Groups G and H in the FIFA World Cup will get day two of their action underway on Monday. It can be an important day for Group G, in particular, as Brazil attempts to put a stranglehold on one of the top spots.
The interesting thing to watch is whether or not South Korea can get in between historical powerhouses Portugal and Uruguay to squeeze into the knockout stages. South Korea’s tilt with Ghana could be key as Portugal and Uruguay face off against one another.
Here are the match day odds courtesy of bet365:
Match Odds | |
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Cameroon vs. Serbia | Cameroon (+400), Draw (+260), Serbia (-134) |
South Korea vs. Ghana | South Korea (+140), Draw (+220), Ghana (+210) |
Brazil vs. Switzerland | Brazil (-200), Draw (+320), Switzerland (+550) |
Portugal vs. Uruguay | Portugal (-106), Draw (+240), Uruguay (+320) |
Cameroon vs. Serbia betting preview
Match Odds | |
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Cameroon vs. Serbia | Cameroon (+400), Draw (+260), Serbia (-134) |
Total Goals | Over 2.5 (+110), Under 2.5 (-138) |
To Score In First Half | Cameroon (+200) |
Serbia, at -134, is the favourite to win here, though not overwhelmingly so. This matchup against Cameroon is expected to be another tight game like much of the action on Nov. 28.
Cameroon should not be slept on. If Eric Choupo-Moting is on his game, it could present a real challenge for the Serbs. If Cameroon’s defence can step up to the occasion and do a solid job at locking down Serbia’s impressive front line, it may be able to steal this one.
Cameroon wins if: It manages to keep the scoring down. It doesn’t have the firepower to match Serbia in a high-scoring affair. Tight defence here could be the key to topping Serbia in group play and earning a crucial three points.
Serbia wins if: It manages to get the distribution it needs from its midfielders. The Serbians are deep and well-armed. Getting the best from Dusan Tadic, Dusan Vlahovic, and Aleksander Mitrovic will likely be enough to propel the Serbs to victory. It will be crucial to set these players up in good positions. They are deep and talented enough to make a run at getting out of the group stage with a win here.
Mismatch to watch: Mitrovic is quietly one of the top scorers not only in this tilt but the group as well. If Serbia is to walk away with the win, it will need him to take advantage of a spotty Cameroon defence and finish anytime he gets the ball in the box.
Prop to watch: If you believe in the Cameroon upset, taking it to score in either half (+200 in the first, +150 in the second) could be a sound play. It provides good value without having to expect the world of Cameroon to make it happen.
South Korea vs. Ghana betting preview
Match Odds | |
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South Korea vs. Ghana | South Korea (+140), Draw (+220), Ghana (+210) |
Total Goals | Over 2.5 (+137), Under 2.5 (-175) |
First Goal To Come After 34th Minute | Yes (-120) |
The match between South Korea and Ghana may wind up being the tightest of the day and a draw (+220) may be the safest play.
Because of how tight this game is expected to be, betting the under of 2.5 (-175) may be on many bettor’s minds. If one side is to prevail, it is going to be by taking advantage of the few opportunities that will present themselves.
South Korea wins if: It can activate Son Heung-min. The Tottenham star is one of the best players in the world and can break a game open at anytime with an electric run. Finding ways to spring him on runs will be key to breaking the Ghana defence.
Ghana wins if: It uses its physical play to its advantage. Midfielders like Thomas Partey give Ghana a presence in the middle that South Korea cannot match. Ghana also has a winning pedigree, nearly making the semifinals back in 2010 before ultimately losing to Uruguay. Ghana also averages more shots per World Cup game than anyone else, so there’s a chance to catch a keeper sleeping.
Mismatch to watch: Son Heung-min is coming off an eye injury from Champions League play but is perhaps the best player to the tilt. If he shows why he is so integral to the South Korean attack, he can wind up becoming a focal point. There is no defender on Ghana that can shut him down for 90 minutes by himself and it will have to be a team effort to stop the impressive attacker.
