All articles by: Ieuan Ivett

Morocco vs Iran – Match Preview

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Morocco vs Iran
Friday 15th June 2018
FIFA World Cup 2018, Group B,  Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg

Live on ITV 1 – Kick-Off: 16:00

Morocco vs Iran – Morocco and Iran begin their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign this Friday at the Krestovsky Stadium

Both sides are half of Group B; with the other half made up of Spain and Portugal. It’s safe to say neither nation stands much chance of qualifying out of the group. This match-up is both sides most realistic chance to getting some points on the board.

The bookmakers are slightly favouring Morocco for this tie, with odds from SkyBet of 13/10 to win. This is due to their respectable form during their warm-up matches and recent international duels.

Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech has been labelled the Moroccan dangerman by many and has been awarded by SkyBet a tempting 6/1 to find the back of the net first. His flair and pace has both Liverpool and AS Roma chasing his signature.

Iran have not had their ideal build-up to the tournament with politics getting in their way. Their friendlies with both Greece and Kosovo were cancelled due to political tensions and the national governing body have announced they will be going through FIFA to gain financial compensation for their players and staff – and now have to worry about their World Cup opener.

SkyBet have priced the, possibly rusty, Iran at 14/5 to get a win on Friday. Versatile forward Saman Ghoddos will be Iran’s best hope of finding glory however their defence has proven tough to beat during qualifying. They only conceded three goals all campaign and almost reached 1000 minutes of football without picking the ball out of their net – only for their final match against Syria to ruin the record.

Both these sides have never faced each other before in a competitive fixture, with Morocco gaining a slight history advantage over their Asian opponents. The African outfit were the first African nature to ever win a World Cup group – however their other two opponents make the likelihood of this reoccurring rather slim.

Morocco vs Iran will be televised live in the UK on BBC 1 with kick-off at 16:00.

Prediction: Morocco 3 – 0 Iran

Suggested Tips –  Morocco vs Iran – (BET365):

  • Morocco win 3-0 – (link no longer available)
    – Their impressive form stands them in high chance of a win and especially in comparison to Iran’s messy preparations.

Suggested Tips –  Morocco vs Iran – (SKYBET):

  • Ziyech & Ghoddos 2+ shots on target each – 33/1
    Both dangermen are sure to get a sniff on goal so these odds are tough to turn down.
  • Full-Time and BTTS Morocco and No – 21/10
    Morocco have plenty more attacking prowess whilst Iran run the risk of relying on Ghoddos too much.

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

Egypt vs Uruguay – Match Preview

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Egypt vs Uruguay
Friday 15th June 2018
FIFA World Cup 2018, Group A, Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg

Live on BBC 1 – Kick-Off: 13:00

Egypt vs Uruguay – Egypt and Uruguay kick off their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaigns this Friday at the Ekaterinburg Arena.

All eyes will be the Egyptian starting eleven to see if Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah will recover from his shoulder injury he sustained in the Champions League final.

Meanwhile, Uruguay will be relying heavily on their attacking firepower. Barcelona striker Luis Suarez and Paris Saint Germain goal scorer Edinson Cavani are crucial for their nation if they are to open their campaign with three points.

Both countries are in Group A and are joined by Saudi Arabia and host nation Russia in the group stages.

Egypt have not impressed in their warm-up matches, with the absence of Salah a contributing factor. Draws with Kuwait and Columbia before a 3-0 loss to Belgium have not filled their fans with much optimism. The bookmakers are also not optimistic. SkyBet are offering 11/2 for them to win Group A and 11/8 for them to reach the knockout stages.

They have scored only two goals in their five matches in 2018. SkyBet are giving odds of 11/10 for them to find the back of the net. If Mo Salah does reach fitness, these odds are worth backing. However, they are heavy underdogs for this clash with 6/1 odds to overcome their South American opponents.

The favourites, with odds of 8/13, are top of the bookmakers list to win the group. Uruguay finished second in the South American qualifiers above Argentina and recently saw cup success at the China Cup in March this year. They are a well-oiled machine who often line up in a classic 4-4-2 formation and will assure that their two superstar strikers are provided with plenty of service to utilise their strength and power.

Uruguay only fit in one warm-up match where they made lightwork of Uzbekistan in a 3-0 victory. Suarez was able to convert from the spot to boost his confidence. Despite their lack of preparation, SkyBet are offering 8/11 for them to win Group A and very low odds of 1/6 to reach the knockouts. Also, both of their aforementioned strikers are priced at 3/1 each to be the top scorer in the Group.

Egypt vs Uruguay will be televised live in the UK on BBC 1 with kick-off at 13:00 GMT.

Prediction: Egypt 0 – 2 Uruguay

Suggested Tips – Egypt vs Uruguay – (BET365):

  • Uruguay 2-0 win – (link no longer available)
    – With Salah’s availability hanging in the balance, Egypt’s scoring prowess is likely to be minimal in comparison to their opponents.

