World Cup Betting Tips: Predictions & Best Odds For Friday’s Games
Several big teams will battle desperately for a place in the World Cup Round of 16 when the final group stage games take place on Friday.
Betting sites make Brazil and Portugal the clear favourites to win their games, although both teams are already guaranteed to reach the Round of 16.
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The other six teams in action on Friday - Switzerland, Cameroon, Serbia, Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay - can still qualify, so it promises to be a tense day, packed full of drama.
We have scoured the market find interesting angles on all four matches as the group stage concludes.
South Korea vs Portugal, Friday, 3pm
South Korea’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stage are dangling by a thread after they slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Ghana on Monday.
It followed a 0-0 draw with Uruguay in their opener, leaving them third in Group H, five points behind Portugal and two below Ghana.
They must now beat Portugal and hope that the result of the Ghana vs Uruguay game goes their way in order to clinch a place in the Round of 16.
Their cause could be aided by the fact that the Portuguese have already qualified for the knockout stage of the competition.
Fernando Santos’ men are all but guaranteed to finish top of the group, so he may decide to rest some key players – including Cristiano Ronaldo for this match.
That could provide Benfica striker Gonçalo Ramos with a chance to start. He has made substitute appearances in both of Portugal’s matches thus far - a 3-2 win against Ghana and a 2-0 victory over Uruguay - and he looks fired up.
The 21-year-old striker has scored 14 goals in 21 matches for Benfica this season, and he would receive excellent service from his world-class teammates.
That means punt a on him finding the back of the net on World Cup betting sites looks appealing.
Tip: Gonçalo Ramos To Score – 15/8 With Bet365
Ghana vs Uruguay, Friday, 3pm
Ghana have been the most entertaining team at this tournament so far.
They put in a courageous performance when losing 3-2 to Portugal in their opener, and they then served up another thrilling 90 minutes when beating South Korea 3-2.
They do not look particularly convincing at the back, despite some impressive performances from Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu, so it is hard to see the Black Stars keeping Luis Suárez and Darwin Nunez at bay for 90 minutes.
However, they have been terrific in attack, with Ajax playmaker Mohammed Kudus leading the charge, and they should be able to breach the Uruguay defence.
Uruguay boast a very strong starting XI, but they have underwhelmed thus far, drawing 0-0 with South Korea and then slipping to that 2-0 defeat to Portugal on Monday night.
It is strange to note that they are yet to find the back of the net, especially when you consider the attacking riches at their disposal.
They should finally put that right against a leaky Ghanaian defence, and both teams to score looks appealing with football betting sites in this match.
Tip: Both Teams To Score – Evens With Unibet
Serbia vs Switzerland, Friday, 4pm
Switzerland should progress to the Round of 16 if they manage to avoid defeat in this crucial clash with Serbia.
A draw would leave the Swiss on four points, which would be enough to secure safe passage to the Round of 16, provided Cameroon do not pull off a shock win against Brazil.
The draw is priced at 12/5 with betting apps, and that looks very appealing, as these teams are quite evenly matched, and a draw would suit the Swiss.
Serbia will be kicking themselves after squandering a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw with Cameroon on Monday.
The Serbs were terrific in attack, which is to be expected when they can call upon Sergej Milinković-Savić, Aleksandar Mitrović, Dušan Tadić and Filip Kostić.
They are so stacked in the attacking department that Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović cannot get in the team.
However, they are weak at the back, which is why they have conceded five goals in two matches thus far.
That could ultimately cost them a place in the Round of 16, as they are now unlikely to keep a clean sheet against Switzerland, but the Serbs should go down swinging.
Tip: Both Teams To Score – 17/20 With William Hill
Cameroon vs Brazil, Friday, 7pm
This game will provide Brazil manager Tite with a chance to rotate his squad and give some of the fringe players a chance to shine.
The Samba Boys are already through to the Round of 16, and there is no real danger of them finishing second in the group, so they can afford to rest big names.
That means we could see Arsenal duo Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli given a start, along with Man Utd’s Antony, Liverpool’s Fabinho and Bruno Guimarães of Newcastle.
They are all terrific players, and they will be keen to prove their worth to Tite ahead of the knockout stage, so Brazil should win this one comfortably.
Tip: Brazil -1 - 10/13 with Bet UK
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