World Cup Latest BEST Odds
Odds quoted are correct as at 8am on June 26th 2018 and are subject to change.
Winner
Five teams are quoted at single figure odds and the bookmakers believe England have a better chance of winning the World Cup than France, Uruguay and Portugal.
Brazil 7/2 with Betfair
Spain 4/1 with Coral
Belgium 7/1 with Paddy Power
France 8/1 Coral
England 9/1 with BetVictor
(18+ Ts and Cs apply)
Top Goalscorer
Harry Kane is now the favourite to be the top scorer having scored five goals in two matches.
Harry Kane (England, 5 goals) 9/5 with Betfair
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium, 4 goals) 5/1 with Paddy Power
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, 4 goals) 6/1 with Betfair
Diego Costa (Spain, 3 goals) 10/1 with Paddy Power
Neymar (Brazil, 1 goal) 25/1 with Coral
(18+ Ts and Cs Apply)
Odds quoted are correct as at June 13th 2018 and are subject to change.
The cream always rises to the top in the World Cup and the tournament is always won by one of the superpowers from Europe or South America. There are often surprise results in the group stages but the knockout rounds generally go to form. If there are dark horses this time it could be Uruguay who can be backed at 28/1 to win the World Cup. They have experience at the back and quality up front. Luis Suarez is playing in his third World Cup in front of a solid defence and creative midfield. Uruguay finished second behind Brazil in South America qualifying and only Brazil won more points during the qualifying process. However, you can refer to our 2018 Fifa World Cup news which informs readers that the World Cup has only been won three times by nations not playing in their continent.
World Cup Group Stage Match Schedule
Here is the schedule for the first and second phase of group matches. The odds quoted below are correct as at May 8th and are subject to change. Best odds for knockout stages will appear at an appropriate time.
Bookmakers have been brave in issuing odds for all 48 matches in the group stages of the #World Cup#. The situation is ever changing and the odds will change accordingly. Prices are subject to the basic laws of supply and demand. If there is a demand to back a team at the current price the odds will be cut. To counter that price change the odds on the draw and/or the opponents to win will increase. As in any market it’s a exercise in finding a balance to strive for equilibrium.
The odds on a team to win a match are dependent on team news and injuries in particular. Mo Salah was injured in the Champions League final. He should be fit for the World Cup but looks like missing the first match. In that case Egypt have less chance of beating Uruguay in their opener so bookies will respond by making Uruguay a shorter price to pick up three points. If Harry Kane picks up an injury in training and misses England matches their opponents have improved prospects which will filter through to the odds.
The bookmaker odds for the second phase of matches are based on latest form and FIFA rankings. However, matches in the first phase may not go to form which means the odds for the remaining group matches may be wrong. Bookmaker odds are about perception and value. If a customer believes England are 1/5 to beat Tunisia in their first match and they can be backed at 1/3 the odds are perceived to offer value. Only the outcome of the match will show if that perception is correct.
Bookmakers compete on their odds and margins but a betting market is in a constant state of flux. Form, information and injuries lead to price shifts which can be demand or supply led. You can bet on the three way result for all 48 group matches and the winner of each group.
For all bookmakers listed below: 18+ Ts and Cs Apply.
The odds quoted below are correct as at May 27th and are subject to change. The FIFA World Rankings as at June 1st 2018 are also shown next to the team name below the odds tables:
Group A |
Group B |
Group C |
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Uruguay Russia Egypt Saudi Arabia
Thursday 14th June at 4pm Russia 3/10 with Coral 5 Draw 4/1 with Betfair Saudi Arabia 13/1 with Ladbrokes 0 (18+ Ts and Cs Apply)
Friday 15th June at 1pm Egypt 4/1 with Ladbrokes 0 Draw 12/5 with William Hill Uruguay 4/5 with Betfair 1
Tuesday 19th June at 7pm Russia 10/11 with William Hill 3 Draw 9/4 with Ladbrokes Egypt 15/4 with Betfair 1
