The 2018 World Cup started this week with hundreds of betting lines and markets already available on individual match betting for the second set of fixtures in the Group stage. The second set of fixtures starts on Tuesday the 19th of June and runs to Sunday the 24th June.
At betplanet.net we have chosen three fixtures from the group stage – second round of fixtures with match overviews, selected betting odds and some recommended bets.
Note: Odds provided are not always fixed and subject to change
Fixture 1 – Argentina vs Croatia
Match day: Thursday 21st June
Kick off: 21:00 (UTC+3)
Stadium: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Match Betting - 1x2
Argentina @ 1.91
Draw @ 3.50
Croatia @ 4.00
To win the World Cup outright
Argentina are 10.00 and Croatia are 29.00
Head to Head is: Argentina Won 2, Croatia Won 1, Drawn 1
Argentina are always strong and will be looking to go one step further after losing in the final in 2014 to Germany. It is not uncommon for the losing finalists in the previous World Cup to win it in the next one. They have the best player in the world in Messi and they have arguably the best striker in the world in Aguero. If they can get it together they have a great chance to reach the final again and assuming they beat Iceland in fixture 1 then they should beat Croatia to ensure qualification from the group stage.
Croatia have reached the semi-final once - in the 1998 France World cup. They have finished 3rd in their group in their last three world cup appearances in 2002, 2006 and 2014. In qualification, they finished second in their group behind Iceland and beat Greece in the play-off. They changed their manager in qualification after they drew with Finland. They have a very strong midfield with Modric, Kovacic, Rakitic, Perisic and Brozovic.
Selected markets, odds and recommended
| 1x2 | *Argentina @ 1.91, Draw @ 3.50, Croatia @ 4.00 |
| Match result and both teams to score | *Argentina @ 4.00 Draw @ 4.60 Croatia @ 8.00 |
| Correct Score | Argentina to win 2-1 @ 8.50, *2-0 @ 8.00, 3-0 @ 15.00, 3-1 @ 17.00, *3-2 @ 34.00, Croatia to win 1-0 @ 9.00 |
| Total Goals | Under 2.5 @ 1.61 *Over 2.5 @ 2.20 |
| Double Result | *Argentina / Argentina @ 2.87, *Draw / Argentina @ 4.50 |
| First Half Betting | *Argentina @ 2.50 Draw @ 1.95 *Croatia @ 4.75 |
| Lead at Half Time and not win | *Argentina @ 12.00, *Croatia @ 9.50 |
| Highest Scoring Half | 1st Half @ 3.00 Draw @ 3.25 *2nd Half @ 2.05 |
| Match x goals | Argentina win and Under 2.5 goals @ 3.80 *Over 2.5 goals @ 3.30 |
| Match Handicap | Argentina -2 goals *win @ 8.00, *Draw @ 5.50, Croatia @ 1.22 |
| Period Betting | Argentina to score *1st to 15th minute @ 4.80, *31st to half time @ 5.80 |
| Other Markets | A Goal to Be Scored In the First 15 Minutes @ 3.30 |
Fixture 2 – Denmark vs Australia
Match day: Thursday 21st June
Kick off: 16:00 (UTC+4)
Stadium: Samara
Match Betting - 1x2
Denmark @ 1.67
Draw @ 3.80
Australia @ 5.00
To win the World Cup outright
Denmark are 101.00 and Australia are 501.00
Head to head is: Denmark Won 2, Australia Won 1
Denmark have been to four world cups reaching the quarter finals once (1998), the second round twice (1986, 2002) and finishing 3rd in the group stage in 2010. They finished second in their group behind Poland in their qualification group and beat the Republic of Ireland in the play off. They have Eriksen in midfield and Jorgensen in attack.
This is Australia’s fifth World Cup having reached the 2nd round once (2006), they finished 3rd in their groups in 1974, 2010 and 2014. Australia struggled in qualifying finishing 3rd in their group behind Japan and Saudi Arabia. They qualified by beating Syria and Honduras in play-off games. They have Aaron Mooy, Massimo Luongo and Tom Rogic in midfield.
