Group Standings Begin to Play a Crucial Role in Monday’s Prop Bets
Monday’s slate features four games, two of which matter in terms of figuring out which team advances, two of which don’t. But all four games feature opportunities for profit as motivation begins to play a key role.
Monday World Cup Props
Saudi Arabia - Egypt (10 a.m.)
In terms of World Cup standings, this match is meaningless. But both teams face a lot of pressure from their respective home country to not come back empty-handed. Neither team has achieved a point and the Saudis have yet to score a goal. It’s easy to give the Saudis credit for „only“ losing to Uruguay 1-0. But that score says more about Uruguay, which is content to grind out a low-scoring affair, and in whose games bettors should look to bet „under.“ That game continues to raise doubts about the Saudis’ offensive ability. They’ll have to try to score without injured midfielder Taisir Al Jassim.
In Egypt, the Saudis will finally get a fair fight. So far, they had to face a Russian team that was electrified by the home crowd and the situation of playing in the World Cup opener and a very tough Uruguayan defense. Egypt is continuing its poor form, which includes only two clean sheets since February 2017, conceding to teams that didn’t make the World Cup like Kuwait, Uganda and Congo. Egypt did have superstar Mohamed Salah back against Russia and he scored Egypt’s only goal. The Liverpool superstar is the heart of Egypt’s team and you can bet on him to score again at -111 odds. In anticipation that the Saudis manage to score against Egypt’s tenuous backline, you can bet on both teams to score at -111 odds. Bet365 offers an alluring +260 for a draw.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Standings for Russian Worldcup 2018 (Group A, B, C, D) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia2018WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#Russia2018WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MADP2K18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#MADP2K18</a> <a href="https://t.co/b109GtYhzu">pic.twitter.com/b109GtYhzu</a></p>— Make A Difference Project (@MADProject__) <a href=" ">23. Juni 2018</a></blockquote>
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Uruguay - Russia (10 a.m.)
Russia has impressed everybody so far by winning its first two games. But running up the score against poor backlines such as that of Saudi Arabia and Egypt doesn’t impress me. I don’t expect that we will be satisfied after this match, either, in understanding how good Russia really is. We won’t see a desperate Russia squad because the Russians have already advanced. Because of goal differential, they only need a draw to win the group. I expect Russia to hold itself back in anticipation that future opponents will watch footage of this game, hoping to see what kind of cards Russia pulls out of its back sleeve when it actually has to face a tough opponent.
The most solid reason that we should expect a low-scoring affair is Uruguay’s backline. Uruguay has won its past five matches—two China Cup matches, a friendly, and two World Cup matches—and didn’t allow a goal in any of those matches. Uruguay is led in the back by team captain Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid. However, Godin will miss his partner, fellow centerback Jose Gimenez due to an injury. He’s likely sitting out only as a precautionary measure because Uruguay has already secured its place in the knockout round. Godin and Gimenez, who are also teammates at Atletico, form strong chemistry, which will be missed against Russia.
You can get an alternative under 1.5 goals at +162 odds. If anybody scores for Russia, Denis Cheryshev has impressed with three goals and there is still immense value at +400 for him to score anytime. Both teams will want to avoid yellow cards at all costs in order to preserve players from eventual suspension. In Uruguay’s and Russia’s four matches put together, there have been only six yellow cards total. So both teams will have no problem going „under“ three total cards, which Bet365 offers at -125 odds.
Iran - Portugal (2 p.m.)
In Iran, a compact and steady defense faces a one-man show in Portugal. Iran needs to win to advance, while Portugal will be content with a draw. Portugal showed how vulnerable its backline can be in giving up three goals in its opener against Spain. It shut out Morocco, but its defensive performance was just as worrisome, allowing Morocco’s attack to pile on pressure while praying for goalkeeper Rui Patricio to keep making wonderful saves. Morocco exposed the vulnerability of Portugal’s defensive line by whizzing in free kicks, corners, and flanks at will in order to create legitimate goal scoring opportunities. Portugal’s current opponent, Iran, came ridiculously close on various occasions to equalizing with Spain, at one point believing to have achieved that equalizing goal before VAR negated the goal because of offsides.