Wednesday 20th June at 4pm Uruguay 5/19 with Unibet 1 Draw 17/4 with Coral Saudi Arabia 14/1 with Ladbrokes 0
Monday 25th June at 3pm Saudi Arabia 4/1 with Paddy Power 2 Draw 12/5 with Betfair Egypt 3/4 with William Hill 1
Monday 25th June at 3pm Uruguay 7/5 with BetVictor 3 Draw 11/5 with Unibet Russia 2/1 with William Hill 0 |
Spain 8/15 with Boylesports Portugal 9/4 with William Hill Morocco 20/1 with Ladbrokes Iran 35/1 with Coral
Friday 15th June at 4pm Morocco 23/20 with William Hill 0 Draw 9/4 with Betfair Iran 12/5 with Coral 1
Friday 15th June at 7pm Portugal 10/3 with Ladbrokes 3 Draw 23/10 with Paddy Power Spain 7/8 with BetVictor 3
Wednesday 20th June at 1pm Portugal 1/2 with Paddy Power 1 Draw 14/5 with BetVictor Morocco 5/1 with William Hill 0
Wednesday 20th June at 7pm Iran 20/1 with Betfair 0 Draw 5/1 with Coral Spain 1/5 with Unibet 1
Monday 25th June at 7pm Iran 9/1 with 888Sport 1 Draw 17/5 with BetVictor Portugal 1/3 with Boylesports 1
Monday 25th June at 7pm Spain 3/10 with Paddy Power 2 Draw 39/10 with Unibet Morocco 9/1 with Betfair 2 |
France 4/9 with Coral Denmark 9/2 with William Hill Peru 12/1 with Ladbrokes Australia 22/1 with Boylesports
Saturday 16th June at 11am France 1/4 with Betfair 2 Draw 5/1 with William Hill Australia 16/1 with Ladbrokes 1
Saturday 16th June at 5pm Peru 13/5 with BetVictor 0 Draw 40/17 with Unibet Denmark 5/4 with Betfair 1
Thursday 21st June at 1pm Denmark 3/4 with Coral 1 Draw 23/10 with Paddy Power Australia 4/1 with Betfair 1
Thursday 21st June at 4pm France 1/3 with Paddy Power 1 Draw 15/4 with BetVictor Peru 15/2 with William Hill 0
Tuesday 26th June at 3pm Australia 27/11 with 888Sport 0 Draw 21/10 with William Hill Peru 6/5 with Unibet 2
Tuesday 26th June at 3pm Denmark 19/4 with BetVictor 0 Draw 5/2 with Boylesports France 8/15 with Paddy Power 0 |
Group A
Uruguay 17 Russia 66 Egypt 46 Saudi Arabia 67
The key to the outcome of this group is the benefits for Russia from playing at home. Uruguay can justify favouritism and win this group while Russia can qualify for the last 16 by finishing second in the group.
Head to Heads
Russia v Saudi Arabia
The two sides have only met once with Saudi Arabia winning a home friendly 4-2 in October 1993 despite going 1-0 down after just nine minutes.
Egypt v Uruguay
The two sides have only met once with Uruguay winning 2-0 in Egypt in August 2006 with two second half goals, the second being an own goal.
Russia v Egypt
The two sides have never faced each other before.
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
There have been two previous meetings and Uruguay are still looking for their first win over Saudi Arabia. Both games took place in Saudi Arabia, the first being a 3-2 win for the home side in March 2002. A Diego Forlan goal gave Uruguay the lead after just four minutes but by the 18th minute, Saudi Arabia had taken a 3-1 lead with three goals in nine minutes. Uruguay got a goal back in the second half, but Saudi Arabia held on for the win. Their other meeting was in October 2014 and ended in a 1-1 draw.
Uruguay v Russia
Just the one previous meeting between the two sides with Russia hosting the game in May 2012 and ending in a 1-1 draw. Luis Suarez gave Uruguay the lesad in the 48th minute but the Russians equalised through Alexander Kerzahov just a minute later.
Saudi Arabia v Egypt
The two teams have had eight previous meetings with Egypt winning six of them. They first met in September 1961 in the Pan Arab Games and incredibly Egypt won 13-0 in a game played in Morocco. They didn’t play each other again for 13 years and it was a bit closer this time as Egypt won 1-0. After five losses and a draw, Saudi Arabia got their only win over Egypt in 1999 beating them 5-1 in a FIFA Confederations Cup game held in Mexico City with Marzouk Al Otaibi scoring four goals. Their most recent meeting was in March 2005 when Egypt won an away friendly 1-0.
Group B
Spain 8 Portugal 4 Morocco 42 Iran 36
This group will come down to the result of the match between Spain and Portugal as both should win their other matches and Portugal can win the match and group with Spain progressing in second place.
Head to Heads
Morocco v Iran
The two sides have had a couple of previous meetings and both were won by Iran. The first meeting was in September 1978 in a Presidents Cup game held in South Korea. The most recent game was in September 2002, this time in the LG Cup held in Iran.
