A Group G clash between Iran and New Zealand is the first of Tuesday’s World Cup matches to be followed by two Group I matches, France vs Senegal and Iraq vs Norway
Group G Iran v New Zealand
Belgium and Egypt are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
Iran
Iran were one of the first teams to qualify for the finals but after all that has been happening in their region and the fact the finals are co-hosted by nation they are at war with it seems kind of strange they are taking to the field. They have managed to play a few friendly internationals this year, starting with a 2-1 defeat to Nigeria and a 5-0 win over Costa Rica in March. More recently they beat Gambia (3-1) and Mali (2-0).
Iran are coached by Amir Ghalenoei, Mehdi Taremi has played for some top European clubs and this is their fourth successive appearance in the finals but they have never made it beyond the group stage.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s most recent friendly matches saw them lose 4-0 to Haiti and 1-0 to England. In March they lost 2-0 to Finland but they did beat Chile 4-1.
New Zealand made short work of Oceania qualifying as they swept aside Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tahiti with a bucket load of goals and then beat New Caledonia in the final.
Darren Bazeley has been coach of NZ since 2023 and Notts Forest striker Chris Wood is his best known player.
The Betting:
Iran are priced at around 17/20 to win the game with the draw available at 43/20 and New Zealand can be backed at around 37/10.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at12/10 and it’s 11/10 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
With Belgium and Egypt for company realistically if either of these nations were to reach the knockout rounds it would most likely be as a best third placed finisher which makes this result all the more important. Iran would appear to have the better form but the off field “situation” casts doubt in my mind, even against a New Zealand side who were thumped by Haiti recently.
Chris Wood, any time is a token offering from my side.
Bets: Any time goalscorer Chris Wood at 26/10 with Hollywoodbets
Note, odds are subject to change
Group I France v Senegal
Iraq and Norway are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
France
France played two friendly internationals this month, receiving a jolt in the first when they lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast before they beat Northern Ireland 3-1. In March they won 2-1 in Brazil and 3-1 in Colombia.
Didier Deschamps has been in charge of the French national side for 14 years but will be leaving the post after these finals. They won the tournament in 2018 and were runners up to Argentina in Qatar 4 years ago but they were way below par in Euro 2024. They qualified for the finals after topping their group unbeaten with 5 wins and 1 draw with Ukraine runners up. Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Desire Doue and just a few of the star turns in the squad.
Senegal
In March Senegal won friendly international against Peru (2-0) and Gambia (3-1) and more recently they lost 3-2 to the USA and drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia.
Senegal qualified automatically from their group, unbeaten with 7 wins and 3 draws, runners up DR Congo franked the form by coming through the subsequent play offs. In the AFCON finals either side of the turn of this year Senegal though they had won the title but that was controversially taken away from then and handed to Morocco whom they had “beaten” in a chaotic final.
Pape Thiaw is the Senegal coach and his squad comprises of players from many of the top clubs in Europe. In Qatar 2022 they lost to England in the last 16 and if you draw a line through the AFCON Final controversy and focus on the result, they have a lost a football match since then.
The Betting:
France are priced at around 9/20 to win the game with the draw available at 3/1 and Senegal can be backed at around 6/1.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 17/20 and it’s 11/10 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
This will tell us plenty about the well-being of the joint outright favourites France and arguably the African continents best hope Senegal and although I would lean towards France I believe we will see goals for both sides and btts yes will satisfy my betting interest.
Bets: Both teams to score? Yes at 11/10 with Hollywoodbets
Note, odds are subject to change
Group I Iraq v Norway
France and Senegal are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
Iraq
Iraq will take plenty from holding Spain to a 1-1 draw in a friendly earlier this month although their next outing saw them lose 2-0 to Venezuela.
Australian Graham Arnold coaches Iraq who finally booked their ticket to the final with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in the inter continental play offs staged in Mexico in March. They reached that final on the book of a 3-2 aggregate win over AE in regional play offs. Arnold has named 10 domestic players in his squad and there are no big names in the ranks.
Norway
Norway’s friendly results this year comprise of a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands and 0-0 draw with Switzerland in March. Earlier this month they beat Sweden 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Morocco.
Norway qualified as group winners winning all 8 of their matches to finish ahead of Italy who they beat 3-0 at home and 4-1 away.
Norway are back in the finals for the first time in 28 years. They are coached by Stale Solbakken who has EPL stars Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in the squad along with Alexander Sorloth of Atletico. Jorgen Strand Larsen is another striker in the squad and youngster Antonio Nusa is a highly rated winger
The Betting:
Iraq are priced at around 13/1 to win the game with the draw available at 5/1 and Norway can be backed at around 1 / 5.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 11/20 and it’s 5/4 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
With 3 top sides in this quartet putting Iraq away is non negotiable and you would expect Norway to get the job done without too many problems. Norway to find 3 goals here is my play.
Bets: Norway total goals 3 or more at 19/20 with Hollywoodbets
Note, odds are subject to change