Our football expert Evan Psarras with his thoughts on the opening two matches of this year’s World Cup.
Since 2006 a host nation has taken part in the opening match of the tournament. They boast a healthy record of three wins, one draw and one loss with Qatar the only side to taste defeat since the turn of the century. The draw in that list was a match played between these two nations – the opening game of the 2010 edition in South Africa (1-1). Under 2.5 goals is 4-0 in Mexico’s last four opening games of the tournament with both teams to score hitting in only one of their last five tournament fixtures.
South Africa won a qualifying group that included Nigeria but managed to score a total of only 15 goals in 10 games. Draws against Jamaica and Nicaragua in recent friendlies raise further concerns while Mexico have won five of their last six (Norway, Ghana, Paraguay, Venezuela and Congo). Mexico City sits 2,240m above sea level and the hosts will benefit from acclimatisation – especially in the second half. South Africa may be able to hold them early but the likes of Jimenez and Chavez will come to life in the second stanza.
The co-hosts will keep a clean sheet in a controlled victory.
Tips
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals ($1.70)
SGM: Mexico WIN, Both Teams To Score – NO, Under 3.5 goals ($2.18)
First Goalscorer: Raul Jimenez ($4.40)
In what looks an open group on paper, the outcome of this one will have a significant bearing on the overall group standings. South Korea were the only nation to go undefeated in Asian qualification and are no strangers to this tournament having previously beaten European giants Germany and Portugal. They have won at least one game in five of their last six appearances and have scored at least once in nine of their last 12 cup games. The bulk of their current squad is spread across Europe and they always have an ace up the sleeve with captain son Heung-min.
They may be Czechia by name but they do not boast the type of squad that they had in the early 2000s (Petr Cech, Nedved, Poborsky, and Rosicky to name a few). Instead, the bulk of their squad play in Czechia. They won back-to-back penalty shootout in the knockout phase of qualification just to get here with both of those matches ending 2-2 in regulation. There will be goals in this one and most of them will come from South Korea.
Tips
Best Bet: South Korea WIN ($2.65)
SGM: South Korea Double Chance, Both Teams To Score – YES, Over 2.5 goals ($3.88)
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