The action in Group B gets under way on Monday and we take a look at the matches between England and Iran and the USA and Wales from a betting angle.
ENGLAND v IRAN
England have performed well in major championships of late. In 2018 World Cup they finished semi-finalists and were then beaten in the final of last year’s Euro Championship. They cruised through their qualification rounds and in recent friendly Internationals have drawn to Germany at home and lost to Italy on the road and overall 2022 has been a poor year for them.
Iran are not a team we see on the big International stage very often, but they topped their qualification group ahead of South Korea and certainly can’t be taken lightly. Carlos Queiroz has returned for another stint as coach and they have played a couple of friendly Internationals this month losing 2-0 to Tunisia and beating Nicaragua 1-0, a game where they started 1/12 favourites.
HEAD TO-HEAD
These sides have never met in a competitive football match.
BETTING – Click here to bet
England 37/100
Draw 15/4
Iran 10/1
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to Score, YES, at 19/10
This wasn’t the bet I was going to take when looking through the odds, but it jumped off the page at me as England’s defence has looked shaky and they conceded 3 goals against Germany in their last competitive International in September and have conceded goals in 5 of their last 6 games. They should have too much for this Iran side, but I am taking just under the 2/1 that both teams find the back of the net.
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USA v WALES
The USA were not that impressive in their qualification finishing 3rd in North and Central America behind Canada and Mexico with a 50% win record. They have a decent record in recent World Cups that they have contested, making the playoffs in 2010 and 2014, but they failed to qualify for the 2018 Tournament. USA’s last competitive outing was a friendly International against Saudi Arabia in September when they drew 0-0 and they haven’t won in their last 3 Internationals.
Wales had come through the playoffs to make the finals for the first time in 64 years. They had finished 2nd to Belgium in their group before getting the better of Austria and the Ukraine to progress to Qatar. They haven’t been in the best of form over the last few months and haven’t won in their last 5 Internationals with 4 losses and a draw. Both teams have found the back of the net in 4 of the last 5 Wales International matches.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
These sides have played twice and last met in 2020 in a friendly International where the match finished goalless.
BETTING – Click here to bet
USA 31/20
Draw 2/1
Wales 85/40
Suggested Bet: The draw at 2/1
I was tempted by the over 2.5 goals at 31/20, but a look at recent games played by both of these sides suggests that the bookies have this one right and the value I think is backing the draw here as I think both teams will be playing not to lose the game rather than to go out and win it.
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
