We take a look at three FIFA World Cup group stage fixtures taking place on Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th of June in Groups I and J, from a betting perspective below. France begin their Group I campaign against Senegal while Norway face Iraq. Argentina then take on Algeria in what promises to be an intriguing encounter.
TUESDAY
France vs Senegal
France have built up plenty of momentum heading into the tournament, winning four of their last five matches. Their final warmup brought a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, helping them respond well after a surprise 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast. Wins over Colombia and Brazil before that show they have already handled strong opposition recently.
Senegal’s preparation has been a little less straightforward, but they remain a dangerous side. A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia followed a narrow 3-2 loss to USA, while earlier victories over Gambia and Peru showed what they can offer when they get into rhythm. Their wider run also includes positive results against Egypt, Mali and Botswana.
Head-to-Head
The only previous meeting between the nations came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup where Senegal stunned France with a famous 1-0 victory.
Betting – Click here to bet
France 1.49
Draw 4.50
Senegal 7.00
Verdict
France possess greater quality throughout the squad and have been producing strong performances against elite opposition in recent months. Senegal are well organised and capable of making life difficult, but France should eventually find the breakthrough and begin their campaign with a victory.
BET: Match result and Both Teams to Score, France and NO at 2.30
WEDNESDAY
Iraq vs Norway
Iraq have had a mixed lead in to this opener, with their latest result ending in a 2-0 defeat to Venezuela. They did, however, earn a standout 1-1 draw against Spain and picked up wins over Andorra and Bolivia before that. Their recent matches suggest they can stay competitive, although breaking down stronger sides remains an issue.
Norway come into this fixture with plenty of confidence and have avoided defeat in their last three outings. A 1-1 draw with Morocco followed a 3-1 win over Sweden and a goalless draw against Switzerland and they have also shown their attacking ceiling with a superb 4-1 victory away to Italy and a heavy 5-0 win over Israel late last year.
Head-to-Head
There have been no previous meetings between Iraq and Norway.
Betting – Click here to bet
Iraq 14.00
Draw 7.00
Norway 1.22
Verdict
Norway appear to hold a significant edge in both quality and attacking threat. Iraq have proven capable of frustrating opponents but may struggle to contain Norway over the course of ninety minutes. The Europeans should control possession and create enough chances to secure a comfortable opening win.
BET: Asian Handicap Norway -2.5 goals at 2.50
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Argentina vs Algeria
Argentina’s form has been excellent with seven straight completed victories and a string of clean sheets behind them. They eased past Iceland 3-0 and Honduras 2-0 in their final couple of games, while earlier wins over Zambia, Mauritania, Angola and Venezuela underline just how consistent they have been.
Algeria should arrive in a solid mood after producing one of their best recent results with a 1-0 win away to the Netherlands two games ago. That followed a solid draw with Uruguay and a 7-0 thrashing of Guatemala. They have been difficult to beat for much of the past few months and have also picked up useful wins over Iraq, Saudi Arabia and most recently a 4-0 triumph over Bolivia.
Head-to-Head
The nations have met once before in a friendly international in 2007 where Argentina emerged victorious by four goals to three.
Betting – Click here to bet
Argentina 1.40
Draw 4.75
Algeria 9.00
Verdict
Algeria have enough quality to remain in the fight and their recent victory over the Netherlands deserves respect. However, Argentina have looked extremely sharp at both ends of the pitch and continue to perform with consistency. Their defensive solidity and attacking depth should ultimately prove too much for the Algerians and I am backing the goals market here.
BET: Argentina to Win and over 2.5 Goals at 2.35
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
