World Cup Tips: Friday's 5/1 Acca backs another England win

Wales vs Iran – Wales 

After a lacklustre first half vs the USA, Wales came out in the second half looking like a new team. The introduction from the bench of Kieffer Moore up top added some much needed grit to the team and he held the ball up well, allowing his side to get out their own half.

Gareth Bale was kept quiet for most of the game but he was involved when it mattered most as he stepped up to power home the equaliser, after being tripped in the box. They looked much more organised in the second half and Rob Page will be hoping for more against Iran to give them a chance of qualifying for the knockouts. 

Iran, as many predicted, didn’t offer much vs England. The score line summed up their afternoon after being hard to break down initially, as they fell away after conceding the opener.

They will have hope with late goals from Mehdi Taremi and will think they have a chance vs a Wales team who are more open at the back than the English. We think this one will be a closer game then their last but we think they’ll lose again. A Wales win for this one. 

Netherlands vs Ecuador – Netherlands 

The Dutch have been tipped as one of the favourites to win the World Cup coming into this but their performance against Senegal did little to support this.

They looked flat for most of the game, creating very little and relied on late goals to get over the line vs the AFCON champions. Nevertheless, a win is a win and they will look ahead to Ecuador to extend their lead at the top of Group A. 

We couldn’t learn too much about Ecuador from their opening game with Qatar as their opponents lacked any real quality. They looked good in attacking transitions and forward Enner Valencia looked hungry for goals against the host nation.

They were a physical side who didn’t shy away from a battle but lacked quality in areas of the pitch, which will be capitalised on by better quality opposition. We think the Dutch will do just that and book their place in the knockouts. 

England vs USA – England 

Gareth Southgate wasn’t happy with his side conceding two goals vs a poor Iran side but will be happy with the overall performance. England’s young lions showed their quality all over the pitch and they were clinical in the final third, propelling themselves to the top of Group B. However, they lacked concentration when winning comfortably, and this will worry Southgate in the later stages of the competition. 

The USA looked like they were going to go on to beat Wales comfortably after their first half display, but lost control of the game in the second half. They created a well crafted goal with Christian Pulisic threading a pass through to Timothy Weah to finish in clinical fashion, which showed the rest of the group the quality the US have.

They have some really talented young players, who in a few years could be serious contenders, but for now they look a little raw. They lost control of the game against Wales so we can’t see them competing with England. An English win for this one.