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The fifth day of competition at the 2018 World Cup sees more teams make their first appearances in the tournament. Sweden play South Korea in the second game in Group F while two matches in Group G are also on agenda.
Belgium face Cinderella story Panama at the Fisht Stadium and Tunisia clash with England; a side out to improve in the early matches and prove that they are in Russia to make a real impact.
The roar of the crowd continues to tip astutely and despite a few unpredictable results over the last two days are matching it with the experts quite well.
Be sure to remember to insert your tips into the sheet below and join in the interactive voice of the fans.
Here are the views and tips of those ‘in the know’ and how they see the action playing out on day five of competition.
South Korea, Belgium, England
Sweden and South Korea is a match-up that could prove one of the most difficult to line up in the first round of matches.
Having watched South Korea qualify well and knowing the importance of good performances from the teams in the Asian Confederation, I’ll be hoping they do well against a solid yet uninspiring Swedish team.
South Korea might just get the job done in this one.
Belgium should belt Panama and they will. It is a game worth watching in an effort to line up their form with some of the other heavyweights.
England should also be too strong for Tunisia in their group G clash. I have picked Harry Kane as my Golden Boot winner and this might be a good place to start for the Captain, against a team not expected to cause much damage in Russia.
Draw, Belgium, England
There are plenty of great European sides at the World Cup, but I’m not sure Sweden are one of them. South Korea, meanwhile, are beset by injuries.
I’ll tip a draw here, if only because I think Son Heung-min may be too hot for the Swedish defence to handle.
Belgium should make short work of Panama. Let’s hope it doesn’t get ugly. You could be looking at one of the tournament’s Golden Boot winners to emerge on the back of what should be a comfortable Belgian win.
A clash between a plucky underdog hoping to avoid embarrassing itself on the world stage… and Tunisia.
In all seriousness, this has to be the tournament that England steps up. They should have more than enough firepower to beat the North African nation, but haven’t we heard that before?
I’ll tip England nonetheless.
(AP Photo/Amel Emric)
Draw, Belgium, England
It’s hard to find much to split Sweden and South Korea. Both good but unspectacular teams; Sweden making it to Russia on the back of an impressive pair of clean sheets against Italy, and South Korea hardly setting Asian qualifying alight – although no-one really did.
Some magic from Son Heung-min could break the fixture open, but I’m predicting a stalemate.
There are no such concerns around Belgium’s first match. The Red Devils are loaded with attacking talent – Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne foremost amongst them – and are a real chance of making the semi-finals or even the decider. Panama are… not.
It’s the first World Cup appearance for the Central Americans, but their opening game won’t end in anything but defeat.
Would you believe it, England are starting a World Cup without the weight of the world (or at least the British press) on them? Somewhat paradoxically, that could well help them to their best tournament since 2006.
Gareth Southgate seems to be a no-nonsense manager, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford are attacking talents, and they’ll be too good for Tunisia. Still, can we see Kane take one more corner, just for old time’s sake?
Sweden, Belgium, England
It could be a disappointing tournament for the Asian confederation, headlined by what I expect to be a poor South Korean showing.
Sweden are not world beaters but should account for a South Korean side in disarray, unclear on how to get the best out of their star player, Son Heung-min.
There are question marks about Belgium’s ability to compete with the top teams with their unorthodox 3-4-3 and lack of genuine wing-backs, but they should easily beat Panama, a very limited, direct team who could be the weakest side at this World Cup.
Similarly, England might not have the cattle to go all the way, but their major hurdle won’t be until the Belgium game.
Tunisia surely won’t be too much for England to handle – Harry Kane might spy an opportunity to get a lead in the Golden Boot race.
(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Sweden, Belgium, England
Sweden have managed three 0-0 draws in their past five games and haven’t conceded in their last three. South Korea’s hope of piercing such a tough defence revolves around Tottenham Hotsupur ace, Son Heung-min, who will need to be at his best.
This game might not be the most attractive fixture, and I expect Sweden’s traditionally solid tournament play to be too much for their perennially under-performing opponents.
The dubious quality of the Optus feed notwithstanding, I can’t wait to see Belgium play in their opening Group G fixture against Panama. Look for De Bruyne to dominate and Lokaku and Hazard to terrify the Los Canaleros’ defence.
Panama have four European based players in their squad including Dynamo Bucharest keeper, Jaime Penedo, who will no doubt get the opportunity to display his talent. Belgium should win this easily.
Tunisia take on England in Volgograd, the city formerly known as Stalingrad. The Eagles of Carthage have a number of players based in Belgium and France including, Naim Sliti, who scored seven goals in Ligue 1 this season.
But with attacking guns Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and the elegant Dele Alli pulling the midfield strings, England should win in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.
| Day 3 | Stuart | Mike | Daniel | Tim | Paul | The Crowd |
| SWE vs KOR | KOR | DRAW | DRAW | SWE | SWE | SWE |
| BEL vs PAN | BEL | BEL | BEL | BEL | BEL | BEL |
| TUN vs ENG | ENG | ENG | ENG | ENG | ENG | ENG |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
The first match of the night is the hardest to pick – Sweden are the favourites to beat South Korea, priced at $2, but the Koreans would still have to be considered a chance at $4.20.
The odds are a bit less kind to Panama on the other hand who’ll have a baptism of fire making their world cup debut against Belgium ($1.16). The Panamanians are out to $19.
In the final match of the night, England will enter as heavy favourites to get the win ($1.40), with Tunisa long odds of causing an upset ($8.50).
| SWE vs KOR | ||
| Sweden | Draw | South Korea |
| $2.00 | $3.15 | $4.20 |
| BEL vs PAN | ||
| Belgium | Draw | Panama |
| $1.16 | $7.00 | $19.00 |
| TUN vs ENG | ||
| Tunisia | Draw | England |
| $8.50 | $4.33 | $1.40 |
Odds via Pointsbet are correct as of 10pm (AEST) Sunday, June 17.
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