All articles by: Ieuan Ivett

Brazil vs Mexico – Match Preview

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Brazil vs Mexico
Monday 2nd July 2018
FIFA World Cup 2018, Round of 16,Samara Arena, Samara

Live on ITV 1 – Kick-Off: 15:00 

Brazil vs Mexico is the first of two Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup this Monday.

Brazil are many people’s favourite to win the competition, following the shock exit of Germany. Neymar and Coutinho have been their flamboyant selves and took most of the plaudits throughout the group stage. Mexico have been a surprise package of the tournament so far. They qualified second from Group F after taking a 3-0 spanking from Sweden. However, their earlier performances against Germany and South Korea earnt their spot in the knockout rounds.

Brazil, priced at 1/2 by SkyBet, are the obvious favourites for this encounter. Their talent from front to back is undeniably one of the most dangerous in the tournament and this was illustrated in their last outing against Serbia. Unlikely goal scorers Paulinho and Thiago Silva secured top spot for the Samba Boys but their front three and Coutinho were causing all sorts of problems.

Neymar is the obvious potent goal threat for the Brazilians and is priced at 11/4 to score first. However, Coutinho has been joining the counter attacks and utilizing his pace, dribbling ability and eye for goal. He could be worth backing to score first at 5/1.

Despite their very poor showing against Sweden, Mexico have that aura about them that they can pull off something special. Winger Hirving Lozano has been one of the best players of the tournament and Javier Hernandez has also been putting in great shifts along Carlos Vela. The squad is very evenly balanced however they will struggle to see much of the ball against this Brazilian side.

West Ham striker Hernandez is the Mexicans target man and is priced at 11/4 to score anytime.

With the tournament now reaching the knockout stages, betting markets are available on the method of qualification. It is possible either nation may need extra-time or penalties to decide their fate. The favourites Brazil are priced at 8/1 to win in extra-time and 14/1 to win on penalties.

The referee for this match will be Italy’s, Gianluca Rocchi. Mexico have received five yellow cards so far and Brazil have received three yellow cards. Neither of these sides are renowned for a physical style of play however bookings are more frequent in knockout matches. Rocchi has given out 7 cards in his 3 games so far this world cup and was one of Seria A’s higher carders in terms of Referee’s. There have been at least 3 yellow cards (in some cases more), in the last 5 head to head meetings between these two sides.

Brazil vs Mexico will be televised live in the UK on ITV 1 with kick-off at 15:00.

Prediction: Brazil 2 – 0 Mexico.

Suggested Tips – Spain vs Russia – (SKYBET):

  • Brazil win 2-0 – 11/2.
  • Both Players to score – Neymar and Philippe Coutinho – 4/1. 
  • Philippe Coutinho to score outside the penalty area – 15/2. 
  • Scorecast Boost – Double Chance – Javier Hernandez to score first and either Mexico to win 2-1 or Mexico to win 3-1 – 100/1. (0.25pt  Outsider).
  • Over 1.5 goals, Coutinho 3+ Total shots and Brazil / Brazil HT/FT – 11/4. (NB).
  • Brazil to score 1+ goals, Neymar & Coutinho 1+ shots on target each, 5+ Brazil corners and 20+ match booking pts – 11/8. (NAP). 

Don’t forget – we will be previewing as many if not all the FIFA 2018 World Cup Group Stage games. Keep visiting Tips and Previews ahead of games to get our suggested tips and correct score picks for the games.Tips updated at 12:15 GMT on 2nd July 2018. Markets will not be updated again prior to the game kicking off.

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Switzerland vs Costa Rica – Match Preview

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Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Wednesday 27th June 2018
FIFA World Cup 2018, Group E, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod

Live on ITV 4 – Kick-Off: 19:00 

Switzerland vs Costa Rica. Switzerland and Costa Rica will face off in their final group stage match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Switzerland are currently second in the group and will require a result from this match in order to progress to the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s tournament will come to a disappointing end at full-time. They lost both their matches against Serbia and Brazil.

Switzerland could be depleted for the match as their two star players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka could face two-match bans. Both performed ‘politically incorrect’ celebrations in their 2-1 victory over Serbia. They are currently priced at 4/5 to win their final group match on SkyBet with those two’s availability unsure.

If Shaqiri is able to play, there is no doubt he could  steal the headlines and see his nation progress. He is priced at 7/4 to score anytime and 9/1 to score a brace.