Portugal v Spain
In 36 previous meetings, Portugal have only recorded six wins with 12 draws and 18 defeats. Twelve of those Spanish wins came between 1921 and 1945 including a 9-0 win for the Spaniards in a home 1934 World Cup qualifier with Isidro Langara scoring five of them. It wasn’t until their 17th meeting in 1947 that Portugal finally got a win beating Spain 4-1 in a home friendly despite going 1-0 down in the first minute. Between 1979 and 2002 the two sides met seven times with six of the games ending in a draw. Spain’s away win in a 2003 international friendly ended 45 years without a win over their neighbours. The last four meetings have ended in two wins apiece with their last meeting being in 2012 when they drew 0-0 in the European Championship. World Cup meetings between the two sides have seen Spain win four and draw the other.
Portugal v Morocco
The two sides have only had one previous meeting. That was in the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico with Morocco winning 3-1 with two goals from Abdelrazze Khairi.
Iran v Spain
No previous meetings.
Iran v Portugal
There have been two previous meetings with Portugal winning both without conceding a goal. Their first meeting was in 1972 in an Independence tournament held in Brazil. The Portuguese won 3-0 with one of the goals coming from the legendary Eusebio. Their only other meeting was in 2006 in Germany when Portugal won 2-0 in a World Cup group match, but it took 63 minutes before Deco gave them the lead with the second goal being a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty ten minutes from time.
Spain v Morocco
The sides have met twice with the matches taking place in 1961 in the qualifying rounds for the 1962 World Cup. This was a two-legged Africa-Spain final with Spain winning the away leg 1-0 on November 12 with a Luis del Sol goal ten minutes from time. The second leg was played in Spain 11 days later and Spain won 3-2 taking an 11th minute lead to go 2-0 up on aggregate. Morocco equalized on the night in the 40th minute but an Alfredo Di Stefano goal a minute before the break gave them the lead again. Enrique Collar scored a 60th minute put them 4-1 up on aggregate and Morocco could only get one goal back in the 65th minute.
Group C
France 7 Denmark 12 Peru 11 Australia 40
France are the biggest certainties to win their group and they should qualify for the knockout stages with three wins. Australia will be outclassed and Peru can beat Denmark in the crucial match in the context of second place.
Head to Heads
France v Australia
The two sides have met on four previous occasions, but this is their first World Cup match. France has won two of the past games with one drawn and one win for Australia. Their first meeting was in the Kirin Japan Cup in 1994 when France won by the only goal of the match. In 2001 the two sides met in the FIFA Confederations Cup with Australia getting a surprise 1-0 win thanks to a Clayton Zane goal in the sixtieth minute. France played the last 12 minutes with ten men after Frank Lebouf was sent off.
In November 2001, Australia hosted France in a friendly that ended in a 1-1 draw. Their most recent meeting was in 2013 when France won 6-0 at home with four of the goals coming in the first half. Olivier Giroud scored two of their goals.
Peru v Denmark
No previous meetings
Denmark v Australia
Three previous meetings have resulted in two wins for Denmark and one for the Aussies. In 2007, Denmark got a 3-1 win in a friendly played in England. All their goals came in the first half with Jon Dahl Tomasson scoring twice. 2010 saw Australia get a 1-0 home win in a friendly with Joshua Kennedy getting a 71st minute winner. The most recent meeting was in June 2012 with Denmark winning a home friendly 2-0.
France v Peru
Just the one previous meeting and that was back in April 1982. Peru won in France 1-0 with Juan Carlos Oblitas scoring an 82nd minute winner
Denmark v France
The sides have met 13 times with France winning eight of them, Denmark four and just the one draw. The last three games have all been won by France with the last of those matches being in 2015. They met in the 1998 World Cup finals with France winning 2-1, the winning goal coming from Emmanuel Petit after both sides had scored from the penalty spot. They met again in the 2002 World Cup, this time Denmark won 2-0.
The two sides have met three times in the European Championships. In 1984, France won 1-0 with Michel Platini scoring the all-important goal 12 minutes from time. They met again in 1992 championship with Denmark getting a 2-1 win. 2000 saw France get a convincing 3-0 victory with goals from Laurent Blanc, Thierry Henry and Sylvian Wiltord.
