FIFA World Cup 2018 Group G Prediction

Belgium and England must face-off in Group G of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the two potential dark horses facing each other in the final round of group games.

Group G

Both are narrow outsiders for the tournament as a whole, but their match in Kaliningrad on June 28 could be crucial to either sides hopes of causing an upset and going far in the tournament.

Panama, making their World Cup debut after their surprise qualification, are also in Group G, along with Tunisia – who will be looking to progress beyond the group stages for the first time in five attempts.

Read on for the fixtures, group odds and forecasts in Group G.....

Teams

Belgium

  • Qualified as winners of European Group H, winning nine and drawing one of their ten games as they hammered in 43 goals.
  • Key Players: Romelu Lukaku’s 11 goals in qualifying fired Belgium to the top of the group, but the Red Devils are packed with attacking and creative options. Kevin de Bruyne has been instrumental to Manchester City’s success this season, while Eden Hazard helped Chelsea to the title last season. In defence, they have a choice of Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany (if fit) and Jan Vertonghen – experience and quality in great depth.
  • Last five results:
    • W
    • D
    • W
    • W
    • D
  • Odds to win the tournament: 12/1 (Ladbrokes)

Panama

  • Qualified in third place after a surprise win against Costa Rica in the final group game of the North American section saw them jump ahead of the USA.
  • Key Players: Panama are packed with experienced internationals, with defender Roman Torres – who scored the goal which sent them to the World Cup – one of six squad members with more than 100 international caps. Strikers Blas Perez and Luis Tejada are also in that category, and both have a joint-national record 43 international goals.
  • Last five results:
    • D
    • L
    • L
    • W
    • D
  • Odds to win the tournament: 1000/1 (William Hill)

Tunisia

  • Wahbi Khazri, now at Rennes, will head to the World Cup as Tunisia’s current top goalscorer in the absence of injured Youssef Msakni. His loan spell in Ligue 1 saw him put two disappointing seasons with Sunderland behind him to reach double figures in goals for only the second time in his career.
  • Last five results:
    • D
    • W
    • W
    • D
    • D
  • Odds to win the tournament: 750/1 (Bet365)

England

  • Qualified as unbeaten winners of the European Group F, winning eight of their ten games and conceding just three goals.
  • Key Players: Harry Kane has returned to fitness, and will lead England at the World Cup having scored five goals in qualifying. Kane scored seven goals in six international appearances between June and October last season as he finally started to show his goalscoring form on the international stage too. Behind him, Gareth Southgate’s options include Raheem Sterling, who passed 20 goals for Manchester City this season and Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. Dele Alli will hope to show similar link-up with Kane as he does at Tottenham.
  • Last five results:
    • D
    • D
    • W
    • D
    • W
  • Odds to win the tournament: 16/1 (Betfair)

Group G Fixtures

Belgium

VS15:00 GMTJune 18th

Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

Panama

Tunisia

VS18:00 GMTJune 18th

Volgograd Arena, Volgograd

England

Belgium

VS12:00 GMTJune 23rd

Otkritie Arena, Moscow

Tunisia

England

VS12:00 GMTJune 24th

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod

Panama

England

VS18:00 GMTJune 28th

Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

Belgium

Panama

VS18:00 GMTJune 28th

Mordovia Arena, Saransk

Tunisia

Group G Betting Tips & Prediction

Group Betting

The winner of the final game between Belgium and England is expected to determine the winner of Group G, with Belgium 5/6 with Bet365 top the group and England 6/5.

Unsurprisingly Tunisia and Panama are big outsiders - the former are 14/1 to win Group G while the latter, in their debut World Cup, are a massive 40/1.

Belgium have only beaten England twice in their history, but the two nations have only met once since the turn of the century. Belgium are a vastly improved team now, and are favourites for a reason.

England, though they have been resolute defensively under Gareth Southgate, appear to lack the attacking edge they need to beat the biggest teams – Belgium included.

Group Qualification Yes/No

There is no value in the group qualification market, with Belgium at 1/10 to reach the last 16 and Gareth Southgate’s England at 1/8.

For comparison, Tunisia are 4/1 and Panama 9/1. Tunisia have not won a game at any of their last three tournaments, and failed to qualify for the last two either. Panama, of course, were surprise qualifiers for their debut World Cup and have upset the odds just by being in Russia – they are not expected to make an impact in Group G.

Group Forecast

So, it’s England and Belgium expected to qualify but again the question remains in what order? With Tunisia and Panama expected to do so little, it may be worth swapping the straight group winners vote for a forecast – given you are effectively backing the same outcome.

If you think Belgium will show their quality – as they should – 1st – Belgium, 2nd – England is 11/8 with Bet365. The reverse bet is 7/4 with the same bookmaker.

To Finish Bottom of Group

While Tunisia do not have a great World Cup record, and are 17/10 to finish bottom of the group, Panama are very much the minnows in this year’s tournament. That point was brought home by their 6-0 friendly defeat to Switzerland in their first proper set of fixtures after qualifying. Expect Panama to finish bottom of Group G – they are priced at 1/2 with Bet365 to do just that.

Group G Recommended Bet

The top two might be difficult to predict, at least in terms of which order they will finish in, but Belgium have a pedigree that England do not. They are clinical up front and solid at the back, and should finish ahead of the English. Bet365 are offering 11/8 on a 1st – Belgium, 2nd – England forecast.

Group G prediction

Belgium (5/6 to win Group G with Bet365)

England (11/8 to finish 2nd with Belgium 1st with Bet365)

Tunisia (1/6 to fail to qualify with Bet365)

Panama (1/2 to finish bottom of Group G with Bet365)