but they have quality up front and I’ll settle on them to score in both halves.
Bets: Turkey to score in both halves? Yes at 12/5 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change
Group F Netherlands vs Sweden (Houston)
After the opening round of matches Sweden top the group with 3 points, the Netherlands and Japan both have 1 point and Tunisia have yet to open their account. Tunisia will take on Japan in the arly hours of Sunday morning.
Netherlands
The Netherlands opened their campaign with a -2 draw with Japan in Dallas. The first half went without a goal and van Djik headed the Dutch in front on 51 minutes. Japan were level just 6 minutes later but on 64 minutes Summerville made it 2-1 from an assist from Gravenberch, his second of the match. It looked like the Netherlands had done enough but Japan came back again, making it 2-2 on 89 minutes and that’s the way it finished. They had 60% of the ball and registered 10 shots, 6 of which were on target. The Netherlands were also awarded 5 corners to Japan’s 4.
Sweden
Sweden’s opening match against Tunisia in Monterrey turned into a one sided affair as they romped to a 5-1 win. Ayari opened the scoring on 7 minutes, Isak made 2-0 after half an hour but Tunisia pulled one back and it was 2-1 to Sweden at half time. Second half goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Mattias Svanberg and Ayari’s second at the death confirmed Sweden’s dominance. Sweden registered 13 shots and 7 were on target, they were awarded 4 corners and all their players avoided any cards.
The Betting:
Netherlands are priced at around 7/10 to win the game with the draw available at 29/10 and Sweden can be backed at around 15/4
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 17/20 and its 17/20 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
This should be a decent watch and given Sweden have had a huge confidence boosting win and goals for their strikers and see both sides on target and hopefully at least one more.
Bets: Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals? Yes at 27/20 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change
Group E Germany vs Ivory Coast (Toronto)
With 3 points Germany top this group on goal difference ahead of Ivory Coast whilst Ecuador and Curacao, who meet in the early hours of Sunday morning are looking for their first points.
Germany:
Germany took on the group’s minnows Curacao in Houston in their opening match and they came through with a 7-1 win. They led 3-1 at half time and Havertz scored twice, one a penalty whilst the other goals came from Nmecha, Schlotterbeck, Musiala, Brown and Undav.
Ivory Coast:
Ivory Coast came out on top against Ecuador in their first action of the tournament in Philadelphia by a 1-0 scoreline. The only goal of the game came from Amad Diallo, who came off the bench, on 90 minutes of a match which also saw Ecuador hit the woodwork 3 times and Ivory Coast once. Possession was fairly even and Ivory coast registered 15 shots, 4 of which were on target whilst the corner count was 6-3 in Ecuador’s favour.
The Betting:
Germany are priced at around 11/20 to win the game with the draw available at 17/5 and Ivory Coast can be backed at around 17/4.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 4/6 and its 8/11 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
As with the earlier game between the Netherlands and Sweden I see scope for goals from both sides and at least 3 in total.
Bets: Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals? Yes at 23/20 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change