Peru v Australia
No previous meetings
Group D
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Group E |
Group F |
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Argentina 8/11 with Betfair Croatia 13/5 with Ladbrokes Nigeria 11/1 with Paddy Power Iceland 16/1 with Coral
Saturday June 16th at 2pm Argentina 1/3 with Coral 1 Draw 13/4 with Ladbrokes Iceland 11/1 with Paddy Power 1
Saturday June 16th at 8pm Croatia 5/6 with BetVictor 2 Draw 11/5 with Coral Nigeria 16/5 with William Hill 0
Thursday June 21st at 7pm Argentina 5/6 with Unibet 0 Draw 5/2 with BetVictor Croatia 15/4 with Ladbrokes 3
Friday June 22nd at 4pm Nigeria 19/10 with Unibet 2 Draw 2/1 with Ladbrokes Iceland 6/4 with William Hill 0
Tuesday June 26th at 7pm Iceland 7/2 with BetVictor 1 Draw 13/5 with 888Sport Croatia 11/13 with Unibet 2
Tuesday June 26th at 7pm Nigeria 5/1 with Betfair 1 Draw 3/1 with Boylesports Argentina 4/9 with William Hill 2 |
Brazil 2/5 with Betfair Switzerland 13/2 with William Hill Serbia 9/1 with Coral Costa Rica 22/1 with Ladbrokes
Sunday June 17th at 1pm Costa Rica 3/1 with Coral 0 Draw 2/1 with Ladbrokes Serbia Evens with Paddy Power 1
Sunday June 17th at 7pm Brazil 1/3 with BetVictor 1 Draw 17/5 with Coral Switzerland 15/2 with William Hill 1
Friday 22nd June at 1pm Brazil 1/4 with Betfair 2 Draw 21/4 with BetVictor Costa Rica 15/1 with Paddy Power 0
Friday 22nd June at 7pm Serbia 9/5 with Coral 1 Draw 11/5 with William Hill Switzerland 8/5 with Ladbrokes 2
Wednesday 27th June at 7pm Serbia 8/1 with BetVictor 0 Draw 7/2 with Paddy Power Brazil 4/9 with William Hill 2
Wednesday 27th June at 7pm Switzerland 10/11 with Betfair 2 Draw 12/5 with 888Sport Costa Rica 16/5 with Boylesports 2 |
Germany 4/9 with Ladbrokes Mexico 6/1 with William Hill Sweden 6/1 with Coral South Korea 20/1 with Boylesports
Sunday June 17th at 4pm Germany 9/20 with Paddy Power 0 Draw 3/1 with Coral Mexico 11/2 with William Hill 1
Monday June 18th at 1pm Sweden 57/50 with Unibet 1 Draw 11/5 with Ladbrokes South Korea 13/5 with BetVictor 0
Saturday 23rd June at 4pm South Korea 29/10 with Ladbrokes 1 Draw 12/5 with William Hill Mexico Evens with Coral 2
Saturday 23rd June at 7pm Germany 1/2 with Ladbrokes 2 Draw 16/5 with William Hill Sweden 11/2 with Coral 1
Wednesday 27th June at 3pm South Korea 11/1 with William Hill 2 Draw 19/4 with BetVictor Germany 1/5 with Paddy Power 0
Wednesday 27th June at 3pm Mexico 6/4 with William Hill 0 Draw 11/5 with BetVictor Sweden 7/4 with Paddy Power 3 |
Group D
Argentina 5 Croatia 18 Nigeria 47 Iceland 22
Any side containing Lionel Messi will be tough to beat and Argentina should get the job done and qualify for the next round by winning the group. Iceland are good enough to pick up points against the other two sides and can finish second in the group.
Head to Heads
Argentina v Iceland
No previous meetings
Croatia v Nigeria
No previous meetings
Argentina v Croatia
The two sides have met on four previous occasions with Argentina winning twice, Croatia once and one draw. They first met in an international friendly in 1994 in Croatia with the game ending goalless. Their only competitive match was in the 1998 World Cup group stages with Argentina winning 1-0 thanks to a Mauricio Hector Pineda goal in the 36th minute. Croatia’s only win over Argentina came in a home friendly played in 2006. Croatia took the lead in the third minute but then goals from Tevez and Messi in the fourth and sixth minutes put the visitors 2-1 up. The Croatians equalized in the 52nd minute and got the winner via a Dario Simic goal in the 90th minute. Their most recent encounter was in November 2014 when Argentina won 2-1 in a friendly played at West Ham’s old ground. Croatia took the lead in the 11th minute but Argentina equalizer in the 49th minute and got the winner with a Messi penalty eight minutes later.
Nigeria v Iceland
The two countries have only met once when Iceland hosted Nigeria in 1981. The Icelandic side won 3-0 in a game played in front of just 1,113 people.
Nigeria v Argentina
There have been eight previous meetings with five won by Argentina, one game drawn and two wins for Nigeria. They first met in the 1994 World Cup with Argentina winning 2-1. All the goals came in the first half with Nigeria taking an eighth minute lead, but Argentina responded with two Claudio Caniggia goals in the 22nd and 29th minutes. The two sides met again the following year in the Confederations Cup with the game ending in a goalless draw. 2002 saw Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in the World Cup with a 63rd minute goal from Gabriel Batistuta. They met again in the 2010 tournament with a sixth minute Gabriel Heinze goal giving Argentina a 1-0 win.
