talkSPORT tips – Best football bets and expert advice for Thursday 25 June

Group D, E and F draw to a close with the final round of first-phase games taking place on Thursday evening and the early hours of Friday morning.

We have three World Cup selections which make up our best bets of the day, including a potential big value 10/1 shot!

England to reach the Quarter Finals – 40/1 

Bet of the Day 

Ecuador to beat Germany @ 14/5

Germany have top spot in Group E in the bag with a game to spare. This final group game against Ecuador at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Thursday night is a dead rubber for them. 

There is a strong chance that Julian Nagelsmann will look to rotate his side to keep his squad fresh for the knockout rounds and it would be no surprise if Germany’s intensity dropped.

Ecuador have collected only one point from their two matches against Ivory Coast and Curacao, but the performances of El Tri have been far better than their point total suggests.

Sebastian Beccacece’s men hit 27 shots and created an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.84 in the 0-0 with Curacao and that effort followed an last gasp 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast.

Ecuador have the ability to trouble a Germany side at full strength and at peak motivation, which leaves the 14/5 on offer against a much-changed and already-qualified DFB Team, looking like a big price.

Bet builder 

Japan to win & over 2.5 goals v Sweden @ 33/20

Sweden’s two World Cup games have ended in a 5-1 victory against Tunisia and a 5-1 loss to the Netherlands.

It is clear that the strength of the Blue and Yellow lies in attack, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, but Graham Potter’s men are weak at the back and they lack balance.

Japan are a well-rounded side, who were brilliant in a 4-0 success over Tunisia and they moved the ball nicely in a 2-2 draw with a top-level Netherlands side.

The Samurai Blue may not have the explosive forwards of Sweden, but they can control the tempo of play and Hajime Moriyasu’s men are still pushing for top spot in Group F.

A Japan victory and over 2.5 goals pays 33/20 in a bet builder. 

Acca of the day

Over 2.5 goals in Curacao v Ivory Coast, Over 2.5 goals in Netherlands v Tunisia, USA to beat Turkey, Paraguay to beat Australia @ 10/1

Curacao conceded seven goals in their opening World Cup contest with Germany, while the Blue Wave allowed 27 shots on goal in their 0-0 draw with Ecuador and Ivory Coast have the firepower to put at least three goals past Dick Advocaat’s men.

The Netherlands have a clear attacking game plan under boss Ronald Koeman and that has led the Oranje scoring seven goals in their opening two World Cup games. Tunisia have shipped nine goals in their two North American contests and it’s difficult to see how this contest doesn’t go over 2.5.

USA are basking in victories over Paraguay and Australia and the USMNT will hope to continue the positive feeling when they meet Turkey.

It has been a miserable World Cup for the Crescent-Stars, who were beaten by Paraguay and Australia and the fight may have left Vincenzo Montella’s side.

Australia hit only five shots and put up xG figures of only 0.35 in their 2-0 loss to the USA and the Socceroos could be outclassed against Paraguay.

The Guaranies showed their strength with a battling 10-man win over Turkey and they can strike again. 

England to reach the Quarter Finals – 40/1 

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Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change.

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