The World Cup action keeps on coming, and now the schedule is stepping up to four games a day. Here, we delve into all the betting information you need with Bet9ja as defending champions France and South American champions Argentina get their campaigns underway.
Group D: France vs Australia
Al Janoub Stadium
Tuesday 22nd November, 20:00
Four years after completing their second World Cup triumph, France will be expected to begin the defence of their trophy against Australia with nothing less than a victory, despite their injury troubles.
Nine of the XI that started the 2018 World Cup final against Croatia are still either in the squad or likely would have been without injury, but Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté’s absences take this number down to seven. To make matter worse, Karim Benzema has also been ruled out of the tournament through injury.
Those absences will put a dent in Les Bleus’ chances of winning the tournament, but they should still comfortably make it through Group D; whether they are set to win the group is another matter.
The four-year journey since the last World Cup has been very mixed. Despite adding another trophy when winning the Nations League in 2021, they were previously knocked out in the Last 16 of the European Championship last year by Switzerland in one of the most surprising results of that tournament.
Qualifying for Qatar proved easy enough, as they topped their group with five wins, three draws and no defeats, conceding just three goals. Alarms were raised again though when the world champions finished third in their Nations League group, winning just one of their six games, and losing home and away to Denmark, who are also in Group D.
Australia meanwhile, are appearing at the finals for a fifth consecutive World Cup, but they have not reached the knockout stages since 2006. Most of their team play in Australia’s A-League, but some of their players will be familiar to fans of British football, with Aaron Mooy of Celtic, Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree, and Harry Souttar, who plays for Stoke City, all in the squad.
After finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Saudi Arabia and Japan, the Socceroos defeated Peru in a play-off on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
This match is in fact a repeat of both teams’ opening game at the last World Cup in Russia four years ago, where France managed a 2-1 victory. Recent form suggests the scoring will be low this time, as all of France’s last five games have produced under 2.5 goals, and Australia have failed to score in their last three competitive games. Bet9ja is offering odds of 2.08 on under 2.5 goals.
Kylian Mbappé is key to France’s chances of retaining their crown, and he is 4.30 to be first goalscorer and 1.95 to score at any time.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): France win: 1.30, Draw: 5.60, Australia win: 10.75
Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Lusail Stadium
Tuesday 22nd November, 11:00
It’s been a successful time for Argentina of late, as Lionel Messi finally got his hands on a major honour at international level when winning the Copa America last year, and they were impressive in qualifying, going unbeaten across all 17 games.
Saudi Arabia may be unlikely to prevent Argentina from getting off to a winning start in this one, but they did top their qualifying group with seven wins, two draws and one defeat.
All of Argentina’s last five games have produced wins by three goals or more, and we’re looking at Argentina to win with a handicap of -2 at odds of 2.35.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Argentina win: 1.18, Draw: 7.00, Saudi Arabia win: 19.00
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia
Education City Stadium
Tuesday 22nd November, 14:00
Denmark are certainly a team to keep an eye on at this tournament. They reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 last year without Christian Eriksen, and have looked in strong form since he’s been back. They beat France twice in the Nations League and finished second in their group; just one point behind Croatia.
Tunisia only lost one game in qualifying, and before being defeated 5-1 by Brazil in a friendly in their last game, collected seven consecutive clean sheets.
Denmark should be too strong though, and they are priced at 3.15 to win by one and 4.75 to win by two.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Denmark win: 1.58, Draw: 3.58, Tunisia win: 6.60
Group C: Mexico vs Poland
Stadium 974
Tuesday 22nd November, 17:00
Is this finally time for Mexico to end the curse of the Last 16, where they have exited in all of the last seven World Cups? They’re on inconsistent form going into this campaign, with three defeats from their last five, although they are unbeaten in their last eight competitive games.
Poland come into the tournament on the back of an average Nations League campaign, where they finished third in their League A group, but they managed 1-0 wins in their last two games away to Wales and at home to Chile respectively.
We can see both teams cancelling each other out, so keep an eye on the draw at 3.00.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Mexico win: 2.73, Draw: 3.00, Poland win: 2.90