Nigeria’s first win came in a 2011 friendly when they won 4-1. Three of the goals came in the first half with two from Ikechukwu Uche. Nigeria led 4-0 by the 51st minute with a last-minute consolation for the visitors. Argentina got their revenge with a 3-1 win in a 2011 friendly played in Dakha. They met for the fourth time in the World Cup in 2014. Messi gave them the lead in the third minute, but Nigeria equalised a minute later. Messi scored again in the 45th minute to give Argentina a half-time lead but two minutes into the second-half the scores were level again before Marcos Rojo got the 50th minute winner giving Argentina a 3-2 win. Their most recent meeting was last year with Nigeria winning 4-2. Argentina, who were without Messi, led 2-0 in that game but Nigeria rallied for the win with two of their goals being scored by Iwobi.
Iceland v Croatia
Six previous meetings with Croatia winning four, Iceland one and the other being drawn. Their first two games were both played in 2005 when drawn together in the same 2006 World Cup qualifying group. Croatia won 4-0 at home with two goals from Niko Kovac, though it took them 38 minutes to get the first goal. The return fixture saw Iceland lose 3-1 at home after taking a first-half lead. Croatia trailed to the 56th minute before two goals in five minutes from Bosko Balaban and an 82nd minute Darijo Srna goal.
Their next two meetings were in 2013 in a World Cup play-off game. The first leg in Iceland ended 0-0 with Croatia winning the second leg 2-0 with a goal in each half from Mandzukic and Srna. The two sides have already met each other in this World Cup as they were drawn together in the qualifying rounds. November 2016 saw Croatia win 2-0 at home with both goals scored by Marcelo Brozovic, the return fixture resulted in a 1-0 win for Iceland thanks to a 90th minute goal by örður Magnússon.
Four out of six meetings have had under 2.5 goals scored in them and only once in six games have both teams scored.
Group E
Brazil 2 Switzerland 6 Serbia 3 Costa Rica 25
There is little chance of Brazil not winning the group and they can win all three of their group fixtures. Switzerland on world rankings are good enough to progress but Costa Rica overachieved in the last World Cup and can do so again.
Head to Heads
Costa Rica v Serbia
No previous meetings
Brazil v Switzerland
The two sides have met on eight previous occasions with Brazil winning three, Switzerland two and three ending in draws. Their first ever meeting was in the 1950 World Cup and ended in a 2-2 draw. Brazil took a third minute lead, but Switzerland drew level 14 minutes later. The South Americans regained their lead in the second-half, but Jacques Fatton scored his second goal of the game two minutes before time to grab a point. Their second meeting was a friendly in 1956 held in Switzerland and ended 1-1 with Brazil relying on an own goal to get the draw.
They didn’t meet again for 24 years until 1980 when Brazil won 2-0 at home. Two years later Brazil again hosted the Swiss but were held to a 1-1 draw despite taking an early lead through a Zico penalty. In 1983, Switzerland were the hosts with Brazil running out 2-1 winners. They were 1-0 down with 13 minutes to go but won the game with a Careca goal four minutes from time. 1989 saw Switzerland get their first win over the Brazilians with a 1-0 home win thanks to a penalty by Kubilay Turkyilmaz. Brazil got revenge in 2006 with a 2-1 away win with both goals coming in the first half. Their most recent meeting saw Switzerland triumphant again winning 1-0 at home courtesy of a Dani Alves own goal giving the Swiss two wins in their last three games against Brazil.
Brazil v Costa Rica
There have been ten previous meetings with nine won by Brazil and one by Costa Rica. Six of Brazil’s wins have seen them score four goals or more with their record win being a 7-1 win in their first ever meeting in the 1956 Panamerican Championships in Mexico with both Chinezinho and De Faria Larry scoring hat-tricks.
The only Costa Rican win came in the same tournament in 1960 with a 3-0 win. Since then, Brazil have won eight games in a row scoring 25 goals and conceding five. Their only meetings in the World Cup were in 1990 when Brazil won 1-0 and in 2002 when the Brazilians won 5-2. Brazil were 3-0 up by the 38th minute with Ronaldo scoring in the 10th and 13th minutes. Costa Rica pulled two goals back, but two more second-half goals saw Brazil run out easy winners. The two most recent encounters have both ended in 1-0 away wins for Brazil. Neymar got the winner in 2011 and Hulk scored the only goal in 2015 in a game played in the USA.
Seven out of ten games have seen over 2.5 goals scored in them but under 2.5 in the last two.
Serbia v Switzerland
No previous meetings
Serbia v Brazil
Just the one previous match and that was in a 2014 friendly held in Brazil with Fred getting a 58th minute winner.
