There will be a lot to love about the 2018 World Cup Betting action, but one of my favorites will be when we get to see teams go head to head for the first time ever. It’s fun to watch the contrasting styles of play from teams hailing from different continents, but all of these things also make it tough to handicap these types of games. Saturday afternoon will kick-off with a match-up between a pair of teams meeting for the first time ever when Peru and Denmark square off in a Group C clash. The reality of this game is that it is incredibly crucial for both teams, as a win for either could improve their Russia 2018 Odds of moving on to the next round.
Both are likely to struggle against France, but you would also like both of them to get points from Australia. With all of that in mind, second place in this group may well come down to goal difference in the end. Let’s take a closer look at how this intriguing Group C match-up might play out. Be sure to check the lines at MyBookie Sportsbook before placing your ticket.
Game Info & 2018 World Cup Betting Pick: Peru vs. Denmark
- When: Saturday, June 16 at 12 PM EST
- Where: Mordovia Arena, Saransk
- TV: FS1
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
- 2018 World Cup Betting Odds: Denmark +139 (Over/Under at 2 goals)
Why bet on Peru?
- Confederation: CONMEBOL
- Head coach: Ricardo Gareca
- Captain: Paolo Guerrero
- FIFA Ranking: 11
It has been 36 years since we last saw Peru at the World Cup, but their trip to Russia was far from an easy one, and they were, in fact, the last of the 32 teams to book their place. They looked dead in the water with 5 games left to play in qualifying, but Peru showed their grit by winning 3 of those games and drawing the other 2. It was a run that was good enough to get them into an intercontinental playoff game with New Zealand, which they won 2-0 on aggregate.
Peru also received some very good news ahead of this tournament when a ban for alleged PED use by Paolo Guerrero was suspended, allowing him to play in the tournament. This is a team that does not score a lot of goals, so having a proven scorer back in the fold will be sure to give the South Americans a boost.
Possible Line-Up
- 1-P. Gallese
- 2-A. Rodríguez
- 15-C. Ramos
- 17-L. Advíncula
- 6-M. Trauco
- 19-Y. Yotún
- 8-C. Cueva
- 13-R. Tapia
- 9-P. Guerrero
- 10-J. Farfán
- 18-A. Carrillo
Why bet on Denmark?
- Confederation: UEFA
- Head coach: Åge Hareide
- Captain: Simon Kjær
- FIFA Ranking: 12
Denmark is in Russia for what will be just their fourth World Cup appearance. They may not be regulars in this tournament, but they do have a legitimate shot at moving to the knockout phase in second place, especially if Christian Erikson can deliver as we know he can. Much like Peru, the Danes needed a great run at the end of qualifying to get in, winning 5 and drawing 2 of their last 7 games.
The biggest problem for Denmark is that they do not have a legitimate goal scorer in their squad, so they are probably going to need to rely on Erikson to create and finish as many chances as possible. A loss here would be a disaster for Denmark, so look for them to keep things as tight as possible at the back.
Possible Line-Up
- 1-K. Schmeichel
- 4-S. Kjær
- 14-H. Dalsgaard
- 17-J. Larsen
- 6-A. Christensen
- 7-W. Kvist
- 8-T. Delaney
- 10-C. Eriksen
- 9-N. Jørgensen
- 20-Y. Poulsen
- 23-P. Sisto
Last Team’s Results
Peru
- Sweden 0 – Peru 0
- Saudi Arabia 0 – Peru 3
- Peru 2 – Scotland 0
- Iceland 1 – Peru 3
- Peru 2 – Croatia 0
Denmark
- Denmark 2 – Mexico 0
- Sweden 0 Denmark 0
- Denmark 0 – Chile 0
- Denmark 1 – Panama 0
- Jordan 0 – Denmark 0
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
These two are just 1 place apart in the FIFA World Rankings, and both are on a 15-game unbeaten streak heading into this tournament. I think they both keep those runs alive, as I see a scoreless tie as the most likely outcome here. Definitely play the UNDER as one of your 2018 World Cup Betting picks here.
Score: Peru 0 – Denmark 0
