World Group J gets underway on Wednesday when Argentina take on Algeria and Austria come up against Jordan. Later in the day Portugal and DR Congo meet in Group K and finally England clash with Croatia in Group L.
Group J Argentina v Algeria
Austria and Jordan are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
Argentina
Argentina are defending champions having beaten France in the 2022 final in Qatar. They tuned up for these finals with wins over Iceland (3-0) and Honduras (2-0) earlier this month. They also beat Zambia (5-0) and Mauritania (2-1) earlier this year.
Lionel Scaloni took over as coach in 2018 and remains in the position. Lionel Messi is now 39 but the core of the squad who won the title 4 years ago and also the COPA America is still intact. Argentina made short work of qualifying, topping the South American group by all of 9 points.
Algeria
Algeria have played 4 friendly international this year, starting with a 7-0 win over Guatemala and a 0-0 draw with Uruguay in March. Earlier this month they beat the Netherlands (1-0) and thrashed Bolivia (4-0).
Algeria were involved in the AFCON finals either side of Xmas and New Year and they came through their group with a 100% record, beating Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. In the first knockout round they came out on top against DR Congo 1-0 before they bowed out at the quester final stage to Nigeria (2-0).
Vladimir Petkovic is the coach and Algeria came through qualifying with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. Veteran Riyad Mahrez is the skipper and Leverkusen youngster Ibrahim Maza is a top talent.
The Betting:
Argentina are priced at around 4/10 to win the game with the draw available at 18/5 and Algeria can be backed at around 29/4.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 9/10 and it’s 12/10 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
I fancy goals here and 3 or more is my play.
Bets: Total match goals over 2.5 at 9/10 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change
Group J Austria v Jordan
Argentina and Algeria are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
Austria
Austria played just the one friendly in the run up to these finals, a 1-0 win over Tunisia whilst in March they were also 1-0 winners over South Korea and they thrashed Ghana 5-1.
Austria topped their qualifying group with 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat to qualify automatically and that form was franked when runners up Bosnia and Herzegovina came though the play offs. Ralf Rangnick continues as coach of a side who performed with great credit in the previous Euro’s in 2024 despite going out in the first knockout round.
Jordan
Jordan’s friendly results this year comprise of a pair of 2-2 draws with Costa Rica and Nigeria in March followed by defeats to Switzerland (4-1) and Colombia (2-0) over the course of the last 2 weeks.
Jamal Sellami is the coach who guided Jordan to what is their first ever finals, qualifying automatically. Musa Al-Tamari of Rennes is one of the few squad members who play in a top league.
The Betting:
Austria are priced at around 1 / 3 to win the game with the draw available at 17/4 and Jordan can be backed at around 31/4.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 6/10 and it’s even money for both teams to score
The Verdict:
I’m thinking Austria and a clean sheet
Bets: Austria to win “to nil” ? yes at 11/10 with Lucky Fish
Note, odds are subject to change
Group K Portugal v DR Congo
Uzbekistan and Colombia are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
Portugal
Portugal’s friendly results this year comprise of a 0-0 draw in Mexico and a 2-0 win in USA in March followed by a pair of 2-1 wins over Chile and Nigeria earlier this month.
Portugal topped their European qualifying group with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat to finish ahead of Ireland, Hungary and Armenia. In Euro 2024 they made the quarter finals where they lost to France on spot kicks but they did win the Nations League.
Roberto Martinez is the coach, Robnaldo is still playing at the age of 41 and Bruno Fernandes is part of a top draw midfield.
DR Congo
Since booking their place at these finals through the inter-continental play offs DR Congo played 2 friendly matches, drawing 0-0 with Denmark and losing 2-1 to Chile.
They finished as runners up to Senegal in their African qualifying group and went on to beat Cameroon in the first regional play off and then Nigeria in a penalty shoot out. That set up a final play off with Jamaica and an extra time goal gave them a 1-0 win.
Sebastian Desabre has been coaching DRC for the last 4 years and took them to an AFCON semi final in 2023 and earlier this year they came through their 2025/26 AFCON finals group unbeaten before losing to Algeria in the first knockout round. Wissa of Newcastle and Sadiki of Sunderland are 2 of the better known players in the squad.
The Betting:
Portugal are priced at around 2/ 7 to win the game with the draw available at 5/1 and DR Congo can be backed at around 35/4.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 13/20 and it’s 12/10 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
DR Congo are well organized but they face a tough task here. I’m looking to the cards market and up against a supremely talented Portugal midfield we could see DRC player in the middle of the park go into the book. All action Noah Sadiki fits the bill.
Bets: Player to be carrded Noah Sadiki at 29/10 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change
Group L England v Croatia
Ghana and Panama are the other nations in this group and for the latest betting for this group and details of the squads click here.
England
England’s most recent friendly delivered a 3-0 win over Costa Rica but prior to that it was uninspiring as they beat New Zealand 1-0, lost to Japan 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Uruguay.
England had Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra for company in their qualifying group and they won all 8 of their matches. They made it to the final of the 2024 Euro’s where they lost to Spain and 4 years ago in the World Cup in Qatar they lost to France in the quarter finals.
Thomas Tuchel is coach of England and Harry Kane, a leading contender for the Golden Boot is the skipper.
Croatia
Croatia’s build up started in March with a 2-1 win in a friendly against Colombia and a 3-1 defeat in Brazil. More recently they lost 2-1 to Belgium and beat Slovenia 2-1.
Croatia qualified for these finals automatically, unbeaten with 7 wins and 1 draw to top a group which also included Cech Republic who subsequently came through the play offs.
Croatia made it all the way to the semi finals in Qatar 2022 where they lost to Argentina whilst in 2018 they were runners up to France. Zlatko Dalic has been coach for 9 years and he can still call on 40 year old Luka Modric along with a number of other players with vast experience.
The Betting:
England are priced at around 15/20 to win the game with the draw available at 26/10 and Croatia can be backed at around 19/5.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 21/20 and its even money for both teams to score
The Verdict:
Croatia’s record in big tournaments commands respect but some of their key men are coming towards the end of their careers and I think there are a couple of goals for England here.
Bets: England total goals over 1.5 at 19/20 with Lucky Fish
Note, odds are subject to change