Tipster Wizard picks out two best Bet Builders for the first World Cup Semi Final between France and Spain.
Bet Builder 1 - 1pt
Best odds of 4/5 at bet365 at the time of publishing.
1st selection: Lamine Yamal 1+ Fouls Committed
Lamine Yamal has been Spain's standout performer throughout this World Cup, but his relentless work rate out of possession also makes him a strong candidate to commit at least one foul. The teenage winger presses aggressively from the front and is always eager to win the ball back high up the pitch, often resulting in mistimed challenges or tactical fouls.
He has committed a foul in each of Spain's three knockout matches so far, recording 2 against Belgium, 5 against Portugal and 1 against Austria. Looking at the bigger picture, Yamal has committed at least one foul in 10 of his last 12 appearances for Spain, including matches where he came off the bench.
France possess devastating pace on the counter through players such as Désiré Doué, Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé, meaning Spain's wide players will be expected to track back quickly whenever possession is lost. That should create plenty of situations where Yamal is forced into making a tactical foul to halt dangerous transitions, making this a selection that has landed consistently for both club and country.
2nd Selection: Pedro Porro 1+ Fouls Won
Pedro Porro has been one of Spain's most reliable foul winners throughout the knockout stages, using his strength to shield possession and his aggressive running to invite contact from defenders. The attacking full-back is constantly looking to overlap down the right flank, creating difficult one-on-one situations that often leave opponents with little option but to bring him down.
Porro has won 2 fouls in each of Spain's three knockout matches so far at this World Cup, highlighting just how consistently he puts defenders under pressure in advanced areas. His attacking intent should once again see him heavily involved against France, particularly with Spain expected to target the wide areas.
He is also likely to find himself up against Désiré Doué for large periods of the contest. The French winger is an aggressive presser who isn't afraid to commit fouls when tracking runners, making this an appealing stylistic matchup. Given Porro's recent foul-winning numbers and his importance to Spain's attacking play, backing him to draw at least one foul looks like a strong leg for this Bet Builder.
Bet Builder 2 - 0.25pts
Best odds of 11/2 at bet365 while publishing.
- Leg 1: Lamine Yamal 2+ Fouls Committed
- Leg 2: Pedro Porro 2+ Fouls Won
Worth backing higher lines on both selections at an attractive price too.