Switzerland v Costa Rica
There have been two previous meetings between these countries with one win apiece. They met in a four-nations tournament in 2006 held in Switzerland with the host nation winning 2-0 via a couple of first-half goals. The most recent meeting was in a June 2010 home friendly with Winston Parks getting the only goal of the game to give Costa Rica the win.
Group F
Germany 1 Mexico 15 Sweden 23 South Korea 61
The world champions on number one team in the rankings should win this group but maximum points may be beyond then. Sweden have a good team unit which could get them a win against Mexico and earn them second place in the group.
Head to Heads
Germany v Mexico
11 previous matches, five of which have been won by Germany, five ended in draws and one won by Mexico. Their first meeting was in 1968 in Mexico resulting in a goalless draw. West Germany hosted the next friendly, played in 1971 winning 5-0 with Gerd Muller scoring a hat-trick. They failed to repeat that win when the two sides next played which was in a 1977 2-2 draw in Mexico. The Mexicans led twice but, on each occasion, Klaus Fischer equalized.
The first competitive match between the two nations was at the 1978 World Cup with Germany running out emphatic 6-0 winners with four scored in the first half. Both Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Heinz Flohe scored twice. Mexico’s only win came in the 1985 City tournament which they hosted, and they beat the Germans 2-0. That began a run of four games without defeat against Germany including a goalless draw in the 1986 World Cup. The run of three successive draws ended in 1998 when the two sides met in the second round of the World Cup and Germany came from behind to win 2-1. Their last two meetings have both been in the FIFA Confederations Cup with Germany winning a third/fourth place play-off in 2005, 4-3 after extra-time with Mexico equalising three times during the game. Their last meeting was in June 2017 with Germany winning 4-1 with Leon Goretzka scoring twice in the first eight minutes.
The last three games have all had over 2.5 goals scored in them Germany are unbeaten in their last six games against Mexico. Three previous World Cup matches have seen Germany win twice with the other game drawn.
Sweden v South Korea
There have been three previous meetings with one win for Sweden and two draws. This will be their first competitive match. Korea hosted the first meeting in 1996 with a goal in each half giving Sweden a 2-0 win. They played twice in 2005, the first being held in the USA and ending in a 1-1 draw with Marcus Rosenborg getting the equalizer for Sweden with four minutes left to play. Their most recent meeting was in Costa Rica with the South Koreans taking the lead twice only for the Swedes to level the score that ended 2-2.
South Korea v Mexico
These two countries have met 14 times in the past with seven wins for Mexico, six for South Korea and one draw. They first met in 1980 with two friendlies in Los Angeles, USA, and both were won 1-0 by South Korea. The next three games played between 1981 and 1985 were all won by Mexico. The first two were friendlies with Mexico winning 4-0 and then 2-1 in Los Angeles in December 1985 with Luis Flores scoring twice after Korea had taken a first innings lead. The third game was part of the Four Team tournament in Mexico in 1985. Again, Mexico came from behind to win 2-1.
South Korea’s best win over Mexico came in 1993 when won 4-0 in the Presidents Cup. Between 1993 and 2006, Korea only lost one of five games against Mexico including three straight wins. The tide has turned though and the last two meetings between the sides have both resulted in 4-0 wins for Mexico, both in 2014. The only previous World Cup encounter was in 1998 with Mexico winning 3-1, again after going a goal down.
In competitive fixtures, Mexico have won three, Mexico three and one draw.
Germany v Sweden
In 36 previous meetings, Germany have won 15, Sweden 13 with eight draws with the first game being in 1911 with Germany coming from 2-1 down to win 4-2 thanks to an Otto Dumke hat-trick. Between October 1911 and 1928, Sweden won five and drew the other against the Germans. Then Germany went four unbeaten culminating in a 2-1 win in the 1934 World Cup quarter-final with two goals from Karl Hohmann.
The two sides met again in the World Cup In 1937 in a qualifying match with the Germans winning 5-0 at home. Since World War II, the sides have met nine times in the World Cup with Germany winning five, three draws and a win for Sweden in the first of those games in 1958 when they won the semi-final 3-1 before losing to Brazil in the final. In 1985 Sweden came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in a qualifier. 2006 saw two Lucas Podolski goals give Germany a 2-0 win in the last sixteen
The last two World Cup games between these two sides have seen 16 goals scored. In 2012 Germany hosted Sweden in a qualifier and led 4-0 with 28 minutes to go only to draw 4-4. 2013’s match ended in a 5-3 win for Germany with André Schürrle scoring a second-half hat-trick in 19 minutes. Outside of the World Cup their most notable meeting was in the 1992 European Championships semi-final with Germany winning 3-2.
