World Cup Tips: Wednesday’s 9/2 Acca featuring Spain

Morocco vs Croatia – Croatia win

Morocco and Croatia play their first matches of the World Cup, as they lock horns in the first Wednesday game of the day. 

Morocco’s side, including Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, will be looking to create a shock and get out the group for the second time in their history at the World Cup. They didn’t qualify from the group in Russia 2018, and a performance against Croatia will be a good start. 

As for Croatia, they reached the final in 2018, and anything near that will be seen as a massive success. Luka Modric and co will be hoping to start their campaign off with a win against Morocco. While many expect the European teams in Belgium and Croatia to progress into the last 16, Morocco and Canada will give the sides something to think about.

Croatia have a lot of quality and experience in their ranks, with Mateo Kovacic, Josep Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric, and this should be able to get them over the line in this one, which is why we think Croatia win here.

Germany vs Japan - Germany win

Germany kick off their World Cup Campaign with an opening fixture to Japan. 

The German’s last World Cup was a disaster, finishing bottom of a group they were expected to top, and failed to make the Quarter Finals in Euro 2020. Hansi Flick will be looking to restore confidence in the National Team, which has been lost in recent years. 

As for Japan, they aren’t expected to qualify from the group, containing Spain and Germany, but as we have seen in the smaller teams at this World Cup, they come into it with no fear. Japan made it into the round of 16 in Russia and threw away a two goal lead to eventual semi-finalists Belgium, and could create some more memories here.

The Germans will be out for redemption after past tournament failures, and we could see that hunger against the Japanese. We think with the experience, quality and energy in their squad, Germany will have enough to win here against Japan.

Spain vs Costa Rica – Spain win & over 2.5 goals

La Roja round up Wednesday’s World Cup treble with their opening game against Costa Rica, a game many expect them to win.

Spain, like Germany, have been rather unsuccessful in recent World Cups. After winning in 2010, they failed to progress out of the groups in 2014, and went out in the Round of 16 to hosts Russia.

They did make the semi finals in Euro 2020 before going out to eventual winners Italy, and pipped Portugal to progress to the Nations League final more recently. They will be looking to perform better in Qatar, and a game against Costa Rica is a good start to lay the groundwork for a successful tournament.

Costa Rica come into this game and group as underdogs, expected to finish bottom of Group E, as they did in 2018. They have only lost one game in 2022, losing 2-0 to Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League, and qualified for Qatar via an inter-continental play off 1-0 win against New Zealand in June 2022. However, Spain poses a huge task for them, as do the other teams in their group. 

With Spain having quality through their ranks, they will be looking to test Costa Rica’s star goalkeeper Keylor Navas. However, a Spain drubbing could be on the cards, so we think Spain win with over 2.5 goals in the games.