After four years of waiting the World Cup is well and truly here and already we’re sitting back with cold beers and big TV screens to enjoy a month of fantastic games and to revel in the carnival atmosphere that a Brazil World Cup, despite the doubts and fears, was always sure to bring.
There have been almost endless betting offers from the bookies we work with and we hope you’ve been taking advantage of them. With so many freebies up for grabs and our great betting tips too we’re confident of a profitable month or so of World Cup betting action and here is our latest batch of tips for you to tuck into.
Sunday 15th June 2014
Switzerland v Ecuador (17:00) – Draw (21/10 with Bet365)
Group E is clearly one of the weakest at the World Cup and many expect France to stroll to victory ahead of this pair and rank outsiders Honduras. However, England played both Latin American sides in preparation for Brazil and were far from convincing, drawing 2-2 against Ecuador and 0-0 against a very physical Honduras. Despite that bore draw, we have to feel that it is these two sides that will be battling it out to finish second and whilst Switzerland are narrow favourites there is little between the sides.
The Swiss, managed by hugely experienced boss Ottmar Hitzfeld, are tipped by some as dark horses and have grown up together as a team. Defensively very well organised and difficult to break down they don’t concede many and this is sure to be a tight game. Overall, given Ecuador should handle the conditions in Brasilia better, we feel the draw is the value bet here, with 0-0 a distinct possibility.
France v Honduras (20:00) – France to win to nil (10/11 with Betfred)
France are probably unbackable for many punters at odds of just 4/11 here, although we expect they could feature highly in many accumulators. Honduras are poor though, and even at that price Didier Deschamps’ men look good. They will be without their creative star, Franck Ribery, but even so, the likes of Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud should prove far too strong for the Central American minnows.
Honduras offer little threat up front and with France able to call on Hugo Lloris, one of the best keepers in the world, as well as some fine defenders led by young Raphael Varane, we think France to win to nil at odds of 10/11 with Betfred is a real standout bet.
Monday 16th June 2014
Germany v Portugal (17:00) – Germany to win (5/4 with Bet365)
One of the biggest games of the first round of group clashes sees Germany, one of the favourites to lift the World Cup in Rio on the 13th July, come up against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. At times over the last 18 months CR7 has single-handedly guided both Real Madrid and his national side to some great results and he will be desperate to impress here. Many of the German side may have been somewhat scarred by the mauling Ronaldo and his Madrid cohort handed out to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the Spanish side winning 4-0 in Munich.
That said, this German outfit define “team”, whereas Portugal are far too heavily reliant on Ronaldo. Whilst Nani, Joao Moutinho, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, should, in theory, lend solid support, in practice Portugal all too often disappoint. Despite their 5-1 win over Ireland recently we don’t fancy Portugal here and backing Germany to win looks a good bet at very decent odds.
Ghana v USA (23:00) – Both teams to score (23/20 with BetVictor)
This game could prove vital, with both sides in with a chance of qualifying if they can win this opener. It looks like a tight three-horse race between this duo and Portugal as to who will qualify behind Germany in Group G, one of the most open and high class groupings at this World Cup.
Ghana were a penalty miss (or a handball from Luis Suarez – depending how you look at it) away from the semi-final at the last World Cup and they have some decent players. The conditions in Natal shouldn’t be too much of a problem for them and in Kwadwo Asamoah they have a real star. However, the US are always immensely well-prepared and with Jurgen Klinsmann at the helm they have a manager who knows a thing or three about World Cups. Tim Howard, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey provide a bit of class and this one looks like it could be a very close affair. Overall we think the value bet here is both teams to score, with neither side especially solid at the back and both well aware that in order to qualify they will almost certainly have to win this game. Odds of 23/20 are simply wrong, so pile in!
Tuesday 17th June 2014
Belgium v Algeria (17:00) – Lukaku to score first (4/1 with Coral)
Romelu Lukaku is expected to be fit to start here after picking up a minor injury against Tunisia. He has shown no negative signs after training and with Christian Benteke injured he will lead the line for Belgium. Whilst Algeria are possibly far stronger than many people realise, overall we think the class of Eden Hazard and co will prove too much for the North Africans and we expect a relatively straightforward victory for the favourites here.
Algeria have a reasonable attacking threat in Islam Slimani but Vincent Kompany and the impressive Thibaut Courtois can marshal Belgium to a clean sheet, with 1-0 or 2-0 the likely score. Backing the win to nil appeals but given Lukaku tends to play well in the big games – and your first ever game at a World Cup certainly qualifies on that front – we fancy him to get the opener here at nice odds. He scored a hat-trick recently against Luxembourg (who drew 1-1 with Italy let’s not forget) and with confidence on his side and plenty of creativity in Belgium’s midfield to provide the chances, we think Lukaku will do the business here.