Prop to watch: A good prop bet to watch in this game would be the no early goal market. You can bet that the first goal will come after the 34th minute at odds of -120. With both of these teams considering this a crucial game for earning points, it’s quite possible we could get a timid start as both sides ease their way into the match.
Brazil vs. Switzerland betting preview
Match Odds | |
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Brazil vs. Switzerland | Brazil (-200), Draw (+320), Switzerland (+550) |
Total Goals | Over 2.5 (-110), Under 2.5 (-110) |
To Win To Nil | Switzerland (+1200) |
Brazil will be the biggest favourite of the day at-200 to win and -1000 to win or tie. Brazil is the clear favourite in the group at large, and the group as a whole is basically the same as it was in Russia in 2018. Only Cameroon is new to the group, replacing Costa Rica.
The biggest challenge here is for Brazil to not get overconfident. Despite its status as group favourites, it can be all too easy to fall, especially for a Swiss group that plays cohesively. We have already seen plenty of upsets this World Cup and Brazil will need to be careful that it isn’t toppled next.
Brazil wins if: It sticks to the game plan and refuses to panic. If Brazil doesn’t get too cocky, it should coast to victory. The nation has unmatched firepower that the Swiss cannot compete with. Even if Brazil only shows up in short bursts, it should be enough to make Switzerland pay and walk away with the victory.
Switzerland wins if: It clogs the field. If the Swiss can keep the pressure on and not provide much space, Brazil’s superstars may not have the room needed to create opportunities. By making it a slog to get through the midfield, the Swiss could set up a low-scoring game that’s decided by a single mistake. That’s a much easier task said than done, and it will take a full-game effort to make those situations become a reality.
Mismatch to watch: The Brazillian attack is perhaps the best in the tournament with players like Neymar, Vinicius Jr., and Gabriel Jesus. The speed and skill of these three players will be a mismatch against anyone but the Swiss defence did show well through qualifying. This matchup will be one to keep tabs on as the game goes on.
Prop to watch: If you’re looking to get adventurous, picking Switzerland To Win To Nil at odds of +1200 could be an idea. If the Swiss do manage to pull off this great upset, it will likely be because of a strong defensive performance. These juicy odds offer a great payout for anyone brave enough to take the risk.
Portugal vs. Uruguay betting preview
Match Odds | |
---|---|
Portugal vs. Uruguay | Portugal (-106), Draw (+240), Uruguay (+320) |
Total Goals | Over 2.5 (+120), Under 2.5 (-150) |
Both Teams To Score | Yes (-106) |
This will be a close one on paper, with Portugal being the favourite at -106 versus Uruguay (+320). This is a battle of the old guard, with both countries seeing aging stars making one last run.
For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to do something special in his likely last World Cup. Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani are veterans hoping to will Uruguay to one final deep World Cup run. What remains is an interesting matchup that has massive implications for the final results of Group H.
Portugal wins if: It can find the chemistry needed between its big names. Portugal has the star power to make a lot of noise both in group play and the knockout round. That said, the side has its flaws. The stars need to click together on this massive stage. Making the most of their chances is going to be a key point to gaining the win.
Uruguay wins if: The depth players step up. Uruguay has the history, including a win over Portugal in the Round of 16 in 2018. It also has a great group of attackers, though it will need the youth on the roster to perform.
Mismatch to watch: In what could be his final World Cup, Ronaldo will have the focus on him. He is one of the most talented players in the entire tournament, capable of doing major damage along the way. With plenty of drama going on between Ronaldo and his now-former club team Manchester United, it will be interesting to see if he can tune out the noise and perform at his best.
Prop to watch: Betting on Both Teams To Score at -106 odds seems like a good idea for this game with the big names at striker for both teams. These attackers have plenty of World Cup experience and will not wilt under the bright lights.