Selected markets, odds and recommended
| 1x2 | *Denmark @ 1.67, Draw @ 3.80, Australia @ 5.00 |
| Match Result and both teams to score | Denmark @ 4.00 Draw @ 5.50 Australia @10.00 |
| Correct Score | Denmark to win *1-0 @ 5.00, 2-1 @ 8.50, 2-0 @ 6.50, *3-0 @ 12.00, 3-1 @ 15.00, Australia to win to 1-0 @ 10.00 |
| Double Result | *Denmark / Denmark @ 2.62, Draw / Denmark @ 4.20 |
| Handicap | Denmark -1 goals win @ 2.90, *-1 goals draw @ 3.40, -1 goals lose @ 2.05 |
| Total match goals | *Under 2.5 @ 1.61, Over 2.5 @ 2.20 |
| First half betting | Denmark @ 2.37 Draw @ 1.91 Australia @ 5.50 |
| First Goal | *Denmark @ 1.50 No goal @ 8.00 Australia @ 3.00 |
| To Win To Nil | *Denmark to win to 0 – @ 2.40 |
| Anytime own goal | No @ 1.06 Yes @ 8.00 |
| Come from behind and draw | Denmark @ 8.50 *Australia @ 8.50 |
| Come from behind and win | Denmark @ 7.50, *Australia @ 17.00 |
Fixture 3 – Nigeria vs Iceland
Match day: Friday 22nd June
Kick off: 18:00 (UTC+3)
Stadium: Volgograd
Match Betting - 1x2
Nigeria @ 2.45
Draw @ 3.10
Iceland @ 3.10
To win the World Cup outright
Nigeria are 151.00 and Iceland are 251.00
Head to head is: No fixture
Nigeria finished first in their African qualification group ahead of Algeria and Cameroon. This is their 6th World Cup and they reached the second round three times (1994, 1998, 2014). They finished 3rd in their groups in 2002 and 2010. They are unpredictable but can be very good. They have Mikel, Iwobi, Iheanacho, Ndidi and Moses.
Iceland qualified quite easily from their group ahead of Croatia. This will be their first ever World Cup appearance. They reached the quarter finals of the 2016 European Championships after beating England 2-1 in the 2nd round. They are very organized and difficult to break down. They have Sigurdssun in midfield.
Selected markets, odds and recommended
| 1x2 | *Nigeria @ 2.45, Draw @ 3.10, Iceland @ 3.10 |
| Draw No Bet | *Nigeria @ 1.73, Iceland @ 2.00 |
| Match Result and both teams to score | *Nigeria @ 5.80 vs Iceland @ 6.50 [Draw 4.20] |
| Both teams to score | *Yes @ 2.00, No @ 1.73 |
| Correct Score - Nigeria | Nigeria to win 2-1 @ 10.00, 2-0 @ 11.00, *3-0 @ 26.00, *3-1 @ 26.00 |
| Correct Score - Iceland | Iceland to win 1-0 @ 7.00, 2-0 @ 12.00, *2-1 @ 11.00 |
| Total Goals | Under 2.5 @ 1.50, *Over 2.5 @ 2.50 |
| Double Result | *Nigeria / Nigeria @ 4.20, Draw / Nigeria @ 5.80 |
| 1st Half Betting | *Nigeria @ 3.25, Draw @ 1.85, Iceland @ 3.60 |
| To score in both halves | *Nigeria to score in both halves @ 4.75 |
| Match Handicap -2 goals | Nigeria -2 goals *Win @ 13.00, *Draw @ 7.50 |
| Iceland to score in first half | *Yes @ 2.50, No @ 1.50 |
Final Word
Putting any of these bets or ones you choose in to doubles and trebles helps to increase the odds and your profits dramatically. You can also use doubles and trebles as insurance against larger bets on singles.
We will be posting more fixtures and betting information for the third series of fixtures later in the week!
Good luck!
