Month: June 2024

Group F ends in Gelsinkirchen and Portugal take on Georgia

Georgia have been fairly good so far and 1 point is probably fair. They lost 3-1 to Turkey but in fairness they matches them for long periods. A breakaway goal at 95” at 2-1 with the GK up for a corner the 3^rd goal. The 1-1 draw with Czechia was fair too. That takes their form to 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses.

Team news: Rafael Leao is banned.  Portugal could rotate en masse here as they have top spot nailed down. No issues for Georgia.

Head-to-head statistics: 1 game 1 Portugal win.

Betting selection – Could be a 2^nd string Portugal here but that would not put me off betting them. Georgia will have to gamble. Portugal -1.0.-1.5 at 1.83 or 5-6 bet365.

Stuttgart for the final match in Group E as all 4 teams can make the ko stage.

Ukraine were smashed 3-0 by Romania in a one sided game but got back into the group with a deserved 2-1 win over Slovakia. That takes their recent record to 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Belgium started off with a not bad performance but couldn’t hit a barn door in their 1-0 loss to Slovakia. They were much improved last match and dispatched Romania 2-0 with a dominant display. That takes their record to 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.

Team news: LB Mykolenko is passed fit for this. Belgium have doubts over Witsel and Muenier while Lukebakio is banned.

Head-to-head statistics: No games.

Betting selection – Belgium upped their game and Romania couldn’t live with them, Ukraine don’t look able to stop them either. Take Belgium win at 1.70 or 7-10 BetMGM.

Allianz Arena for a shootout between Denmark and Serbia.

Two games and two 1-1 draws for Denmark – not really showing their full potential in either game. Both matches were different in that they were favoured against Slovenia. They didn’t really control the match at 1-0 and paid the price late on. Against England they just did enough to take the point. That takes their recent form to 3 wins and 3 draws in last 6. Serbia have been pretty poor so far. A 1-0 loss to England in which they only really created 2 half chances and then a 1-1 draw with Slovenia in which they were 2^nd best for long periods.

Team news: Thomas Delaney still not fit for Denmark. Filip Kostic is still on injury list for Serbia.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 Games – 3 wins Denmark.

Betting selection – A win for either side will seem then in KO stages. A draw should be enough for Denmark but will likely eliminate Serbia. I see a close game here and Serbia having to risk all near end could be their downfall. Bet Denmark 0.0/-0.5 at 1.98 – a draw gets us half stakes returned.

Berlin for what could be one the games of the competition. Both sides fighting for qualification positions.

Netherlands side top of Group D after beating Poland 2-1 in a come from behind win and a tepid 0-0 draw with France. Neither side really giving it a go and a point was settled for both sides. That takes their recent form to 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. Austria have been good in both games and certainly look dangerous. Losing 1-0 to France but only due to an own goal and then battering Poland 3-1. They will be an opponent no team will want in ko stages. Recent form now reads 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Team news: Brian Brobbey is back for Netherlands after shaking off his injury. No injury or suspensions for Austria.

Head-to-head statistics: 6 Games – 6 wins Netherlands.

Betting selection – Both sides are through unless Austria get a very heavy defeat. I can see action here and both score at 1.75 or 3-4 Betfair.

Miami for Copa America action, South plays Central America in what could be a cracker.

Uruguay sit 2^nd in CONMEBOL qualifying after 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. Recent all comp form is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Panama sit 2^nd in their CONCACAF qualifying section but have only played 2 games (won both) recent all comp form is 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses.

Team news: No problems here for Uruguay. Panama is without captain Anibal Godoy (ruled out) and Harold Cummings refused a call up.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 Games – 3 wins Uruguay.

Betting selection – Under Bielsa Uruguay look a different side. Usual characteristics of fast breaking, super fit players. I don’t think Panama will be able to cope – take Uruguay -1.5 at 2.05 or 21/20 bet365.

Leipzig for the Group B final match, almost a runners up shootout but Italy have the cards in their favour at kick off.

