2022 World Cup Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (12/1)
Groups E and F saw shocking results on Thursday, which means seven of the eight teams can still qualify for the Knockout Stage, and no team has advanced. After beating Germany, Japan somehow lost 1-0 to Costa Rica, a team that had just lost 7-0. Yet the biggest shocker may have been Group F favorite Belgium and their total lack of offense which led to their 2-0 loss to Morocco.
Group F: Croatia vs. Belgium (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; 6 p.m.)
Pre-tournament, Croatia and Belgium were the favorites to advance from Group F, and yet, there is almost no chance that both teams make it out of the group. Croatia is definitely in a better spot than Belgium, as a tie in this match would send them on to the next round.
Belgium could advance with a tie, but they would need Canada to beat Morocco by a lot, which seems wholly unlikely. The Belgians will need to find their offense to win this one, which is something they haven’t done in this tournament. Against Morocco, they had 10 shots and three on net, but they couldn’t find a goal.
After a 0-0 draw against Morocco, the Croatians scored four times against Canada. If their offense continues to play at that level, they will run away from Belgium and send them home early.
One bit of good news for Belgium: Romelo Lukaku did see playing time late in their loss to Morocco. If he can play meaningful minutes against Croatia, then that could wake up the Belgian offense.
Pick: Both Teams to Score No Draw (+170 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Group F: Canada vs. Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; 6 p.m.)
The Canadians scored in the second minute against Croatia for their first World Cup goal ever. However, the rest of the game was all Croatia, as the Canadians were eliminated from the tournament. Now, they will play Morocco, a team that pulled a massive upset over Belgium their last time out.
Morocco has yet to concede a goal this tournament, and the Canadians have shown difficulty finishing. Additionally, Morocco just needs to tie to advance. A win would likely earn them the top spot in the group, while a loss would likely eliminate them. Therefore, we expect a careful approach from Morocco, which means this will be low-scoring.
Pick: Under 2.5 Total Goals (-130 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Group E: Japan vs. Spain (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; 10 p.m.)
Japan lost the head-scratcher of the tournament when they fell to Costa Rica. Japan dominated the game, but they couldn’t find the back of the net. Now, they find themselves in a situation where they must earn a point to feel comfortable about moving on.
Spain has looked like one of the best teams at the tournament this year, even if they conceded a late goal to Germany, which forced a draw. Japan can be dangerous, but the Spanish side is better and will win this one outright. Unfortunately, Spain to win offers terrible odds, so to find the value, you must look elsewhere.
Pick: Spain to Win in Shutout (+100 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Group E: Costa Rica vs. Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; 10 p.m.)
Thanks to the Costa Ricans, Germany still has a chance to advance. They need to root for Spain to win or draw if they win, as those results will most likely send them on to the next round.
After their first game, no one gave Costa Rice a chance against Japan. Yet, they managed to win and shake up Group E. If they win against Germany, they will advance to the Round of 16 and possibly even win the group. A draw could be enough to advance as long as Spain beats Japan.
So, what does all of that mean for this game? It means there are going to be goals. If Germany goes up 1-0, they’re not going to stop attacking, as they need to make up a considerable goal differential on Spain just in case the Spanish lose to Japan.
Pick: Over 4.5 Goals (+198 FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.