Germany are unbeaten in their last seven games against Sweden and five of those matches have had over 2.5 goals scored in them, mind you the last two have had over 7.5 goals scored.
South Korea v Germany
Three previous games have seen two wins for Germany and one win for South Korea. Their first meeting was in the 1994 World Cup with Germany winning 3-2. Jurgen Klinsmann scored twice but at one stage Germany were 3-0 up. They met again in the semi-final of the 2002 tournament with a 75th minute goal from Michael Ballack putting the Germans into the final. South Korea got a bit of revenge in 2004 winning a home friendly 3-1.
Mexico v Sweden
Sweden have won four out of nine games against Mexico, losing two and drawing three with eight of the games being friendlies. Their first meeting was in the 1958 World Cup where the hosts beat Mexico 3-0. Sweden won two and drew one of the next three meetings before a run of four games without defeat between 1983 and 2005. The most recent meeting was in 2009 with a 1-0 away win for Sweden.
Seven of the last eight games between these two sides have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
Group G
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Group H |
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Belgium 5/6 with Ladbrokes England 11/8 with Betfair Tunisia 20/1 with Paddy Power Panama 50/1 with Coral
Monday 18th June at 4pm Belgium 1/7 with Betfair 3 Draw 11/2 with Coral Panama 30/1 with Paddy Power 0
Monday 18th June at 7pm Tunisia 8/1 with William Hill 1 Draw 19/5 with BetVictor England 1/3 with Coral 2
Saturday 23rd June at 1pm Belgium 1/3 with Betfair 5 Draw 19/4 with Unibet Tunisia 12/1 with Coral 2
Sunday 24th June at 1pm England 1/5 with Paddy Power 6 Draw 11/2 with William Hill Panama 18/1 with Ladbrokes 1
Thursday 28th June at 7pm England 15/8 with Paddy Power Draw 11/5 with 888Sport Belgium 17/11 with Unibet
Thursday 28th June at 7pm Panama 11/5 with Betfair Draw 21/10 with Boylesports Tunisia 13/10 with William Hill |
Colombia 7/4 with Betfair Poland 2/1 with Coral Senegal 5/1 with Ladbrokes Japan 15/2 with William Hill
Tuesday 19th June at 1pm Colombia 3/4 with Betfair 1 Draw 23/10 with Ladbrokes Japan 7/2 with Paddy Power 2
Tuesday 19th June at 4pm Poland Evens with Paddy Power 1 Draw 28/13 with Unibet Senegal 12/5 with BetVictor 2
Sunday 24th June at 4pm Japan 19/10 with BetVictor 2 Draw 2/1 with Coral Senegal 7/5 with Betfair 2
Sunday 24th June at 7pm Poland 9/5 with Paddy Power 0 Draw 11/5 with BetVictor Colombia 8/5 with Unibet 3
Thursday 28th June at 3pm Japan 57/17 with Unibet Draw 40/17 with 888Sport Poland 5/6 with Boylesports
Thursday 28th June at 3pm Senegal 29/10 with BetVictor Draw 21/10 with Paddy Power Colombia Evens with Betfair |
Group G
Belgium 3 England 13 Tunisia 14 Panama 55
Belgium have the quality to win this group and might not have to beat England to do so. On rankings the race for second place is a close affair. The pressure on England will be intense and Tunisia could cause an upset and progress as runners-up.
Head to Heads
Belgium v Panama
No previous meetings
Tunisia v England
There have been two previous meetings between England and Tunisia but none this century. Their first meeting was in a friendly held in Tunisia in 1990 and ended in a 1-1 draw. Abdelhamed Hergal gave Tunisia the lead in the 27th minute but England equalised just before half-time with a goal from Steve Bull.
The only competitive game between the two sides was in the 1998 World Cup group match held on June 15. England won 2-0 with Alan Shearer giving England the lead in the 43rd minute but the points were in doubt right up to when Paul Scholes added the second in the 89th minute. England’s line-up that day included Gareth Southgate.
Belgium v Tunisia
The two nations have met three times with one win each and a draw. The first match was in 1992 when Tunisia won 2-1 at home. Faouzi Rouissi gave them a 30th minute lead but Belgium equalised in the 56th minute through Luis Oliveira. The Africans got the win when Genaux scored an own goal.
The only competitive fixture between Belgium and Tunisia was in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup and ended in a 1-1 draw. Marc Wilmots gave the Belgians the lead after 13 minutes, but it only lasted for four minutes before an equaliser by Riadh Bouazizi. The point was the only one Tunisia earned in the tournament.
Their most recent meeting was in 2014 and resulted in the only win for Belgium as they won 1-0 at home. Dries Mertens got the winner but they had to wait until the 89th minute for him to get the goal.
