Argentina – Back over 1.5 Argentina cards

Argentina have received 13 cards in their last five competitive matches.

Nicolas Otamendi has been booked in three of his last five internationals, Cristian Romero in three of his last seven qualifiers and Leandro Paredes in 13 of his last 36 caps.

Australia – Back under 2.5 total goals

There have been two or fewer goals in five of Australia’s last seven games.

The Socceroos’ three matches at the 2018 World Cup finished 2-1, 1-1 and 2-0.

Belgium – Back BTTS

There have been goals at both ends in nine of Belgium’s last 12 games, including some big scorelines.

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku should ensure that they always score, but their defence looks less reliable.

Brazil – Back Neymar to be carded

Neymar needs just three goals to overtake Pele as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, but his disciplinary record should be of more interest to punters.

The forward has been carded in seven of his last 10 internationals and in nine of his 24 games for club and country this season.

Cameroon – Back over 2.5 total cards

This was a winner in all seven of Cameroon’s games at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

Cameroon’s last three opponents have all picked up a couple of cards, so this looks a nice angle.

Canada – Back Jonathan David to score

David has scored in six of his last 13 internationals, including in two of his last three.

The Lille forward has 22 goals in 34 games for Canada and will be a decent price to score against Belgium and Croatia sides that do tend to leak goals.

Costa Rica – Back Costa Rica not to score

Costa Rica rely on Joel Campbell to score goals on the counter, and opportunities will be hard to come by against Spain and Germany.

Luis Fernando Suarez’s side haven’t scored more than twice in any of their last 24 matches, so are unlikely to create much in a tough group.

Croatia – Back BTTS

Both teams scored in eight of Croatia’s 11 games at the previous World Cup and Euro 2020, including a 5-3 defeat to Spain.

This bet would also have been a winner in seven of their 11 games coming into this tournament.

Denmark – Back under 2.5 cards for the opposition

All of Denmark’s last nine opponents have picked up two or fewer cards, with six of them not receiving any.

Five of their six Euro 2020 opponents also received a maximum of two cards.

Ecuador – Back under 1.5 total goals (except against the Netherlands)

Ecuador have kept six consecutive clean sheets during a run of four 0-0 draws and two 1-0 victories.

Only Brazil and Argentina had a better defensive record in qualifying, although the Netherlands will put that to the test.

England – Back England to score first

England have taken the lead in 10 of their 14 tournament matches under Gareth Southgate, with two of the exceptions a group-stage dead rubber and third-place play-off (both against Belgium) in 2018.

They have taken a first-half lead in five of their last six World Cup openers, so watch out for a particularly fast start against Iran.

France – Back under 7.5 France corners

France have only been awarded eight or more corners in two of their last 12 matches.

They didn’t win more than five in any of their seven matches on the way to winning the 2018 title.

Germany – Back Germany defenders to be carded

At least one Germany defender has been carded in seven consecutive matches, with two of them booked on three occasions.

Antonio Rudiger (four in seven) and Nico Schlotterbeck (three in four) are the prime candidates.

Ghana – Back BTTS: No

In what looks likely to be a low-scoring group containing Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea, Ghana are unlikely to be involved in many thrillers.

At least one team has failed to score in their last six matches.

Iran – Back under 2.5 total goals

Under 2.5 goals has landed in 10 of Iran’s last 14 matches, and feels even more likely during the group stages.

Carlos Queiroz is a naturally defensive manager, and is unlikely to open up against three teams that are all ranked higher than his own.

Japan – Back Japan to score

Japan have been drawn in a tricky group with Spain and Germany, but that shouldn’t put you off backing them to get on the scoresheet.

They have scored in 12 of their last 16 games, and can call upon a decent list of attacking players that includes Daichi Kamada, Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino.

Mexico – Back Edson Alvarez to be carded

Alvarez has been carded eight times in 20 games for club and country this season and in two of his last three internationals.

Mexico often leave him exposed at the base of midfield, so he is a decent candidate for a tactical foul.

Morocco – Back Sofyan Amrabat to be carded

Amrabat has picked up more yellow cards than any other player in Serie A this season.

He ranks 10th for fouls in the Italian top flight and has been booked in two of his last five outings for Morocco.

Netherlands – Back Netherlands to score over 1.5 goals

The Dutch have embraced their traditional attacking methods under Louis van Gaal, establishing themselves as one of the most entertaining teams in the world.

Their record of scoring two or more goals in nine of their last 11 games cannot be ignored in a group in which they are the stand-out favourites.

Poland – Back over 4.5 total cards

Seven of Poland’s last 11 games have featured five or more cards.

Three of those games had six, one had seven and two had eight.

Portugal – Back Joao Cancelo to be carded

Cancelo has been carded in five of his last nine internationals.

He ranked 11th for fouls per game in Portugal’s qualifying group, picking up two cards in the process.

Qatar – Back 0-0 at half-time

Despite being the third-lowest-ranked team in the competition, Qatar can continue the trend of host nations rarely being outclassed.

Their focus will be on frustrating their opponents rather than attacking themselves, so backing them to still be level at the break could be a nice way in.

Saudi Arabia – Back under 2.5 total goals

This bet has landed in 17 consecutive Saudi Arabia matches.

That sequence should continue with low-margin tournament football played in high temperatures.

Senegal – Back Kalidou Koulibaly to be carded

Koulibaly has been keeping referees busy in England, picking up yellows in four of his last five Chelsea games as well as a red earlier on in the season.

An opening game against the Netherlands looks a good one to target with this bet.

Serbia – Back Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to be carded

Milinkovic-Savic has been carded in five of his last eight matches for Lazio, with his total of six second only to Amrabat in Serie A.

He’s also been booked in both of his last two internationals.

South Korea – Back BTTS: No

Only one team has scored in five of South Korea’s last six games.

This bet also landed in two of their three games at the previous World Cup.

Spain – Back Spain to win & under 2.5 goals

Spain have won three of their last four games either 1-0 or 2-0, and have a history of struggling to break down stubborn defensive teams at tournaments.

They only beat Iran 1-0 at the previous World Cup, so this looks an attractive option against Japan and Costa Rica.

Switzerland – Back Xherdan Shaqiri to score

Shaqiri always turns it on at tournaments. He has scored in each of his last four dating back to the 2014 World Cup, including a hat-trick in Brazil and three goals at Euro 2020.

He’s bound to do something sensational in Qatar.

Tunisia – Back Tunisia to lose to nil (and BTTS: No v Australia)

Tunisia have scored and conceded in just four of their last 28 matches.

Assuming that trend continues, it should see them lose to nil against France and Denmark, with the result against Australia slightly less predictable.

United States – Back Tyler Adams to be carded

Adams has picked up cards in two of his last three internationals and ranks fifth for fouls per game in the Premier League this season.

He’s been booked four times overall, with the most recent of those leading to a red last time out against Tottenham.

Uruguay – Back BTTS: No

This has landed in Uruguay’s last seven games heading into this tournament.

It was also a winner in four of their five games at the previous World Cup, while their star-studded attack of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez is well past its best.

Wales – Back BTTS

Both teams have scored in nine of Wales’ last 10 games.

That run includes games against the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, so Robert Page’s side are more than capable of finding the net.

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