IT'S just four days to the start of the World Cup and I've now previewed all of the groups.
Finding value isn't easy in some of them unless you're going for surprises and for me the tournament doesn't start proper until the final round of group games.
Russia v Saudi Arabia is an opener it's hard to get excited about and best bet should be under 2.5 match goals.
Here's a summary of my A-D tips with shortened write-ups and I've done the same with Groups E-H.
So let's start with Group A and hosts Russia kick off the tournament with a game against the lowest-ranked side to make the finals in Saudi Arabia.
With Egypt and Uruguay making up the section this is a must-win game for the Russians and the pressure will be on to make a perfect start.
Russia are 1-3 at Unibet to start with three points but this is no gimme and 12-5 at William Hill not to qualify and it's a bet I'm interested in with their match against Egypt the key one. Many will see Egypt as one-man team thanks to Mo Salah but they're not although the Liverpool star will be neeed against the Saudis and Russians after maybe missing the opener against Uruguay.
Uruguay are star-studded and could go deep in the tournament if European-based Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani take their shooting boots to Russia.
Key game could be Russia v Egypyt on June 19 and the Egyptians look big at 18-5 with BetStars to win with the hosts just over evens.
Best Bet
- Uruguay to win Group A
- (Evens, McBookie)
Spain and Portugal have been paired with Morocco and Iran in Group B and it could be a shootout between Portugal and Morocco for second spot.
Portugal have to be given respect as European champions and will again rely on dogged defence and Cristiano Ronaldo to nick a goal when they need it.
The Spanish are blessed with likes of Cesc Fabregas, Anders Iniesta, David Silva, Alvaro Morata and Isco. Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos will form a powerful centre-back pairing and many will fancy them to go all the way.
Morocco are in their first finals since France 1998 and arrive confident having not conceded a goal in qualifying.
Best Bet
- Iran to finish bottom
- (19-20, 188BET)
France and Denmark landed lucky in Group C and there looks no chance of Australia progressing while Peru will need to hit top form.
The fabulous French are massive favourites at 4-9 with Black Type to top the table and the Danes, 8-11 at Sky Bet shouldn't be too far behind. A straight forecast on France and Denmark pays 7-4 at Black Type.
France open against Australia and while they can be slow starters we'll get an idea of the gulf in class between the sides. They are a best 2-9 to win and I'm happy to back France -1 at 8-11 with Coral.
Boss Didier Deschamps has so much talent at his disposal, the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
Denmark have one big star in Christian Eriksen but plenty of others plying their trade at the top level. They start against Peru and are 23-10 with Ladbrokes but the South Americans are now unbeaten in 14 and boosted by the availability of skipper and star man Pablo Guerrero.
Australia also needed a play-off to qualify and they struggled to see off Syria. I'll take the Aussies to finish bottom at 11-10 with BlackType.
Best Bet
- Australia to finish bottom
- (11-10, BlackType)
There's always a Group of Death and this year it's quite aptly Group D featuring Argentina, Croatia, Nigeria and Iceland.
Let's start with favourites Argentina and again Lionel Messi will be looking to add the greatest prize to his collection.
He's often been the bridesmaid with his country and team-mates simply can't set him up in forward areas the way his Barcelona pals do.
Argentina struggled through qualifying until Messi worked his magic against Ecuador. They say there are no easy games at the finals and there are unlikely to be here with Croatia, Nigeria and Iceland all capable.
Messi's men will hope to bank five or six points and rely on the others beating each other. Croatia are second seeds and have some brilliant performers such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic and should make it through.
Nigeria are a young side with some top players such as Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, John Obi Mikel and Wilfried Ndidi and won't be overshadowed
Iceland were the bottom seeds everyone wanted to avoid after their performance at Euro 2016 was followed by a first World Cup qualification.
Gylfi Sigurdsson is their star turn but they rely more on teamwork and set-pieces and often score fron long throws and corners. It's not pretty but it's pretty effective.
Best Bet
- Croatia to qualify
- (1-2, Ladbrokes)
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group a
Russia not to qualify 9-4.
Egypt to beat Russia at 4-1 in their game [sidebet).
Uruguay\Egypt straight forecast is now down to 5-2 so the 9-4 above seem less stressful for a smidgeon less.
this covers the unlikely scenario of Egypt pipping Uruguay or Saudi Arabia getting involved (unlikely).
group b
a group of few goals.
iran and morocco are solid defensively and wont get trounced, Portugal and spain game for the group winners could be 2-1 either way.
for the tournament Portugal wont get away with playing possum like the euros trying to defend and sneak a 1-0 win as there are more teams here who will break them down.
spain for me don’t have the x factor up front, morata and costa ?, cant see these 2 scoring enough over the piece.
best bet here
morocco v iran under 1.5 match goals 13-10.
group c
france have the best team in the tournament for me from midfield up.
they do tend to concede one though and that may undo them in a tight one off game.
the other qualifying spot involves peru and Denmark who play in game 1.
neither set of players have experience of big tournaments, though the south American qualifiers are as good as that with 16 games v 8 countries unlike Europe where you play 4 or 5 countries and 2 of them will be crap.
with guerrero back that gives peru a huge psychological boost and though Denmark have a good team ethic, I see peru getting at least a draw and then it depends on what they do v france as they should both beat Australia.
peru double chance v Denmark 8-11
1st scorer erikson 5-1 or guerrero 6-1 or back both £10 each and you get at least £60 back if one comes in.
I expect france will start slowly and might underestimate australia and the aussies will have a better chance of sneaking a goal in game 1.
btts 21-10 or Australia to score 13-8 (hills).
group d
the 2 favourites argentina are not in very good form, the argies have been poor for a good while and rely heavily on messi, but he cant stop goals going in at the other end.
Croatia are having problems scoring goals at the moment, but if they click I see them winning this group as their midfield and especially defence are better than argentina’s.
Iceland concede regularly recently which means they will have to score 2 or more to win games which I think is beyond them, though the longer they hold argentina, the more chance of them doing an England to them.
I remember iran holding the argies until the last couple of minutes in the last world cup and on chances should have won..
Nigeria beat argentina recently 4-2 so if argentina are not on it, they could feasibly struggle to qualify.
Croatia group winner 13-5
longshot Iceland 4-1 or Nigeria 3-1 to qualify.
Hi Mr F.had a bet on real potosi game last night but bet 365 have it void.Do you know why or if other bookies voided the game?Appreciate any help as bet365 have not as yet answered my querie.Thanks.
I can try to get an answer from bet365. Email full details of the bet to mrfixit@dailyrecord.co.uk.
I wasn’t following this game so don’t know the circumstances.
Hi bet365 have told me the bet was void as the game was abandoned in the 89th minute.I watched the game and the referees had a police cordon to protect them after 4 players of the home team had been sent off.This was in the 83rd minute,however the refs stayed on the pitch for 90 mins before leaving.As far as I can see the match result stands and no replay is planned.Bet365 will not tell me what reference they are using to say match was officially abandoned.If all bookies have voided the match not much I can do but I dont know if this is the case.Maybe I should close the account,dont mind losing but feel they are cheating me.Thanks for replying.
What was the score when it was abandoned.
score 0 2( 1 6) agg.I had under 3.5 goals.Not gonna let it get me angry as it was only 70 quid but its not the first time Ive had issues with bet365.I will use my other accounts instead.Thanks.
4 red cards was present in the match and it was interrupted, i had my stakes returned too by my bookie.
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