Suggested Tips – Egypt vs Uruguay – (SKYBET):

  • Luis Suarez to score outside the area – 14/1
    – Although he is a ‘fox in the box’, he isn’t a stranger to a free-kick or an audacious long-range effort.
  • Edinson Cavani to score a goal assisted by Luis Suarez – 10/1
    – The pair up-front work very well together and often assist each other’s goals.
  • Popular RequestABets – Over 1.5 Goals, 3+ Egypt Corners, 5+ Uruguay Corners, and 10+ booking points each team – 11/4

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

2018 PDC World Cup of Darts – The Outrights

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The 2018 PDC World Cup of Darts is returning for the eighth time in its history. The Dutch darting dynasty of Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen looking to defend their title; after defeating the surprise package of the tournament, Wales, 3-1 in the 2017 final.

The tournament is a straight knockout structure, with no groups involved. Of the 32 competing nations, the top eight have been seeded and will not take part in the first round. Those seeded nations will then join in the second round and normal knockout rules will apply from there.

SkyBet are offering plenty of betting markets from now through to the final dart of the tournament, with some tempting price boosts to wet your palate.

Netherlands – (link no longer available).

The defending champions are favourites to repeat their triumphs of last year and understandably so. Their talisman, van Gerwen, is entering the tournament off the back-end of a routine Premier League victory and is showing no signs of slowing down. Raymond van Barneveld’s ruthless checkout nature is slowly deteriating however has still proven on many occasions he is a tricky customer for any opponent.

During the PDC Premier League, van Gerwen accumulated a staggering 103.56 three-dart average, 56 180’s and a checkout percentage of 45.37%. His partner, van Barneveld attained a three-dart average of 95.01, 42 180’s and a 38.28% checkout rate.

Expect 180’s, high checkouts and liquid darts from these two.

Scotland – (link no longer available).

The patriotic pairing of Gary Anderson and Peter Wright have faired rather differently in their recent Premier League campaigns. Anderson reached finals night whereas his whacky haired companion scrapped through judgement night by the skin of his teeth. Wright must improve if they are to lift the World Cup.

Anderson ended the Premier League season with a three-dart average of 99.11, 57 180’s and three of the competitions top 5 three-dart averages this season. Although Wright’s average was of an acceptable standard (96.17), his uncharacteristically low 180 count (31) and subpar checkout rate (39.78%) made it a season to forget.

Anderson could be carrying Wright through this.

England – (link no longer available).

England’s best chance of lifting a World Cup this summer falls in the hands of Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall.

You always have a chance with a World Champion in your corner however the decision to choose Dave Chisnall has turned a few heads after his time on the side-lines after not being chosen for the 2018 Premier League.

Cross enjoyed a fruitful first spell in the Premier League, reaching the semi-finals. He achieved a three-dart average of 97.33 and showed what he’s all about with 54 180’s. Chisnall has continued his rounds on the PDC circuit during 2018 but is yet to impress. His most noticeable mark of recent is reaching the quarter-finals of the Dutch Darts Grand Prix. Expect 180’s from Chisnall, but don’t expect much on the checkouts.

Two power scorers, the ‘make or break’ element for these two will come with the checkout.

Wales – (link no longer available).

Wales have a slightly different looking line-up to the one that reached the final last year. Gerwyn Price will be hoping to turn his fortunes around after a disastrous Premier League campaign. He teams up with Jonny Clayton, who replaces former BDO World Champion Mark Webster.

Price managed less than 90 in the Premier League on his three-dart average and only 11 180’s. Clayton is yet to prove himself on the big stage with only 2 non-televised PDC titles to his name.

Do not expect anything spectacular from these.

Australia – (link no longer available).

The reliable pairing of Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson represent the Aussies yet again. Anderson is still a developing player on the PDC circuit but is showing improvements every time, he plays in a televised event. His most recent efforts saw him reach the quarter finals of the Dutch Grand Prix.

He will be relying on Whitlock to do a lot of the grafting, a role he has proven he is capable of in recent months. Whitlock managed 43 180’s in the Premier League, expect a few more from him.

One of the tournaments dark horses. Very capable of reaching the 2018 PDC World Cup final.

Austria – (link no longer available).

Mensur Suljovic is proving to be one of the worlds best darts players, as he proved with his three-dart average of 99.06 over his Premier League campaign. He teams up with Zoran Lerchbacher, who is ranked 55th in the world.

Suljovic is a real threat but could be held back by the ineffective tournament player that Lerchbacher is.

Belgium – (link no longer available).

Down with the Ronny Huybrechts and in with Dimitri Van den Bergh. The PDC World Youth Champion is rising up the ranks and is becoming a hot prospect in the darting world. He only lost out to Austrian, Mensur Suljovic, a few days ago in the German Masters final.

Kim Huybrechts has only reached one semi-final in recent months at the Dutch Masters, other than that he is yet to reboot his system to bring back the Huybrechts of the past.

Northern Ireland – (link no longer available)

A fantastic price at 40/1 for Daryl Gurney and Brendan Dolan. Gurney has proven, despite his at times ill mannered presence, that he deserves a place in on the Premier League stage. He hit a gobsmacking 67 180’s this season and had a three-dart average of 96.77. His checkout’s need improving however if he leads his country to glory.

He teams up with Brendan Dolan, a player who needs a confidence boost. Playing alongside Gurney could do exactly that.

A great longshot bet to reach the final at 16/1 (SKYBET).

Prediction:

  • Netherlands to win – (link no longer available).
  • Australia to reach the final – 9/2. (SKYBET)

All odds provided by BET365 unless specified otherwise.