The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of the member associations of FIFA.
France v Australia
This match marks the beginning of the Russia 2018 adventure for both of these Group C teams. After delivering the best-ever performance in a FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign, France will be keen to put their bitter defeat to Portugal on home soil in the UEFA EURO 2016 final behind them by progressing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Possible line-ups
France: Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Mendy, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane, Djibril Sidibe, Blaise Matuidi, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud
Australia: Mathew Ryan, Aziz Behich, Trent Sainsbury, Mark Milligan, Josh Risdon, Aaron Mooy, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Robbie Kruse, Andrew Nabbout, Mathew Leckie
France v Australia, Prediction...
France win the game …
Over 2.5 goal FT
Antoine Griesmann to score anytime
Argentina v Iceland
The opening match of Group D at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium will see opposites collide as FIFA World Cup™ veterans meet one of the tournament’s latest debutants. Two-time world champions and 2014 runners-up Argentina are preparing to take part in their 17th finals, while Iceland – the smallest of all 32 nations by population with just under 335,000 inhabitants – are making their first World Cup appearance in Russia.
Despite their vast experience and an attacking line-up led by Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero, La Albiceleste struggled in qualifying. Jorge Sampaoli’s side only secured their ticket to Europe thanks to a hat-trick from Messi in their last qualifier against Ecuador.
Possible line-ups
Argentina: Wilfredo Caballero; Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia; Maximiliano Meza, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria; Sergio Aguero
Iceland: Hannes Halldorsson; Hordur Magnusson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Kari Arnason, Birkir Saevarsson; Emil Hallfredsson, Aron Gunnarsson; Birkir Bjarnason, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Johann Gudmundsson; Jon Bodvarsson
Argentina v Iceland, Prediction
Argentina win the game…
Messi to score anytime..
Peru v Denmark
There will be plenty of emotion when Peru and Denmark hear their national anthems – the South Americans have not qualified for a FIFA World Cup™ since Spain 1982, while Denmark missed out on Brazil 2014. Having these two countries back on the world stage is therefore an event in itself.
Both teams know that three points will help them enormously in their quest to make it out of the group stage, particularly since France are the red-hot favourites in Group C.
Peru came with a late run during the qualifiers with a six-match unbeaten streak at the end, and Los Incas have plenty of quality up front in the shape of Paolo Guerrero, Jefferson Farfan and Edison Flores.
Possible Line-ups
Peru: Pedro Galesse, Luis Advincula, Alberto Rodriguez, Christian Ramos, Miguel Trauco, Renato Tapia, Yoshimar Yoton, Edison Flores, Christian Cueva, Jefferson Farfan, Paolo Guerrero
Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Jens Stryger Larsen, Andreas Christensen, Simon Kjaer, Henrik Dalsgaard, William Kvist, Tomas Delaney, Christian Eriksen, Pione Sisto, Nicolai Jorgensen, Yurary Poulsen
Peru v Denmark, Prediction
Odds
Uruguay are heavy favourites to beat Egypt, starting at $1.60 compared to their opponents’ $6.50 and $3.55 for the draw.
Morocco ($2.20) and Iran ($3.80) is a little closer, with the draw at $2.90.
Spain are paying $2.05 to beat Portugal despite the recent sacking of Julen Lopetegui.
That has Portugal at the enticing price of $3.90, and the draw is paying $3.15.