Saudi Arabia delivered the first major shock of the tournament yesterday with a stunning win over second favourites Argentina.
Fortunately we managed to avoid the trap of backing the South Americans, instead profiting from a converted penalty by Lionel Messi at 5/2 and that could be a strategy that pays dividends throughout the tournament.
Today sees four of Europe's top ranked teams get their World Cups underway and a clean sweep of wins for Germany, Spain, Croatia and Belgium pays over 43/10 at Bet365.
2018 runners-up Croatia kick things off in the morning kick-off against Morocco and according to the bookies they have they toughest task of the four, priced up at and odds against 11/10.
Croatia topped a tough Nations League group that also included Denmark and France so it's pleasing to see them at what looks a generous price.
Ajax's Hakim Ziyech will be the main danger for Morocco and could be worth
Germany and Spain being drawn together has cast Group E as the closest we have to a Group of Death in this year's tournament but they both should start with a win today.
Spain are too short at just 1/7 to win against Costa Rica, especially if you watched Argentina crash and burn yesterday, so look elsewhere for value in that one. The Spanish aren't renowned for racking up big scores. They did top their recent Nations League group to reach the finals but only score eight in six matches so don't go mad on the goals front in this one.
Once more a penalty might be profitable. It's 5/2 that Spain score from the spot and 13/8 that a penalty is awarded in the match.
Despite being a bigger price, the ever-reliable Germany feel a better bet to beat Japan at 4/9. It may not be a vintage German side this time round but they know what it takes to go deep in to major tournaments.
A talented Japanese squad were profligate in front of goal in qualifying and their natural tendancy to attack could leave them vulnerable at the back. A German win with Over 2.5 goals in the game pays 21/20. On the penalty front it's 3/1 for Germany to net from the spot.
Belgium‘s golden generation look past their best but on their day could be a match for anyone in the tournament. It looks like a straight shoot-out between themselves and Croatia to top Group F, however Morocco may have something to say about that.
A win over Canada should be straightforward enough this evening and there could be a few goals in it for Roberto Martinez's side. The Canadians have been largely untested against top tier nations and they could find themselves seriously out of their depth in Qatar.
It would be remiss not look a Belgium penalty which is 7/2 to be scored and in the four games today they look most likely to be awarded and score one.
With so many penalties being awarded at the tournament here's a list of today's likely penalty takers for each team according to a list published pre-tournament by Yahoo!…
Today's potential penalty takers (Anytime scorer odds)
- Sofiane Boufal (Morocco) 4/1
- Luca Modric (Croatia) 9/2
- Ilkay Gundogan (Germany) 7/2
- Takumi Minamino (Japan) 5/1
- Alvaro Morata (Spain) 4/5
- Celso Borges (Costa Rica) 16/1
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – Injured
- Junior Hoilett (Canada) 6/1
Our in-depth World Cup coverage is now up and running. Big thanks to KevMac, Mark Walker and SlipsTips for giving us the benefit of their research and insight for the upcoming tournament. Group by Group Betting Tips are all available Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Group G, Group H as well as featured markets; Golden Boot, Golden Glove, Group Stage Acca, Dark Horses and Outright Winners.
We'll also be previewing all 64 matches in Qatar in partnership with Highbet who'll be providing exclusive free bets as prizes throughout the tournament. Watch this space!
Super Singles
- Germany to win & Over 2.5 Match Goals 21/20
- Croatia to win 21/20
- Belgium to score a penalty 7/2
Upcoming Match Previews & Tips
- Football Bet of the Day: Canada to cause Belgium’s ageing defence a few problems
- Wed 10:00 Morocco vs Croatia
- Wed 13:00 Germany vs Japan
- Wed 16:00 Spain vs Costa Rica
- Wed 19:00 Belgium vs Canada
- Thu 13:00 Uruguay vs South Korea
- Thu 16:00 Portugal vs Ghana
- Thu 19:00 Brazil vs Serbia
Golf Tips
The DP World Tour season has hardly finished but it’s all about to begin again with a couple of low key affairs this week in Australia & South Africa. The Caddy previews this week's Joburg Open.
Racing Tips
Rizzel has plucked out his three best selections for Wednesday's action, including his NAP in the finale at Wetherby in the bumper race.
As always, let us know your best betting tips and predictions for today in the comments section below and good luck with all your bets!
World Cup 2022 Coverage
- What's coming up? View a list of upcoming World Cup Fixtures.
- Missed a match? Check out our World Cup Results for all the latest full-time goals.
- Think you know who will win outright? Then View our World Cup Odds comparison tables from top UK bookmakers.
- Betting Offer: We have collected world cup betting offers all in one place so you don't have to.