Croatia have looked laboured for the 1^st two games. A one sided 3-0 loss to Spain was not expected. They followed it up with a 2-2 draw with Albania – a game that they were expected to win easily. That takes their recent form to 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Italy were not very good in their 1-0 loss to Spain. Not really giving it the full go but seemed happy enough to be in the game. They beat Albania on opening day and despite going behind in 23 seconds roared back to 2-1 but then sat on the scoreline for 70 minutes. That takes their recent form to 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.

Team news:  Nikola Vlasic has left the group injured. No other issues for Croatia. No problems either for Italy who could shake up the starting eleven here.

Head-to-head statistics: 4 Games – 1 wins Croatia and 3 draws.

Betting selection – Italy is just doing enough. With a side that’s devoid of any real creators they are reliant on organisation and control. They only need 1 point, and they will get that at minimum here. Take Draw at 3.40 or 12-5 Coral.

Frankfurt for the final game of Group A. A win for Switzerland give them top spot, a draw or Germany win gives them 1^st position.

Switzerland were great in game 1 and dominated Hungary for long periods in a 3-1 but were flat in a 1-1 draw with Scotland. Which Swiss team will turn up here? That takes their recent form to unbeaten run of 6 games with 3 wins and 3 draws. Two wins from two and both comfortable. Looking super threatening and relatively solid at the back (just one own goal conceded) Recent form is unbeaten run of 6 with 5 wins and 1 draw.

Team news:  No worries for either side with injury or suspensions. Breel Embolo could start here after 2 lively cameos as sub in 1^st two matches as he edges closer to full fitness.

Head-to-head statistics: 5 Games – 2 wins Switzerland and 3 draws.

Betting selection – Germany could rotate a bit here but they do have quality in depth. I don’t see Switzerland troubling them at all and the Swiss could even rotate having locked 2^nd position. Take Germany win at 1.75 or 3-4 BetMGM.

Texas and AT & T stadium for USA’s opener against South Americans Bolivia.

USA in mixed form of late with 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. They were trounced by Colombia 5-1 at home but then had their 1^st ever positive result v Brazil in a 1-1 draw. Bolivia are in 9^th place of 10 teams in CONMEBOL qualifiers. 1 win and 5 losses from 6 games. Recent overall form for them is 2 wins and 6 defeats.

Team news:  No worries for either side with injury or suspensions.

Head-to-head statistics: 2 Games – 2 wins USA.

Betting selection – Opening game in Texas were the temperature gauge is regurarly going over 35C. Could play into the hands of Bolivia. Odds are really short on USA so I am siding with Bolivia +2 at 1.83 or 5-6. We lose with a 3 goal USA win, 2 goals gets us stakes back. A 1 goal loss, draw or Bolivia win gets us paid.

Hamburg on a Saturday night for two teams trying not to leave at the group stage.

Georgia surprised a lot of people even though they were defeated 3-1 by Turkey. For about half the game they were on top for sure. Assured, attacking and dangerous. At 2-1 in injury time, they made the decision to post the GK in the box and Turkey scored a breakaway goal. That takes their recent form to 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Czechia too were unlucky in their 2-1 loss to Portugal. They kept them quiet for long periods an unlucky OG and a 92” winner was the difference. That puts Czechia at recent form of 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Team news:  No worries for Georgia or Czechia with injury or suspensions.

Head-to-head statistics: No meetings.

Betting selection – Two sides unlucky in 1^st game. Both looked threatening but also too open at back. Take Both Score at 1.91 or 10-11 Betfair.

Heavyweight clash at RedBull Arena in Leipzig as Netherlands take on France.

Netherlands were not at their best against Poland but still took all three points despite going 1 goal down. Overall recent form is now at 7 wins and 1 loss. France were not on their A game either and sneaked over the line with a 1-0 win against Austria due to an own goal. Their form now reads 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.

Team news:  Netherlands should have Brian Brobbey available as he missed the 1^st game. France have Mbappe as a major doubt as he broke his nose against Austria and is likely to miss this one.

Head-to-head statistics: 11 games 3 wins Netherlands and 8 wins France.

Betting selection – One of the big games so far and for me with all to play for France are favoured. If Mbappe can start odds will surely crash. Take France win at 2.25 or 5-4 BetMGM.