2018 World Cup Group A: Team News, Prediction & Betting Odds

With the 2018 World Cup in Russia kicking off in less than a month, SoccerNews.com is commencing its own series of group predictions where you will be able to find previews of all the teams taking part in this summer’s showpiece tournament, latest team news and best betting odds and suggestions.

As it’s expected – we start with the Group A.

People tend to believe that the host country has a sort of an advantage when playing in front of their own home support but that rarely turns out to be the case with host nations often feeling that extra pressure knowing they need to deliver after not taking part in the qualifying process.

Russia are, of course, slotted in the Group A, alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay with World Cup set to begin on 14 June when…

Nagelsmann claims the pressure is on Hungary, not Euro 2024 hosts Germany

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has claimed all the pressure is on Hungary, and not his team, ahead of Wednesday s Group A clash.

Euro 2024 hosts Germany got off to a flying start as they thrashed Scotland 5-1 in Munich last week.

Hungary, meanwhile, were beaten 3-1 by Switzerland.

While the four best third-placed teams will progress to the last 16, Nagelsmann believes the onus will firmly be on Hungary, rather than the host nation, in Stuttgart.

I had put Scotland and Hungary on a very similar level, Nagelsmann told reporters.

It depends how we play tomorrow. Hungary are under a bit more pressure than we are after the first match.

I think they have to be a bit more aggressive than against Switzerland as they could potentially be out o…

How difficult will it be for England to qualify for the 2014 World Cup?

The draw for the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014 has taken place. England have been drawn to play against Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino.

On paper any world class international team would be expecting to qualify from that group.

Difficult

However this is England we are talking about and the Three Lions players always seem to make it difficult for us loyal fans.

England may top their European Championship group but it’s far from certain that we will qualify with a tough trip to Montenegro to come.

Choice

With the quality of player we have to chose from we should be doing better in the international arena. Granted we may not have the same quality player that Spain has, but then again who has in the international game…

How refugee Modric rose to rule Russia 2018

Unthinkable as it now seems, Luka Modric had every reason to spend most of his career hating the World Cup.

As a 20-year-old, he got off the bench twice in 2006 as Croatia went out of the group stage by finishing behind Australia. His country did not qualify in 2010. Four years later, he arrived in Brazil as a Champions League winner, one of the best midfielders in the world, surely destined for better fortunes. A 3-1 loss to Mexico in game three sent them packing.

My memories from Brazil are not nice, he recalled two years on.  I didn t play well. Maybe I was too tired after a long season. When I look back at the competitions I played in for Croatia, that was my worst performance.

The World Cup, it is often said, boasts a capacity to bring about change unlik…

USA, Mexico close in on WC2010 berths

The United States and Mexico closed in on World Cup berths, while Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated and Costa Rica suffered a costly defeat in the North and Central America and Caribbean zone.

In Port of Spain, Ricardo Clark s 62nd-minute goal lifted the United States to a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, putting the USA atop the six-nation final-round group with 16 points with two matches remaining.

The defeat spelled the end of Trinidad and Tobago s hopes, as they remained mired at the bottom of the table with five points.

The Americans gained three needed points thanks to a powerful blast from Clark, which eluded the outstretched hands of Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Clayton Ince.

For us it was a very important three points, USA coach Bob Br…

Euro 2020 final: Neville suspects Sancho could start instead of Saka

Gareth Southgate could spring a surprise by starting Jadon Sancho instead of Bukayo Saka for England in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

That is the view of former England defender Gary Neville, who believes the spot on the right wing that was filled by Saka in the semi-final win over Denmark is the only position up for grabs.

Neville would have been tempted to play Marcus Rashford if the Manchester United forward had been in better form.

Instead he believes another soon-to-be United player Sancho, who started the quarter-final against Ukraine in Saka s absence, could be the man who gets the nod if 19-year-old is indeed left out.

Saka has had an impressive tournament for England and Neville acknowledges it could be an unpopular decision.

He feel…

Light it up for Christmas – German compilation of pyro shows 2017 (VIDEO)

Christmas is here for football fans around the globe and what better way to celebrate it than with a show.

Pyro show that is!

The year 2017 has been a quite eventful one in terms of football action but – when it comes to Germany – it’s brought quite a show on the terraces as well.

Germans have best attendances across Europe’s top 5 leagues and their supporters are extremely passionate which makes this ultimate compilation of pyro shows 2017 an absolutely fantastic watch.

Enjoy.



Robben could miss rest of 2010, says Bayern boss

Dutch winger Arjen Robben could be out for the rest of the year as he struggles to recover from a thigh injury he picked up at the World Cup, his club Bayern Munich said on Sunday.

Robben, 26, picked up the injury playing for the Netherlands before last month s World Cup finals and although he played a big part in helping the Dutch get to the final, he has aggravated the injury and now needs complete rest.

It now looks as though the Dutchman could be out until the winter break when the second half of the season begins in January.

It is more than questionable whether Arjen will be able to play for us in the Bundesliga s round of matches before Christmas, Bayern s director of sport Christian Nerlinger told German daily Bild on Sunday.

After playing with t…

Rashford keen for Euro 2020 penalty redemption at World Cup

Marcus Rashford is hoping he gets a chance to redeem himself from a missed penalty in England s European Championship final defeat to Italy during the World Cup.

The Manchester United forward was among three members of Gareth Southgate s side to fail to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma from the spot in the shootout, alongside Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka.

The trio were then subject to racial abuse on social media, but that has not put him off stepping up for the Three Lions if required in Qatar.

Racism is not good to go through as an individual but it s not good to see anyone go through it. [It s] more just disappointment. You re disappointed that people have views like that, he said.

And the main reason is that you don t have those views about anyone else, re…

Buccaneers vs Rams Week 3 Picks and Predictions: Rams Walk the Plank in Week 3

The ecosystem of the NFC will look very different after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.

The defending Super Bowl champs were rare NFL betting underdogs for this cross-country trip west, opening as big as +1.5. However, early action on Tampa Bay has bumped this spread over the fence and the visitor is now giving L.A. a point inside SoFi Stadium.

We’ve got free NFL picks and predictions for Buccaneers at Rams – the biggest game of the day – on September 26.