England is coming off an electric 4-2 win over Croatia.
Ghana snatched 3 points after scoring in 95th minute vs Panama.
The winner of the June 22 game earns a place in the knockout stage.
England exceeded expectations in its opening game, dismantling Croatia 4-2 while putting in one of the most exciting attacking performances of the World Cup so far. Can Thomas Tuchel’s men replicate that magic against Ghana, who also won its first game against Panama, and seal its place in the Round of 32?
Wagering Needed (WR): 1x Deposit. T&Cs and 21+ apply
Tuchel’s vision for how he wants England to play came to fruition against Croatia, specifically in a free-flowing second-half performance that was arguably the best any team looked in the first set of World Cup games. A few defensive missteps allowed Croatia to twice peg England back in the first half, but Harry Kane and Co. found their groove and created wave after wave of attack to earn the win.
Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, and Elliott Anderson were in top form against Croatia. Kane scored twice, Bellingham capped off a surging run with England’s third goal, and Marcus Rashford sealed the win after coming on as a substitute. As the key players for England, it’s a great sign for its chances of a deep run. Rice needing to come off early due to a hamstring issue is a concern, but he should be ready to face Ghana.
The African team did beat Panama, but they didn’t do so convincingly, needing a 95th-minute winner. In fact, Panama had more shots, more shots on target, and had 63% of the possession. England managed 20 shots and 12 on target against a more robust Croatia defense, so Ghana’s backline might be overwhelmed. England’s defense will have to be wary of Man City’s Antoine Semenyo, especially on the counter.
England (-500)
Tuchel’s look like a genuine contender and should make easy work of Ghana. England side simply has too much attacking talent, and its depth was showcased when it brought on Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Bukayo Saka off the bench against Croatia. England also looked especially dangerous on set pieces.
Kane’s movement and passing should unlock Ghana’s defense, with Bellingham and Noni Madueke providing dangerous runs in behind. Marc Guehi’s return to the starting lineup should make England more defensively sound.
Over 2.5 Goals (-154)
England made it clear against Croatia that it wants to be aggressive, knowing that its strength lies in Kane and its attacking prowess. While Tuchel will want to be more defensively compact, England should be a team that plays many high-scoring games. And we’ve gotten a lot already so far, with this World Cup becoming the fastest to hit 100 goals since 1958.
While Ghana didn’t look potent against Panama, they do have an elite forward option in Semenyo. With full-backs that like to push up the field, his pace could lead to some chances for Ghana. At -154 at FanDuel, one of the top World Cup betting sites, we’re confident of another 3-plus-goal game.
Jude Bellingham (+195)
Of course, when you think of England scoring, you think of Kane. But at -145, we’re looking elsewhere for more value. Bellingham stands out for us. Rashford, Saka, and Madueke all have shorter odds (+180), but the first two will likely work from the bench, while Madueke’s finishing has been a weakness of late.
Bellingham made many of his trademark runs against Croatia, one of which ended in a goal. He also had three total shots. With Kane often playing deep, Bellingham is consistently leading England’s front line and is the first in the box.
Wagering Needed (WR): 1x Deposit. T&Cs and 21+ apply
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