What I liked about Iran’s performance more than Morocco’s was that they more consistently got men inside the box while going forward in attack. Look out for Karim Ansarifard, who thought he had a goal when his strike blasted the side netting. Ansarifard is a striker for Greek club Olympiacos. He achieved 17 goals in 26 league matches. Also, Sardar Azmoun produced 11 goals for Iran in World Cup Qualifiers. For Portugal, Ronaldo is unstoppable, no matter how much the opposing team focuses on him. He is the focus of Portugal’s attack and he’s certain to manage a goal against Iran. Bet365 offers -120 for him to score.
Bet365 offers a rewarding +125 for both teams to score. In anticipation of an Iranian surprise, you can bet +0.5, +1.0 at +102 odds. At Bet365, you can bet on Iran to score one goal at +150 odds and Portugal to score only one at +175. A draw is offered at +275.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Group B Standings <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SABCKuzobalit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#SABCKuzobalit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/E8qD6I9t4m">pic.twitter.com/E8qD6I9t4m</a></p>— SABC Sport (@SPORTATSABC) <a href=" ">20. Juni 2018</a></blockquote>
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Spain — Morocco (2 p.m.)
Spain, like fellow Group B member Portugal, only needs a draw to advance. Morocco is the one team in the group that has been eliminated. Morocco was very disappointed to not make anything of the chances which it created for itself against Portugal and, for the second game in a row, Morocco failed to score. I expect the Moroccans to be more aggressive and more willingly open in their style of play in order to get that goal. After all, they don’t have anything to lose. They have some excellent pace in their midfield, led by Hakim Ziyech, who produced nine goals and 15 assists for Dutch club Ajax in the previous season.
After surviving a 1-0 grinder against Iran, I expect the Spanish to oblige Morocco’s open style of play because it can only allow Spain’s scoring talent to become more ostensible. This talent includes arguably the most talented midfield in the world, that includes the likes of Isco of Real Madrid and David Silva of Manchester City. Isco achieved seven assists, Silva 11, in league play. Striker Diego Costa is already showing strong form with three goals in two matches.
In anticipation of a rather high-scoring Spain victory, you can bet on Spain and over 2.5 goals at +110 odds. For the over 2.5 goals and both teams to score, Bet365 offers a more attractive +175 and a more modest +120 for both teams to score. Diego Costa is always a scoring threat and you don’t have to lay chalk at Bet365 for him to score anytime at +105.
Monday’s slate features four games, two of which matter in terms of figuring out which team advances, two of which don’t. But all four games feature opportunities for profit as motivation begins to play a key role.
Monday World Cup Props
Saudi Arabia - Egypt (10 a.m.)
In terms of World Cup standings, this match is meaningless. But both teams face a lot of pressure from their respective home country to not come back empty-handed. Neither team has achieved a point and the Saudis have yet to score a goal. It’s easy to give the Saudis credit for „only“ losing to Uruguay 1-0. But that score says more about Uruguay, which is content to grind out a low-scoring affair, and in whose games bettors should look to bet „under.“ That game continues to raise doubts about the Saudis’ offensive ability. They’ll have to try to score without injured midfielder Taisir Al Jassim.
In Egypt, the Saudis will finally get a fair fight. So far, they had to face a Russian team that was electrified by the home crowd and the situation of playing in the World Cup opener and a very tough Uruguayan defense. Egypt is continuing its poor form, which includes only two clean sheets since February 2017, conceding to teams that didn’t make the World Cup like Kuwait, Uganda and Congo. Egypt did have superstar Mohamed Salah back against Russia and he scored Egypt’s only goal. The Liverpool superstar is the heart of Egypt’s team and you can bet on him to score again at -111 odds. In anticipation that the Saudis manage to score against Egypt’s tenuous backline, you can bet on both teams to score at -111 odds. Bet365 offers an alluring +260 for a draw.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Standings for Russian Worldcup 2018 (Group A, B, C, D) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia2018WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#Russia2018WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MADP2K18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#MADP2K18</a> <a href="https://t.co/b109GtYhzu">pic.twitter.com/b109GtYhzu</a></p>— Make A Difference Project (@MADProject__) <a href=" ">23. Juni 2018</a></blockquote>
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Uruguay - Russia (10 a.m.)
Russia has impressed everybody so far by winning its first two games. But running up the score against poor backlines such as that of Saudi Arabia and Egypt doesn’t impress me. I don’t expect that we will be satisfied after this match, either, in understanding how good Russia really is. We won’t see a desperate Russia squad because the Russians have already advanced. Because of goal differential, they only need a draw to win the group. I expect Russia to hold itself back in anticipation that future opponents will watch footage of this game, hoping to see what kind of cards Russia pulls out of its back sleeve when it actually has to face a tough opponent.
