Mr Fixit’s World Cup Tips: Brazil & Germany enter the fray

AFTER four games on Saturday we have another three on Sunday so the World Cup is really hotting up.

Three out of four favourites won tight games but the big shock was Argentina's draw with Iceland as Lionel Messi missed a penalty.

So let's start the look at Sunday's games with the defending champions.

Germany v Mexico (4pm)

Germany have topped all of their qualifying sections since 1986 and are hot favourites to do so again.

The defending champions have been paired in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea and it's just a question of who joins them in the last 16.

It could be tomorrow's opponents Mexico and their final match-up with Sweden in Yekaterinburg is likely to decide second spot.

The Germans haven’t enjoyed the best of warm-ups but when it matters they usually get it right and should make the semi-finals at least.

Boss Joachim Low has never failed to lead them to the last four of a major tournament in 12 years in charge and he’ll be desperate to defend the title won in Brazil four years ago.

Defensively they aren’t as solid as past teams and even limited Saudi Arabia netted against them last week but in attack they have star turns such as Marco Reus, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil all vying for places behind RB Leipzig speedster Timo Werner who will lead the line.

Germany’s reserves thumped Mexico 4-1 in the semi-finals of last summer’s Confederations Cup and while Mexico have some talented players they lack a real superstar although Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are two who will have to be watched.

The Germans are just 4-7 at Ladbrokes to win but best bet is Germany to win and over 2.5 goals at 8-5 at Unibet.

Werner could shine if he gets off to a flier and I’m backing him to score first at 15-4 with bet365.

Germany to win the group at 4-9 with bet365 looks a no-brainer while Mexico and Sweden are both 13-2 with South Korea written off at 25-1.

Difficult to pick the runner-up here but I'll side with Mexicans and a straight forecast on Germany/Mexico pays 2-1 at William Hill.

To finish bottom South Korea are 8-11 with Unibet and one bet that stands out is Spurs ace Son to be their top scorer at 11-4 at bet365.

Best Bet

• Germany & over 2.5 goals
• (8-5, Unibet)

Brazil v Switzerland (7pm)

WHO would have thought four years ago Brazil would be back as World Cup favourites. They looked broken after a 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany but Tite came to the rescue.

The Brazilians are unbeaten since he took charge – sailing through qualifying and rattling in the goals.

Key to their hopes is as always Neymar and he looks fully fit after returning from injury to score in friendlies against Croatia and Austria.

PSG’S £200 million man is 3-1 at bet365 to break the deadlock but will have competition from the likes of Man City’s Gabriel Jesus (3-1), Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino (5-1) and Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho (5-1).

Willian likes a goal too and the former Chelsea star is a better price at 7-1 with sportingbet. Brazil are decent on accas at 2-5 with bet365 to win while the Swiss are 17-2.

Switzerland were lucky to qualify after beating Northern Ireland 1-0 on aggregate but did win nine out of 10 in their group and finished second to European champs Portugal.

Best Bet

• Neymar to score first

Costa Rica v Serbia (1pm)

The other Group E meeting is between Serbia and Costa Rica. A 2-0 defeat to England and 4-1  loss to Belgium in recent friendlies suggests the Central Americans are a pale imitation of the side that reached the last eight in Brazil and could finish bottom of the table.

Serbia are one of the dark horses and I’m backing them at 49-50 with Marathonbet to open with a win against the Central Americans.

Serie A sensation Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could be the star of the show and I’m on Serbia to win to nil at 17-10 with Ladbrokes.