England v Panama
No previous meetings.
England v Belgium
England have played Belgium in 21 games winning fifteen of them. Four have ended in draws with Belgium only winning on two occasions. The first ten meetings were all pre-World War II with England winning eight, drawing one and losing just once. There were some big England wins topped by a 9-1 thrashing of Belgium in 1927 with both Dixie Dean and George Brown scoring twice. Rather disappointingly they scored nine in the first 70 minutes but just couldn’t reach double figures. England scored 40 goals in their first nine games against Belgium but had to twice come from behind to get a 2-2 draw in Antwerp in 1923. Belgium’s first win over England came in 1936 when they came from behind to get a 3-2 home win.
After the war, England won the next three games scoring 14 goals and then the two teams played their first match in the World Cup. It took place in 1954 and ended in a 4-4 draw. Leopol Anoul gave Belgium a fifth minute lead but England went ahead to lead 3-1 after 62 minutes. By the 77th minute it was 3-3 but then Nat Lofthouse scored in the 91st minute only for Jimmy Dickinson scoring a 93rd minute own goal for the final 4-4 score line, see it’s always been hard being an England fan. The only other World Cup encounter was in the second round of the 1990 tournament. It ended goalless over 90 minutes before David Platt got the winner in the 119th minute to save us losing in a penalty shoot-out.
The two sides also met in the 1980 European Championships drawing 1-1. The late Ray Wilkins gave England the lead after 25 minutes, but Belgium equalised four minutes later. Belgium’s only other win over England came in 1998 in the King Hassan Ii Cup held in Morocco. The game ended goalless, but Belgium won 4-3 on penalties.
The most recent meeting was in 2012 when England won 1-0 at home with Danny Welbeck scoring the winner in the 36th minute.
Four of the last five games between the two sides have had under 2.5 goals scored in them. Belgium have only scored once in their last four games against England.
Panama v Tunisia
No previous meetings
Group H
Colombia 16 Poland 10 Senegal 28 Japan 60
The tightest based on the odds and rankings and Colombia could miss out in alien conditions. Poland have the quality to win the group and Senegal could emerge as the second best team and progress to the last 16.
Head to Heads
Colombia v Japan
The two sides have met on three previous occasions with Colombia winning twice and the other match being drawn. Their first meeting was in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup with Geovanny Hernandez scoring in the 68th minute to give Colombia the win. They next met in the 2007 Kirin Cup drawing 0-0.
Colombia and Japan were also drawn together in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup with the Colombians winning 4-1. Juan Cuadrado gave Colombia a 17th minute lead before Japan equalised through Shinji Okazaki on the stroke of half-time. Two Jackson Hernandez goals helped Colombia dominate the second-half and get the convincing win.
Poland v Senegal
No previous meetings
Japan v Senegal
There have been three previous meetings with two wins for Senegal and the other match being drawn. Their first meeting was in the Kirin Japan Cup in 1987 ending in a 2-2 draw. Japan twice took the lead but two goals from Moussa N'Dao rescued Senegal.
The other two meetings were in friendlies. In 2001 Senegal won 2-0 in a game played in France with two goals in the last 13 minutes. The most recent game was in 2003 when Senegal won away in Japan with a sixth minute goal by Papa Bouba Diop.
Poland v Colombia
Seven previous meetings but this is the first time the two sides will play a World Cup match. Colombia have won four out of the seven with two drawn and one win for Poland. They first met in 1980 when Poland went to Bogota and won 4-1 thanks mainly to a 22-minute hat-trick in the first half by Andrzej Iwan.
The two sides met twice in 1983 with the first game seeing Colombia win 1-0 at home and the second, also held in Colombia ended 1-1 with the home side getting an equaliser 14 minutes from time. Poland got another away win in Colombia in 1985 with Andrezej Palasz scoring twice in a 2-1 win but the three games played since then have all been won by Colombia all by a one-goal margin. The only competitive game was in the 1990 Marlboro Cup when Colombia won 2-1. They last met in 2006 with Colombia getting a 2-1 away win.
Five of the last six games have been won by a one-goal margin. Poland last beat Colombia 33 years ago and Colombia have only once failed to score against Poland.
Japan v Poland
In 1996 the two sides met in the Carlsberg Cup held in Hong Kong with Japan winning 5-0 with two goals from Takuya Takagi. They last met in 2002 when Japan won an away friendly 2-0, both goals being scored in the first half.
Colombia v Senegal
Just the one previous meeting between these two teams. They met in a 2014 friendly played in Colombia resulting in a 2-2 draw after the home side had led 2-0 at half-time.