Wales and England get their World Cup campaigns started today but things might not be as straight-forward as they look in Group D.
On paper it looks a generous draw but all four nations are ranked inside the top 20 of the FIFA rankings. It might not be the most reliable of measures but it does suggest none of the teams will be pushovers.
Expectations are unusually low for England to win the tournament this time around but qualification from the group is an absolute must for Gareth Southgate’s men. The England gaffer has performed admirably at his previous two tournaments and his experience should stand him good stead.
The much-travelled Carlos Queiroz will be in the opposite dugout trying to outfox Southgate. The former Real Madrid manager led Iran to a creditable campaign in Russia four years ago where they took four points in a group that included Portugal and Spain, drawing with Queiroz’s compartiates and narrowly losing 1-0 to the Spaniards. He returned to the Iranian job following stints as the Colombian and Egyptian national team manager so must feel he has some unfinished business.
England’s form going in to the game must be a major concern. They’re winless in their last six and suffered the ignominy of relegation from their Nations League group. The late afternoon heat (4pm kick-off in Qatar) combined with a stuffy Iranian side who only conceded twice in Russia, has all the makings of a potential banana-skin for the Three Lions at just 1/3.
That said, there’s enough talent in the squad to get the job done but probably best not to get carried away on the handicap or the goals markets. Instead, look to the BetBuilder for combo bet that takes in goals and cards.
Yesterday’s opener saw six yellows being brandished in what was never a dirty game so we could see a high card card at the tournament overall, especially with VAR in play. Combine Over 2 Cards with Under 4 Goals and an England win at 11/8.
Wales‘ opener sees them start against a young USA side for whom this tournament might have come a little too early. The Americans don’t get too many opportunities to test themselves against top quality opposition so defeats already this year to Canada, Costa Rica and Japan should be a cause for concern.
The Welsh squad has a fantastic dynamic and is as close to a football club as you’ll find at the tournament. They’ve punched above their weight for a while now and if their ambitions of qualification for the knock-out stages are to be met they need to take something from today’s match, preferably all three points.
The day’s other match sees Senegal clash with the Netherlands in Doha. The Dutch come in to the tournament on a 15-match unbeaten run under Louis van Gaal who is in his third tenure in charge of the Oranje.
Senegal’s chances have been dealt a huge blow with the absence of Sadio Mane. Arguably their most iconic player he’ll be sorely missed but they will still fancy their chances of getting out of the group.
That Dutch form should carry them to victory over the Senegalese who will be targeting the other two games in the group as where they’ll pick up points.
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
- England to win, Under 4 Match Goals, Over 2 Cards 11/8 Bet365
- Wales to win 13/10 Bet365
- Netherlands to win and score 2+ goals 1/1 Bet365
Upcoming Match Previews & Tips
- Mon 13:00 England vs Iran
- Mon 16:00 Senegal vs Netherlands
- Mon 19:00 USA vs Wales
- Tue 10:00 Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
- Tue 13:00 Denmark vs Tunisia
- Tue 16:00 Mexico vs Poland
- Tue 19:00 France vs Australia
Racing Tips
Two short-priced horses have caught the eye for Monday’s racing. The NAP runs at Musselburgh in a Class 4 chase.
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!
The post Monday’s World Cup Top Tips: England & Wales to Get Off to Winning Starts appeared first on MrFixitsTips.