WORLD CUP |
History will be made this Saturday as the 2018 World Cup serves up a four course feast of football for the very first time – a tasting menu full of globally sourced ingredients that will take a minimum of eleven hours to consume,
but that, thankfully, can be done from the comfort of the sofa or your local public house.
Whilst Fifa and their official partners don’t always get it right, this feat of scheduling surely means they’ve won over all fans of a footballing marathon.
Given the next World Cup will take place in the depths of winter in Qatar, it could be at least eight long years until the opportunity to legitimately wash down breakfast with a beer while bellowing foreign anthems presents itself on a summers day. As a result, in order to make sure you make the most of this "I was there" moment, we’ve drawn up the perfect bluffer's guide to every game, including recommendations from our tipster, who is in profit so far in 2018.
On a serious note, days like this were made for a flutter, but when accompanied with refreshment it’s doubly sensible to set limits and stick to them. The hangover on Sunday will be bad enough as it is. It may also be worth waking up early to shop around, as the bookmakers will be bending over backwards to recruit new customers, so selective and disciplined use of their generous offers is also a good idea.
Game by game bluffer’s guide
France vs Australia
(BBC One, 11am)
The best places to watch the World Cup in London
By Ry Jackson
Key stat: France have scored at least two goals in ten of their last eleven wins, while Australia have managed just one clean sheet in their last ten games.
Match odds:
France 1/4
Draw 6/1
Australia 10/1
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World Cup Russia 2018: GQ reports
In partnership with Vivo
Alternative tip: France to win 3-0 at 7/1.
Players to watch:
An upbeat Antoine Griezmann has finally ended the long-running speculation regarding his club future by announcing a new deal to stay at Atlético Madrid days before the start of the World Cup.
Australia striker Tomi Juric had a 43 per cent goals-to-games ratio for his Swiss club side, FC Luzern, this season.
Don’t: Let a 39-year-old Tim Cahill convince you to revitalise your own playing career.
The 5 best-dressed footballers of all time
By Zak Maoui
Argentina vs Iceland
(ITV, 2pm)
Key stat: Iceland have bagged four in their last three friendlies while Argentina conceded in six of their last ten group qualifiers, including twice to non-qualifying sides Venezuela and Bolivia.
Match odds:
Argentina 1/3
Draw 4/1
World In Motion: the making of the greatest World Cup song
By Mark Russell
Iceland 10/1
Alternative tip: Both teams to score at 5/4
Players to watch:
Willy Caballero, Chelsea’s reserve keeper, has been called up for a likely start following an injury to Manchester United’s Sergio Romero. Caballero has played just three times this season, against Nottingham Forest, Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson was relegated to League One with Charlton before knocking England out of Euro 2016, and is now the first Burnley player to feature at a World Cup since 1982.
John Barnes on World Cups past and present
By John Naughton
Don’t: Convince your friends it’s a great idea to post your own version of the thunderclap to social media after five early pints.
Peru vs Denmark
(ITV 5pm)
Key stat: Christian Eriksen scored eleven goals in eleven qualifying appearances for Denmark while Peru are unbeaten in their last 15 international games.
Match odds:
Peru 9/4
Read next
Jermaine Jenas: 'I can't see anyone beating Brazil in the World Cup'
Jermaine Jenas: 'I can't see anyone beating Brazil in the World Cup'
By Jermaine Jenas
Draw 9/4
Denmark 2/1
Alternative tip: Game to be a 0-0 draw at half time at 6/4
Players to watch:
Paolo Guerrero is eligible to play after his 14-month ban for testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine was lifted... thanks in part to a letter Denmark captain Simon Kjaer sent to Fifa.
Jesse Lingard is England's secret weapon
By John Naughton
Physical midfielder Thomas Delaney scored a hat trick in one qualification game and sealed a €20 million move from Werder Bremen to Borussia Dortmund prior to the World Cup.
Don’t: Spend the entire game talking about Peru’s substitute left wingback, based on Football Manager stats and a Mundial magazine article.
Croatia vs Nigeria
(ITV, 8pm)
Key stat: both teams have a poor recent World Cup record, with Croatia winning just one of their last seven finals matches, compared to one in 12 for Nigeria.
Match odds:
Why England should Leicester their way to World Cup glory
By Stuart McGurk
Croatia 4/5
Draw 11/4
Nigeria 4/1
Alternative tip: Alex Iwobi to score at ay time at 4/1.
Players to watch:
How Carlos Queiroz took Iran to the World Cup
By Andy Mitten
Luka Modric. Last chance for the king of Croatia’s "golden generation" and four-time Champions League winner to replicate club success with country at the age of 32.
Alex Iwobi scored at Wembley in a warm-up match after a disappointing season with Arsenal. At just 22, he is already deemed a talisman for the youngest squad at the World Cup.
Do: Concede that it’s best a man of your age with love handles and a mortgage should leave wearing the coolest kit at the World Cup to others.
The Super Saturday all-day accumulator
£10 pays £135 – odds provided by bonuscodebets.co.uk
Australia vs France
Marcel Desailly: 'England could be the surprise of the World Cup... Not'
By Paul Henderson
Getty Images
France to win. Les Bleus ought to think pretty seriously about beating Australia if they harbour any ambition of winning the World Cup. Steady as she goes for the first leg.
Argentina vs Iceland
Getty Images
Messi to score at any time. The GOAT’s last chance to win a World Cup. All we ask of you is a moment of brilliance to light up the day or a goalmouth scramble toe poke.
Denmark vs Peru
Under 2.5 goals. The moment when the wind drops out of the sails of Super Saturday. Despite this game promising plenty of excitement on paper, it could just as well serve up the inevitable lull in proceedings as the sides battling for second place in the group exercise extreme caution. Nap at your peril, however dull the on-field entertainment may get.
Croatia vs Nigeria
Getty Images
Game to be a draw. As we well know, not everything follows the script and while betting on the stalemate is less sexy than goals, goals, goals, should the game end in a tie you’ll end up looking very shrewd indeed, especially if the Super Eagles equalise in the 89th minute.
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