jake pred gs2

Jake Osgathorpe's 2026 World Cup tips and predictions: Group stage round two

Football
Wed June 24, 2026 · 5d ago

Jake's World Cup 2026 Predictions: Staked 64.25pts | Returned 76.90pts | P/L +12.65pts | ROI 19.7%

***updated as of Tuesday 23rd June 11am

Football betting tips: World Cup

Panama vs Croatia - Wednesday 00:00

1pt Croatia -1 handicap at 6/4 (William Hill)

*tips to be added throughout the round of fixtures

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

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Panama vs Croatia

Croatia couldn't live with England's pace and physicality on matchday one, so Panama will represent a much kinder opponent who aren't as fast or physical. The Croats should dominate the football in this one that's for sure, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them win this comfortably.

Panama sit 34th in the FIFA World Rankings but it has to be said that they have played a very easy CONCACAF schedule to get so high. Since the 2022 World Cup they have played 55 international games with only 13 coming against non-CONCACAF sides.

In those 13 they have won just three times and lost seven, with those opponents having an average FIFA World Ranking of 47th. Their wins came against Qatar (56th) and Bolivia twice (77th), while they have lost all four games they've played against top 20 sides by an aggregate of 16-3.

Croatia sit 11th in the current standings, so 1/2 quotes for them to win seem fair, as does CROATIA -1 HANDICAP at 6/4. All of Panama's four games against top nations over the last four years have seen them lose by two or more goals, and the Croats are more than capable of racking up a score here.

They may need to as well, with their final game coming against Ghana. If Ghana lose to England as expected and Croatia win against Panama, then if that final game ends all square it could come down to goal difference who finishes second or third.

All in all I think Croatia just have too much quality and creativity in forward areas for Panama to deal with, and until I see otherwise, I'll be marking their opener down more as a game where England were very good rather than Croatia poor.

Score prediction: Panama 1-3 Croatia (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)

Odds correct at 17:00 BST (22/06/26)

Colombia vs DR Congo

Matchday two is brought to a close, once again, by Colombia. They beat Uzbekistan in their opener and now face a determined DR Congo who fully deserved their draw with Portugal.

It's a pretty big game for both, with a win for either all-but confirming their spot in the knockouts, though it's a no bet for us.

I want to see a bit more of DR Congo, and to be honest, all the angles I had in mind were aptly short in price.

Score prediction: Colombia 2-1 DR Congo (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)

Odds correct at 21:00 BST (22/06/26)

Already advised

Czechia vs South Africa - Thursday 17:00:

✋ 0.75pts Stepán Chaloupek to score anytime at 10/1 (bet365)

✋ 0.25pts Stepán Chaloupek to score first at 25/1 (bet365)

Switzerland vs Bosnia - Thursday 20:00

❌ 1.5pts Breel Embolo to score anytime at 13/10 (BetVictor, Betway)

✅ 0.5pts Breel Embolo 1+ assist at 11/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Canada vs Qatar - Thursday 23:00

❌ 2pts Edmílson Junior to commit 2+ fouls at 11/10 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Mexico vs South Korea - Friday 02:00

✅ 1pt Lee Han-beom to commit 2+ fouls at 17/10 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

USA vs Australia - Friday 20:00

❌ 2pts USA 15+ total shots at evens (BetVictor, BOYLESports)

Scotland vs Morocco - Friday 23:00

❌ 1pt Andy Robertson to commit 2+ fouls at 13/5 (BetVictor)

Brazil vs Haiti - Saturday 01:30

✅ 1pt Carlens Arcus to be carded at 10/3 (bet365)

Türkiye vs Paraguay - Saturday 05:00

✅ 1pt A sending off in the match at 9/2 (William Hill)

❌ 0.25pt Both teams red card at 60/1 (William Hill)

Netherlands vs Sweden - Saturday 18:00

✅ 2pts Both teams to score at 10/11 (Betfred)

❌ 0.75pts Alexander Isak to score anytime at 5/2 (Sky Bet)

❌ 0.75pts Viktor Gyökeres to score anytime at 5/2 (Sky Bet)

Germany vs Côte d'Ivoire - Saturday 21:00

❌ 2.5pts Germany to commit 12+ fouls at 11/10 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair)

❌ 1pt Germany to commit 14+ fouls at 11/4 (Paddy Power, Betfair)

❌ 0.5pt Germany to commit 16+ fouls at 13/2 (Paddy Power, Betfair)

Ecuador vs Curaçao - Sunday 01:00

✋ 2pts Joel Ordóñez 1+ total shot at 20/23 (BOYLE Sports)

✋ 0.5pts Joel Ordóñez 2+ total shot at 17/4 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Spain vs Saudi Arabia - Sunday 17:00

❌ 1.5pts Lamine Yamal 1+ assist at 19/10 (BetVictor)

❌ 0.5pt Lamine Yamal 2+ assists at 14/1 (BetVictor)

Belgium vs Iran - Sunday 20:00

❌ 0.75pt Ramin Rezaeian to be carded at 4/1 (bet365)

❌ 0.75pt Milad Mohammadi to be carded at 9/2 (Sky Bet)

Uruguay vs Cape Verde - Sunday 23:00

✅ 1pt Maxi Araujo 3+ shots created at 23/10 (Paddy Power, Betfair)

❌ 0.25pts Maxi Araujo 5+ shots created at 16/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair)

Argentina vs Austria - Monday 18:00

✅ 2pts 32+ tackles in the match at 4/5 (bet365)

❌ 0.5pts 41+ tackles in the match at 7/1 (bet365)

France vs Iraq - Monday 22:00

❌ 0.75pts Zidane Iqbal to be carded at 15/4 (bet365)

Norway vs Senegal - Tuesday 01:00

✅ 2pts Erling Haaland to score anytime at evens (Betway)

✅ 0.5pt Haaland to score 2+ goals at 6/1 (Betway)

Jordan vs Algeria - Tuesday 04:00

✅ 2pts Both teams to score at 21/20 (bet365)

Portugal vs Uzbekistan - Tuesday 18:00

❌ 0.5pt João Cancelo 1+ shot on target from outside the box at 18/1 (bet365)

England vs Ghana - Tuesday 21:00

❌ 2pts England to win and Under 3.5 Goals at 21/20 (Betfred)

Panama vs Croatia - Wednesday 00:00

❌ 1pt Croatia -1 handicap at 6/4 (William Hill)

More World Cup content from Sporting Life

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