- Group by Group Betting Tips; Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Group G, Group H.
- World Cup Betting Tips; Golden Boot, Golden Glove, Group Stage Acca, Dark Horses and Outright Winners
- Highbet: Sportsbook and online casino with 30+ sports, 100's of betting markets and competitive betting odds.
11.00 SK Dnipro-1 v Oleksandria
12.00 Shakhtar Donetsk v Vorskla Poltava
Dnipro/Shakhtar to win double @2.15
11.00 1922 Konyaspor v Nevsehir Belediyespor
11.00 Turgutluspor v Ayvalikgücü Belediyespor
Over 1.5 goals double @1.91
4-fold @4.11
All with Skybet – good luck today.
GERMANY
BELGIUM
Win Double
(1.23/1, bet365 +2.5% acca bonus)
Today ,
Germany win + 2+ mg’s
Belgium win + 2+ mg’s
Double 1.83/1 hills ,
Goodluck today all 👍
World Cup Bet 3
🇩🇪 Germany
🇧🇪 Belgium
Over 1.5tgs
5/4
Cheers for yesterdays winner had a lump on it 👍
Morocco v Croatia
Over 4 first half corners 6/5 Hills .
No joy . Thought Maroc might have had a few . LOSER
Couple for the early game ,
Modric to assist a goal 3/1
o0.5 fhgs
o1.5 match cards
o4.5 croatia corners , 1.47/1 ,
Goodluck………
Nope 👎 3 out of last 4 games been 0-0 , il be having very little betting wise going forward on the world Cup , good luck rest of the day lads………
Demand Loren to be booked at 15/4
no joy very tame game.
Dejan
World Cup Bundle2
Germany (-1) corner handicap v Japan
Costa Rica most cards v Spain
Belgium to win and btts v Canada
10.00-66.12
🤞
Morocco v Croatia in play draw 8/5
Bet won.
Germany to win
Germany over 1 goals
Germany over 2 corners
Belgium to win
Belgium over 1 goal
Belgium over 2 corners
Spain to win
Under 5 match goals
Over 0 Costa Rica cards
Over 3 Spain corners
6.00
Onto today after a horror day yesterday,using up a stack of free bets today and tomorrow
Germany v Japan
Germany 2+ goals
Germany -1 corner handicap
Japan most cards
16/5
Spain v Costa Rica @ 16:00
Fancy Spain to win this in a low scoring affair. Their last 7 competitive wins have been 1-0, 2-0,1-0,1-0,1-0,2-1 and 2-0 and you need to go back over 25 games when Costa Rica were defeated by more than 2 goals.
Could possibly be a cagey start then Spain to grind then down in the second half.
With that in mind a bet builder:
Ht draw Ft Spain
Under 3.5 goals
4/1 Skybet
Not had time to compare prices so check around for better.
🏆🤞👍 BOL
Costa rotten 🙈
Couple of bets from 2 World Cup games today;
GERMANY 🇩🇪 – JAPAN 🇯🇵
SPAIN 🇪🇸 – COSTA RICA 🇨🇷
Over 2.5MGS Double
3/2
BTTS Double
88/25
Good luck with your bets today!
Couple for Germany v japan
Over 1.5mgs
9+ match corners
30+ booking points
2/1
Gnabry 3+ total shots
Kubo 2+ total shots
15/8
Germany to win & score 2+ team goals
Gnabry to score & 2+ shots on target
8+ match corners
Yoshida to be carded
26/1
Good luck
All bets down….not a single card downs the main 2/1
Bookies must be loving this
Belgium v Canada
Red card 13/2 Unibet
Both teams to see a red 90/1 Hills
Red card / pen 11/1 Hills
2 + pens in the match 9/1 Skybet
Red card must be due soon .
Bookies absolutely loving this world Cup
Germany 😂😂😂😂
Underdogs & Pens..the way to go 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Longshot in Spain game
Bennette & borges both to be carded 18/1
Laporte to score a header 11/1
Good luck
Lost
I suppose this will give England the confidence to say they are champions elect?? UNTIL Usa pump them and Wales Pumps them then its back to reality,that they are just hasbeens who will never win anything..AND before yous all jump on my back,yes we ( Scotland ) are worse than most,but we know it,and admit it with heads held high…A-B-E..
Scotland: We are worse than most
Ireland: Hold my Guinness
🤣🤣🤣🤣
🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
Unfortunately not a chance, they’ll win their easy group comfortably, they’ll get pumped after that.
The England team is ridiculously over-hyped (and I’m English!)
Remember that “Fanny Kane for the Golden Boot” nonsense? Not even 1 shot on target from him in the first game.
