The World Cup has officially arrived, and the Ladbrokes blog is your one-stop shop for daily tips ahead of all the key games. From the Group Stages, right through to the World Cup Final, check back each day to find out who our football expert is backing!
Group Stage
Spain vs Saudi Arabia Predictions – Group H (Match 5)
Spain heads to Atlanta with everything to prove after playing to a scoreless stalemate in their opener against Cabo Verde last week.
Despite failing to impact the scoresheet, the three-time champs dominated possession and every other key stat – simply failing to put a ball past Cabo Verde’s 40-year-old keeper when it mattered most.
Saudi Arabia also shared in the points with Uruguay in a grueling 1-1 draw that saw them go ahead early in the first half, only to surrender the equaliser with 10 minutes to spare.
It was a cruel result for Georgios Donis’ side, but probably a fair one after Uruguay controlled possession and outshot Saudi Arabia 27-7.
Looking ahead, these two sides haven’t met since their 2012 friendly, a game Spain won 5-0. Their lone meeting at the World Cup came way back in 2006, with Spain winning in more low-scoring fashion, 1-0.
The goals will eventually start to flow for a side of Spain’s quality, but you can still back the Under here with a bit of confidence knowing La Roja have only conceded a combined two goals to their last five international opponents.
Belgium vs Iran Predictions – Group G (Match 5)
Belgium were held to a frustrating draw with Egypt in their opener, dominating large stretches but lacking a bit of sharpness in front of goal. With Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings and attacking weapons like Romelu Lukaku and Jérémy Doku, they still showed plenty of promise and should take improvement into this matchup.
Iran also shared the points in their first outing, grinding out a draw with New Zealand in a game where they looked organised but struggled to find quality shots on target. Defensive discipline is their biggest strength, and they’ll likely lean on it again here.
These two sides haven’t met often in recent history, but Belgium’s technical quality and attacking depth give them a clear edge on paper. The key battle will be Belgium’s creative midfield breaking down Iran’s compact defensive shape, while Iran will look to Mehdi Taremi as their main outlet on the counter.
If Belgium can be more clinical this time around, they should find a way through.
Uruguay vs Cape Verde Predictions – Group H (Match 6)
Uruguay were held to a frustrating draw with Saudi Arabia in their opener, struggling to break down a compact defence despite controlling large periods of the game. There were still positives though, with Darwin Núñez and Federico Valverde heavily involved, and plenty of attacking intent that just lacked a finishing touch.
Cape Verde produced one of the surprise results of the opening round, earning a draw against Spain with a well-structured performance – even if they only managed one shot on goal. They defended deep, stayed organised, and made the most of limited chances going forward.
There’s absolutely no history between these two on the big stage, but the contrast in styles is clear. Uruguay will look to control possession and create through midfield, while Cape Verde are likely to sit back again and try to frustrate.
The key battle will be Uruguay’s attacking quality against Cape Verde’s defensive resilience, with Núñez’s movement and physicality posing a constant threat.
If Uruguay can be a bit more clinical this time, they should have enough to edge it.
New Zealand vs Egypt Predictions – Group G (Match 6)
The All Whites picked up a solid result in their opener, holding Iran to a draw in a game where they showcased a lot more attacking flare than many expected. Like Australia, it was a classic ‘chip on the shoulder’ performance, relying on structure and work rate to grind out a point.
Egypt, meanwhile, also shared the spoils with Belgium, and arguably looked the more dangerous side at times. Mohamed Salah was at the centre of everything going forward, while their defensive shape held up well against a strong Belgian attack.
Looking forward to Monday, Egypt bring far more quality, especially in the final third. The key battle will be Egypt’s attacking class, led by Salah, trying to break down a New Zealand side that will likely sit deep once again.
If New Zealand can keep things tight early, they might hang around, but Egypt’s cutting edge should prove the difference.