This weekend brings with it some unmissable action from the World Cup in Qatar, with some of the biggest names from Europe in particular going head-to-head. World champions France face a tricky Denmark team on Saturday, before Spain and Germany battle it out in a game that could have significant repercussions for the Germans.
You can get all the best odds on the eight weekend matches with Bet9ja, offering more than 160 markets on every single World Cup match!
Here is all the most important information you need for your World Cup weekend.
Group D: France vs Denmark
Stadium 974
Saturday 26th November, 17:00
This is one of the standout fixtures the Group Stage has to offer, and while France looked convincing in their opening game, they don’t tend to find it easy against the Danes, who have become familiar opposition in recent times.
A lot of time has passed since these two teams played out a 0-0 draw in the Group Stage at the last World Cup in Russia four years ago, but what is more worrying for Didier Deschamps’ team is that Denmark recently beat them both at home and away in the Nations League.
With the exception of 2006, the reigning champions in all World Cups this century have been eliminated in the Group Stage, and after France fell behind to Australia on Tuesday, things started to look shaky. But they later settled and came back to comfortably run out 4-1 winners.
Denmark however, struggled to find their feet earlier in the day when they drew 0-0 with Tunisia. They may have had 61% of the ball, but didn’t create enough clear chances. Those two Nations League triumphs against France will give them hope though, and one-goal conceded in their last three against Les Bleus suggests they have an answer to their formidable front line.
With some of the pressure coming off France after their success against Australia, and the thought of a defeat putting severe pressure on Denmark before their last game, the draw is a standout market. Bet9ja is offering odds of 3.55 on the points being shared.
Much of the focus in this game will be on Olivier Giroud, whose brace against Australia took him level with Thierry Henry at the top of France’s all-time scorer list on 51 goals. Will he break the record on Saturday? He is priced at 3.15 to do that.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): France win: 1.80, Draw: 3.50, Denmark win: 4.90
Group E: Spain vs Germany
Al Bayt Stadium
Sunday 27th November, 20:00
Another unmissable all-European clash comes this Sunday evening, and after the events of Wednesday, it’s a game with even more significance.
Following Saudi Arabia’s heroics on Tuesday when they beat Argentina 1-2, Japan pulled off a similar feat when coming back from behind to defeat Germany by the same scoreline. The defeat highlighted Germany’s lack of clinical finishing when they were leading, with their inability to turn 26 attempts to Japan’s four into victory, albeit Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda made eight saves.
There will particularly be pressure on Germany to get a result if Japan pick up any points in the other game in Group E against Costa Rica. If Japan win or draw and Germany lose, Germany will be out. A draw for Germany could be almost as bad as a defeat if Japan win, as Germany’s only chance of qualification then would be to catch Spain and hope for a heavy goal swing.
While Spain were not given the toughest of tests by Costa Rica in their first game, nobody can question their ruthlessness. Not only did they run out emphatic 7-0 winners, they did not concede a single shot and put the game to bed quickly, with the third goal coming just after the half-hour mark.
This follows recent success in the Nations League, where they topped their group to qualify for the semi-finals, and with Barcelona’s Pedri and Gavi looking particularly impressive in midfield, the future is looking bright for Luis Enrique’s team.
Germany’s need for points ahead of the final group games means we expect to see an open game, and given Spain’s start to the competition, we can see goals in this one. You can get odds of 1.88 on 3-5 goals.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Spain win: 2.37, Draw: 3.60, Germany win: 2.90
Group D: Tunisia vs Australia
Al Janoub Stadium
Saturday 26th November, 11:00
While both teams came into the group with a place in the Last 16 looking unlikely, Tunisia have given themselves a decent chance after an impressive showing in their 0-0 draw with Denmark in the opening game.
That fixture saw Tunisia have more shots than their opponents (13 to 11), but their issue was making the most of those attempts, with only one being on target.
Defeat for Australia would mean their wait to make the knockout stages for the first time since 2006 goes on, but Craig Goodwin did give Socceroos fans reason to cheer when giving them the lead against France, before they were soundly beaten 4-1.
This game looks set to be low scoring, especially given Tunisia have not conceded in their last five competitive games. Under 2.5 goals is priced at 1.86 with Bet9ja.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Tunisia win: 2.18, Draw: 3.20, Australia win: 3.60
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia
Education City Stadium
Saturday 26th November, 14:00
It’s time for Saudi Arabia to try and prove their 1-2 success over Argentina wasn’t a fluke, after pulling off one of the World Cup’s greatest ever shocks.
Herve Renard’s team were difficult for Argentina to break down, and they managed to beat them with just 31% of possession.
Poland had the same share of possession in their 0-0 draw against Mexico, but they had the best chance to score when Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty in the second half.
Lewandowski is still waiting for his first World Cup tournament goal, and given Poland will realistically need to get on the front foot and win this game to give themselves a good chance of progressing, you could look at odds of 3.80 for him to be first goalscorer and 1.80 to score at any time.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Poland win: 1.78, Draw: 3.60, Saudi Arabia win: 5.00
Group C: Argentina vs Mexico
Lusail Stadium
Saturday 26th November, 20:00
The pressure is well and truly on for Argentina after that shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia, but this is the perfect time for them to come up against a team they have beaten in eight of their last nine meetings, having drawn the other one.
That loss in their first match brought an end to a run of 36 matches unbeaten for Lionel Scaloni’s team, and five matches without conceding.
Mexico struggled to turn 61% possession into goals against Poland, and have only won two of their last seven matches.
With Argentina needing the win but still finding their feet in the tournament, we see an Argentina win by one at odds of 3.25 or by two at 4.90.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Argentina win: 1.58, Draw: 3.95, Mexico win: 6.30
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Sunday 27th November, 11:00
There were contrasting fortunes for these teams in matchday one, and this game could really shake up Group E.
Japan have given themselves a great chance of reaching the Last 16 for the fourth time this century after stunning Germany 1-2 in their opening game, with less than half their opponents’ number of shots (12 to 26) and 26% of the ball.
For Costa Rica, they surely can’t do any worse than their opener against Spain, where they were thrashed 7-0 and didn’t manage a single effort at goal.
The test for Japan will be how they handle a game where they are expected to have more of the ball, but they are still likely to be solid, having only conceded four goals in 10 games in their final qualifying group. A single-goal win for Japan is priced at 3.30.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Japan win: 1.46, Draw: 4.30, Costa Rica win: 7.90
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco
Al Thumama Stadium
Sunday 27th November, 14:00
Roberto Martinez did little to ease the pressure on himself with the 1-0 win against Canada on Wednesday, as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved a penalty and they were on the back foot for much of the first half before Michy Batshuayi’s winner.
Morocco hardly hit top gear either in their goalless draw against Croatia, where they only worked the goalkeeper twice and had 35% of the ball.
While a draw is not exactly the favoured market at 3.40, it could be worth a punt, with Morocco again likely to sit deep and Belgium lacking firepower, especially if Romelu Lukaku is out injured again.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Belgium win: 2.04, Draw: 3.40, Morocco win: 3.90
Group F: Croatia vs Canada
Khalifa International Stadium
Sunday 27th November, 17:00
Croatia will be wary of the threat Canada can pose after they ran Belgium so close, and they will be looking to improve on turning 65% possession against Morocco into more than the two attempts on target they managed in that 0-0 stalemate.
Creating chances was no issue for Canada in their first World Cup match since 1986 when they lost to Belgium, but their 22 efforts at goal led to just three being on target.
Croatia realistically need to win if they want to win the group, and 2.16 is a reasonable price for them to take the three points.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Croatia win: 2.16, Draw: 3.30, Canada win: 3.60
