World Cup Day 2 switches over to the other two host nations as Canada and USA make their tournament bows. Both are favourites for three points in their openers but I don’t think their respective opponents will make things easy for them.
Odds provided by Stake.com.
Canada v Bosnia & Herzegovina
World Cup Group B, Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada, 9pm CET, Friday 12th June
Prices: 1.82 Canada, 3.50 Draw, 4.50 Bosnia Herzegovina
Canada coach Jesse Marsch said prior to the tournament that this is the strongest Canadian squad ever assembled, and it’s hard to disagree on paper, with world-class captain Alphonso Davies leading the charges as they look to make history. This is just their third World Cup and they’ve never got beyond the group stage, but they’ve been given the best chance they’ll probably ever get to do so, facing Bosnia Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
They take on the Bosnians in this opener, who dramatically overcame Italy in the European play offs to make it here, but remarkably didn’t win a game in the play off rounds, beating both Wales and the Azzurri on penalties. In the group they finished second on a fairly ordinary Austria team, so really did scrape into this tournament, and didn’t set pulses racing in warm-up games against Panama and North Macedonia, so they face a stiff test to get through this group, and will likely be viewing the Qatar game as their big chance.
Edin Dzeko, still going strong at the ripe, old age of 40 leads the charges, and he’ll be looking to add to the one World Cup goal he scored in 2014, however, they’re not as strong a side as that squad, with Miralem Pjanic, Muhamed Besic, Asmir Begovic and Emir Spahic moving on. Sead Kolasinac is the only other player still around the squad from that of 2014, and a young core of players are coming through.
Amar Dedic and Esmir Bajraktarević are two to look out for, but the glaring thing missing from their squad, Dzeko aside, is goals. No player has more than four at international level, although Ermedin Demirović had a solid season at Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, scoring 15. They’ll no doubt be looking to him and his veteran captain to fire them through this group.
Canada will have home support and have some real talent amongst their ranks, with Juventus’ Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan of Villarreal and young prospect Luc de Fougerollesat the back forming a strong spine, alongside the brilliant Davies. I’m looking forward to seeing the Canadians in action, and while, clearly Bosnia & Herzegovina are no mugs and will be very tough to break down, but Canada know this is their time and I think they can grind out a win thanks to their X factor players in this game in terrific Toronto.
Tip: Canada to win & under 2.5 goals @ 3.54. 1 unit.
USA v Paraguay
World Cup Group D, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA, 3am CET, Sunday 14th June
Prices: 1.93 USA, 3.35 Draw, 4.10 Paraguay
Down in Los Angeles, the Stars & Stripes get their campaign underway in Group D with a tricky game against Paraguay, who were the last automatic qualifier from the South American section. They’ve had a strong build up to this tournament, with wins against Greece & Mexico and draws with Japan and Ecuador in the last eighteen months. Those aren’t results to be sniffed at and they have a really strong midfield with Miguel Almiron, Ramon Sosa and Diego Gomez, who looked great when he played for Brighton this season. It’ll be a tricky game for the hosts, that’s for sure.
The US though have a strong squad, probably the best I can remember, with a host of talent at top European clubs. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards and the highly-rated PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi, who scored 16 goals in 26 games in the Eredivisie this season. I wouldn’t like to call a winner in this, but I think it’ll be a cracking game so just a watch for me, but there is appeal in the over 2.5 goals market, with two teams who should be used to the heat, so I’ll make that the tentative play if I was having a crack.
Enjoy the action, and I’ll be back tomorrow for my World Cup Wagers on a bumper Day 3, with four incredible games to look forward to.
Check out Tommy the Punter’s Tipping Record here.