England will be one of the most scrutinized teams at the 2018 World Cup as the side goes for its first World Cup title since lifting the trophy on home soil in 1966. The 2018 quest in Russia begins with a Group G meeting with Tunisia at Volgograd Arena on June 18.
Oddsmakers have The Three Lions tabbed as sizable favorites for their opener and, on paper at least, there is no reason to think that they won’t begin the tournament with three points. Online shop Sportsbook has England at -280 in moneyline markets with Tunisia at +900 and the draw at +380. In spread betting, England is -1.5 (+120) with Tunisia coming back at -145. As for the total, it’s set at 2.5 with OVER +110 and UNDER -140.
Bet on the 2018 World Cup here
- These two teams met at the 1998 World Cup with England winning 2-0.
- Tunisia has one win, four draws and seven losses in 12 World Cup games.
- England last won its Sportsbook World Cup match in 2006 (1-0 vs Paraguay).
The 2014 World Cup in South Africa was one to forget for England as they finished last in Group D, managing a single point in a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica. In fact, England has just one win in its last two World Cups, beating Slovenia 1-0 in Group C back in 2010.
There is reason for a bit more optimism this time around as the side features some genuine world-class talent in striker Harry Kane and playmaker Dele Alli. The Tottenham Hotspur duo have 24 caps each (following the friendly against Nigeria on June 2) and have been instrumental in Tottenham’s rise in the Premier League and some moderate success in Champions League.
Kane, in particular, was strong in qualifying as he was joint-top scorer in UEFA Group F, bagging five goals in 10 games, finishing even with Slovakia’s Adam Nemec.
Speaking of qualifying, more reason for optimism is how well England performed in getting to this point. In a group with Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta, England won eight and drew twice in 10 games, scoring 18 times and conceding just three goals.
Tunisia snatched 14 points in six Group A games in CAF qualifying in a group with DR Congo, Libya and Guinea. Youssef Msakni led the way for The Eagles of Carthage in qualifying, scoring three of their 11 goals en route to Russia.
It is Tunisia’s fifth trip to a World Cup but the nation hasn’t won a game since Argentina 1978, going winless in appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2006. The forecast for Tunisia isn’t too promising in the eyes of the Sportsbooks as they sit with the second-longest odds in futures markets at +50000 behind minnows Panama and Saudi Arabia at +100000.
Favorite Bet for Tunisia vs England
England will be eager to nab all three points in this contest and at the current price of -280 in moneyline markets, this is a great candidate for parlay cards. I also like England in the first half at the short price of -110. While Tunisia will no doubt line up in a more defensive formation, I suspect England will try to get on the board early so I’ll be happy to back that first-half wager.