The most solid reason that we should expect a low-scoring affair is Uruguay’s backline. Uruguay has won its past five matches—two China Cup matches, a friendly, and two World Cup matches—and didn’t allow a goal in any of those matches. Uruguay is led in the back by team captain Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid. However, Godin will miss his partner, fellow centerback Jose Gimenez due to an injury. He’s likely sitting out only as a precautionary measure because Uruguay has already secured its place in the knockout round. Godin and Gimenez, who are also teammates at Atletico, form strong chemistry, which will be missed against Russia.
You can get an alternative under 1.5 goals at +162 odds. If anybody scores for Russia, Denis Cheryshev has impressed with three goals and there is still immense value at +400 for him to score anytime. Both teams will want to avoid yellow cards at all costs in order to preserve players from eventual suspension. In Uruguay’s and Russia’s four matches put together, there have been only six yellow cards total. So both teams will have no problem going „under“ three total cards, which Bet365 offers at -125 odds.
Iran - Portugal (2 p.m.)
In Iran, a compact and steady defense faces a one-man show in Portugal. Iran needs to win to advance, while Portugal will be content with a draw. Portugal showed how vulnerable its backline can be in giving up three goals in its opener against Spain. It shut out Morocco, but its defensive performance was just as worrisome, allowing Morocco’s attack to pile on pressure while praying for goalkeeper Rui Patricio to keep making wonderful saves. Morocco exposed the vulnerability of Portugal’s defensive line by whizzing in free kicks, corners, and flanks at will in order to create legitimate goal scoring opportunities. Portugal’s current opponent, Iran, came ridiculously close on various occasions to equalizing with Spain, at one point believing to have achieved that equalizing goal before VAR negated the goal because of offsides.
What I liked about Iran’s performance more than Morocco’s was that they more consistently got men inside the box while going forward in attack. Look out for Karim Ansarifard, who thought he had a goal when his strike blasted the side netting. Ansarifard is a striker for Greek club Olympiacos. He achieved 17 goals in 26 league matches. Also, Sardar Azmoun produced 11 goals for Iran in World Cup Qualifiers. For Portugal, Ronaldo is unstoppable, no matter how much the opposing team focuses on him. He is the focus of Portugal’s attack and he’s certain to manage a goal against Iran. Bet365 offers -120 for him to score.
Bet365 offers a rewarding +125 for both teams to score. In anticipation of an Iranian surprise, you can bet +0.5, +1.0 at +102 odds. At Bet365, you can bet on Iran to score one goal at +150 odds and Portugal to score only one at +175. A draw is offered at +275.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="de"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Group B Standings <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SABCKuzobalit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#SABCKuzobalit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/E8qD6I9t4m">pic.twitter.com/E8qD6I9t4m</a></p>— SABC Sport (@SPORTATSABC) <a href=" ">20. Juni 2018</a></blockquote>
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Spain — Morocco (2 p.m.)
Spain, like fellow Group B member Portugal, only needs a draw to advance. Morocco is the one team in the group that has been eliminated. Morocco was very disappointed to not make anything of the chances which it created for itself against Portugal and, for the second game in a row, Morocco failed to score. I expect the Moroccans to be more aggressive and more willingly open in their style of play in order to get that goal. After all, they don’t have anything to lose. They have some excellent pace in their midfield, led by Hakim Ziyech, who produced nine goals and 15 assists for Dutch club Ajax in the previous season.
After surviving a 1-0 grinder against Iran, I expect the Spanish to oblige Morocco’s open style of play because it can only allow Spain’s scoring talent to become more ostensible. This talent includes arguably the most talented midfield in the world, that includes the likes of Isco of Real Madrid and David Silva of Manchester City. Isco achieved seven assists, Silva 11, in league play. Striker Diego Costa is already showing strong form with three goals in two matches.
In anticipation of a rather high-scoring Spain victory, you can bet on Spain and over 2.5 goals at +110 odds. For the over 2.5 goals and both teams to score, Bet365 offers a more attractive +175 and a more modest +120 for both teams to score. Diego Costa is always a scoring threat and you don’t have to lay chalk at Bet365 for him to score anytime at +105.
