By J.T. CHADWELL
The World Cup schedule loads up starting today. Four matches on the books for Saturday, with at least four matches happening daily until group play concludes on June 27. The last round of group play will have four straight days with six matches scheduled.
Four fixtures in the books in the tournament and the final 10-15 minutes have been unkind on our average- and high-risk plays.
Let’s turn it around, starting today.
QATAR VS SWITZERLAND
Qatar comes to America as one of the beneficiaries of the expansion of the World Cup field. Switzerland on the other hand has done a very good job of taking care of business throughout European qualifying, more impressively in the friendlies leading to the Cup — scoring four goals combined against Germany, USA, and Mexico. If the Swiss can get four on those countries, scoring on Qatar shouldn’t be hard at all.
- Low risk parlay toss in: Switzerland Moneyline (-425)
- Average risk play: Switzerland team total OVER 2.5(+109)
- Higher risk play: Breel Embolo OVER 1.5 goals (+500)
BRAZIL VS MOROCCO
This is maybe the most heavyweight matchup of the entire group stage; both teams are ranked inside FIFA’s top eight. Their most recent matchup saw Morocco win 2-1 in a 2023 friendly, so the Moroccans should not be fearful — but Brazil is always going to be tabbed as a contender. At the end of the day, both of these teams have bigger fish to fry and much smaller fish to chomp on in this group. I would be surprised if either really puts its most aggressive foot forward here.
- Low risk parlay toss in: Brazil Double Chance (-650)
- Average risk play: Both Teams to Score NO (-125)
- Higher Risk Play: Brazil to win 1-0 or a 1-1 Draw (+225)
HAITI VS SCOTLAND
An important game for both here. Haiti has generated some buzz for its ability to score for a small nation, with 24 tallies in its last 28 matches, including goals against the USA, Peru, Iceland, and Costa Rica — all teams better than the Haitians. Scotland brings its best attacking team since its last World Cup appearance, back in the late 90s. All of Scotland’s projected top six play at high-level European clubs. Look for this match to be much more open than the other Group C opener between Brazil and Morocco.
- Low risk parlay toss in: Scotland to score (-700)
- Average risk play: Both Teams to Score YES (-105)
- Higher Risk Play: Scotland to win 2-1 or 3-1 (+285)
AUSTRALIA VS TURKIYE
An interesting matchup early in Group D. between two inconsistent teams, both capable of allowing easy goals and scoring difficult goals. At -145, Turkiye is pretty strong to the moneyline, but I don’t trust the Turks to salvage a draw if they get down. I’m going to lean towards the over here.
- Low risk parlay toss in: Over 1.5 goals (-310)
- Average risk play: Both Teams to Score YES (-110)
- Higher Risk Play: Australia Moneyline (+425)
RECORD (through 6/12)
Low risk: 3-1
Average risk: 1-3
High risk: 1-3
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