The bulk of Kane’s goals come from penalties. If penalties were given to Saka, Sterling or Rashford instead, Kane’s performance isn’t that spectacular at all.
Surprised with that statement Chris,Kane provided 2 assists in England’s first game if he’s not scoring he assists all helps the cause of winning football matches.
England will take care of USA no prob and Wales will be hoping they do too !
People in bookies cheering the shock results whilst losing money. Strange times
bookeis are happy with World Cup
Belgium v Canada
De Bruyne to score from outside the area at 13/2 skybet
Shocker from Germany 😳
Bet down.
Japan were a great price 13/2 shame i stuck in a Yankee ! Belguim win btts NAP.
Spain not taking any chances
KDB
Anytime
2 or More
Hatrick
All singles
KDB
MOTM
5/1
B365
WON
So far a bust on all fronts.
Germany, Croatia and low scoring for Spain.
Indeed a terrible day
🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹 GUATAM🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹
CSD Municipal v Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa.
Guatemalan Liga Nacional
21:00
Santa Lucia to score 11-10 (BETFAIR SPORTSBOOK) 🇬🇹 NB 🇬🇹.
side bet
BTTS 29-20 (Ladbrokes).
Municipal 2-7 to win so you would gather bookies expect them to score.
Santa Lucia are stranded in the bottom 2 but there is hope of an away goal.
They have scored in 9 of the last 10 away games.
** In these 9 games they scored away to all 6 teams above 7th place municpal in the league **
Home and away they have scored in 15 of the last 17 games.
Head to head not too shabby either.
7 of 8 recorded head to head here seen BTTS .
Reverse fixture In September ended
Santa Lucia 1 municipal 0
On the face of it this looks over priced but you have to factor in municipal are decent at home and Santa Lucia have nothing to play for.
I’m happy to take the gamble anyway.
🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹
tonite……………….
belgium o1.5tgs, kdb assist, o4.5 team corners 9/4
GL
Belgium v Canada
Vitoria to be booked 15/8
Gl
Sky bet boost
Kdb 2+ shots on target now 3/1
Gl
11.00 SK Dnipro-1 v Oleksandria 🔘 VOID
12.00 Shakhtar Donetsk v Vorskla Poltava ✅
Dnipro/Shakhtar to win double @2.15 – Paid as winner @1.33 for the Shakhtar leg
11.00 1922 Konyaspor v Nevsehir Belediyespor ❌
11.00 Turgutluspor v Ayvalikgücü Belediyespor ❌
Over 1.5 goals double @1.91
4-fold @4.11 ❌
Not enough goals in Turkey (both finished 0-1) and the Dnipro game was abandoned in Ukraine.
Well done all winners today.
Belgium v canada 2.2 correct score
k de broyne to score more than 1 goal
That Costa Rica performance was utterly gutless and shameful.
0 shots on goal, 0 goal attempts even.
0 corners.
Goalkeeper saves both 0.
17% possession.
Are they United in disguise 🤔
Before anyone starts 😭 I mean Dundee Utd 😃
Total dundee uniteds 🤣🤣
Evening,
Belgium v Canada k.o 19.00
Junior Hoilett Booking in 90mins.
Skybet 11/2 Goodluck.
Mint…
Evening,
Belgium v Canada k.o 19.00
Junior Hoilett Booking in 90mins.
Skybet 11/2 Goodluck.
Mint… 😷 lost!
Almost forgot free punt with betfair
Belgium v Canada
Alphonso Davies
Timothy Castagne
Both to be Booked
28/1
IN-play
Canada not taking their chances,
Belgium to win @11/10
WON – Poor show from Belgium though.
If Canada were any good they’d be out if sight by now 😂😂😂
Take de bruyne out of this Belgium team and they are bang average.
Canada are a breath of fresh air, they actually believe they belong on that pitch.
Can they keep this up for 90 minutes ??
That’s the question, saying that Belgium look like they are tired already
Belgium v Canada
Vitoria to be booked 15/8 ❌
Gl
Well done any winners
Sky bet boost
Kdb 2+ shots on target now 3/1
Gl ❌
Belgium very lucky won’t be going far in this World Cup
World Cup Bet 3
🇩🇪 Germany❌
🇧🇪 Belgium❌
Over 1.5tgs
5/4 Lost
Hard going betting wise bring on the knock out stages
In – Play
Indigenas de Matagalpa FC 2 – 2 UNAN Managua
The home team wer 2 up n cruising at HT n the away have came out all guns blazing n have scored 2 in the last 5 minutes n are all over them.
UNAN Managua to score 3+ 11/10
for the win its 9/4
Sky Bet