Costa Rica have been disappointing given their impressive showing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They have only recorded three shots on target in the tournament, with all three coming from their 1-0 loss to Serbia. Their defensive efforts against Brazil were unceremoniously undone in the 91st minute to end their campaign. They are priced at 9/2 to cause an upset.

Marco Urena is the Costa Rican’s biggest goal threat. The Los Angeles FC striker is yet to find the back of the net but is priced at 10/3 to score anytime.

The referee for this match will be Clement Turpin. Both nations have been rather well behaved up to now, so I wouldn’t expect a wrestling match like some of the other World Cup matches so far.

Switzerland vs Costa Rica will be televised live in the UK on ITV 4 with kick-off at 19:00 GMT.

Prediction – Switzerland 2-0 Costa Rica 

Suggested Tips – Switzerland vs Costa Rica – (BET365):

  • Switzerland win – 2-0 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Switzerland vs Costa Rica – (SKYBET):

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Switzerland win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 11/8.  (NAP).
  • First Goalscorer – Haris Seferovic to score first – 9/2.
  • RequestABet Specials upto 10/1 – Shaqiri to score, Switzerland to win to nil and 5+ Switzerland corners – 7/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – Shaqiri 2+ shots on target & Urena 2+ shots on target – 10/1.

Tips updated at 18:00 GMT on 27th June 2018. Markets unlikely be updated again prior to the game kicking off.

Don’t forget – we will be previewing as many if not all the FIFA 2018 World Cup Group Stage games. Keep visiting Tips and Previews ahead of games to get our suggested tips and correct score picks for the games.

FIFA World Cup 2018 – Promotional Offer by BET365

Serbia vs Brazil – Match Preview

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Serbia vs Brazil
Wednesday 27th June 2018
FIFA World Cup 2018, Group E, Spartak Stadium, Moscow

Live on ITV 1 – Kick-Off: 19:00 

Serbia will play Brazil in their final group stage match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup final. Both nations are in a position to qualify for the knockout stages, with the result from the other match in Group E maybe being a key factor.

Serbia are currently on three points in the group after their dramatic defeat to Switzerland in their last outing. Aleksandar Mitrovic’s early goal was not enough for the Serbians who struggled to keep possession throughout the match. They are priced at 11/2 to win the match on SkyBet.

They have also racked up the cards so far, with six cards in their four matches. With the tricky Brazilian attack running at their defence, it’s likely they could see a few more cards.

Brazil are first in the group with four points. They haven’t yet provided a dominant display but have proved their attacking flair. Their recent 2-0 victory over Costa Rica seemed to be heading for a draw before two stoppage time goals from Coutinho and Neymar.

They are favourites for this match and rightly so. SkyBet have them priced at 8/15 to win. They could ramp up the goal tally and are priced at 21/10 to score 3+ goals. This will require Neymar and Gabriel Jesus to become a little more clinical – a feat they are more than capable of.

Mitrovic and Neymar are the two biggest goal threats for each nation. You can back both players to score at 6/1 which is a very tempting market. The game should produce a few goals and these two players can score from plenty of different methods.

The referee for this encounter will be Alireza Faghani . He could be kept busy with the aforementioned abrasive Serbia however with so much at stake, I’d expect the Brazilians to also bring a physical aspect to the match.

Prediction: Serbia 1 – 3 Brazil

Suggested Tips –  Serbia vs Brazil – (BET365):

  • Brazil win – 3-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Serbia vs Brazil – (SKYBET):

  • Both Players to Score – Aleksandar Mitrovic and Neymar Both Players to Score – 6/1.
    – Both nations talismans, they will both get chances to score in the match.
  • 1st Goalscorer – Neymar – 11/4. 
    – The flair, pace and deadly finish that this guy possesses makes him the best player on the pitch. He will be determined to sink the Serbians early on.
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – Serbia v Brazil – Over 1.5 goals, 3+ Serbia corners, 5+ Brazil corners and 20+ match booking pts – 11/8. (NAP).

Tips updated at 17:40 GMT on 27th June 2018. Markets unlikely be updated again prior to the game kicking off.

Don’t forget – we will be previewing as many if not all the FIFA 2018 World Cup Group Stage games. Keep visiting Tips and Previews ahead of games to get our suggested tips and correct score picks for the games.

FIFA World Cup 2018 – Promotional Offer by BET365