Sunday’s World Cup schedule features four games across groups E and F with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden all in action.
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Germany vs Curacao (Sunday, 6pm)
Germany are giant favourites to beat Curacao and could score a glut of goals in the process of earning an opening game win.
This isn’t a vintage German team but it’s a strong and efficient set-up with nine straight victories heading into the tournament.
Die Mannschaft scored six to beat Slovakia in November and spread the goals around the team with six different goalscorers.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side have also scored four against Switzerland and Finland and will be confident on hitting more than five against a Curacao side ranked 82nd world.
The Blue Wave lost three of their four World Cup warm-up games, conceding five to Australia and letting in four against Scotland.
A high-scoring victory and over 4.5 goals for the Germans looks the most likely result at the NRG Stadium in Houston.
Back Germany to score over 4.5 goals @ 13/8 with LiveScore Bet
Score prediction: Germany 5-0 Curacao
Netherlands vs Japan (Sunday, 9pm)
Japan have grown in recent years to become a strong unit capable of beating anyone on their day.
The Samurai Blue have won six straight matches in the lead up to the World Cup beating Brazil and England along the way and so will be confident of giving the Netherlands a match in Arlington on Sunday night.
Ronald Koeman’s side were held by Ecuador in March before losing 1-0 to Algeria at the start of June and needed an injury time winner from the penalty spot to get the better of Uzbekistan on Monday.
The Oranje aren’t in the best of form heading into the tournament but possess quality players like Virgil van Dijk, Denzel Dumfries and Frenkie de John playing at the highest level in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
Heading into competitive action, the Netherlands should click but will find it difficult to score many past a Japan side who have kept five straight clean sheets.
Winning the last three matches by a goal to nil, backing under 2.5 goals could be a wise decision. This is likely to be a cagey affair as the sides look to avoid defeat in their opening match.
Score prediction: Netherlands 1-1 Japan
Ecuador vs Ivory Coast (Monday, 12am)
Ecuador were the big surprise package during South American qualifying for this year’s World Cup, finishing second behind Argentina on the back of a ridiculous defensive record which saw them concede just five goals in 18 games.
They face a tough challenge in their Group E opener, however, as they take on an Ivory Coast team who were also impressive at the back in qualifying.
La Tri’s success is built on rock-solid foundations, with a back four containing Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie, Paris Saint-Germain centre-half Willian Pacho and Milan full-back Pervis Estupinian.
Add in impressive youngster Joel Ordonez, who could be on the move to a Premier League club after starring for Club Brugge, and it is easy to see why they conceded so few goals in qualifying.
Chelsea midfielders Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez are just two of many exciting young players and it’s no surprise to see that Ecuador have been tipped as ones to watch.
Their only major deficiency is quite a big one, though - they are heavily reliant on the goals of 36-year-old captain Enner Valencia.
The former West Ham and Everton striker is the only player in this squad with more than five international goals and that is a big concern.
However, it’s hard not to be impressed by their defensive record and they will be an extremely tough nut to crack.
Tasked with attempting to do just that is Ivory Coast, who went ten qualifiers without conceding during their journey to the World Cup.
The Elephants were beaten 3-2 by Egypt in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year but have followed that with some impressive friendly performances, beating South Korea, Scotland and, most notably, France.
Surprisingly, Ivory Coast have never got out of their group at a World Cup and have not qualified since Brazil 2014, so they arrive in North America with a point to prove.
This is not necessarily an Elephants squad blessed with an out-and-out star but their strength in depth is extremely impressive, particularly in attacking areas.
The presence of exciting youngsters Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande means former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe is likely to have to settle for a spot on the bench, demonstrating the quality head coach Emerse Fae has at his disposal.
They are outsiders against Ecuador’s robust defence, but the market may well have overreacted to La Tri’s strong performance in qualifying.
Ivory Coast are much better going forwards than their South American opponents and are a tempting price in the draw-no-bet market, particularly given their own defensive solidity during the notoriously tough African qualifiers.
Side with the Elephants to provide something of a shock in this opener.
Diomande is on a rapid upward trajectory considering that he was playing in America’s United Premier Soccer League three years ago, and he may be about to announce himself on the world stage.
The 19-year-old has been linked with a move to Liverpool after impressing at RB Leipzig this season, scoring 13 goals in all competitions for the Bundesliga side. He has three for his country and looks a decent price to add to that tally.
Yan Diomande anytime goalscorer @19/5
Score prediction: Ecuador 1-1 Ivory Coast
Sweden vs Tunisia (Monday, 3am)
Having been placed in a tough group alongside strong Netherlands and Japan sides, Sweden and Tunisia will each be eager to get off to a strong start at this summer's World Cup.
A 3am clash between these countries may not be top of the casual viewer's watchlist. However, both teams know this is their most winnable fixture and that could lead to goals in Monterrey.
Few positives emerged from Jon Dahl Tomasson's short spell in charge, which ended with the Dane being Sweden's first coach to be sacked mid-contract.
However, his team did win their Nations League C pool to guarantee a place in the World Cup qualification playoffs - something which came in very handy indeed.
A dreadful qualifying campaign saw them pick up just one point before Graham Potter came in with two games to go. He used a 4-1 defeat to Switzerland and 1-1 draw with Slovenia to formulate a plan which came to fruition in March as they beat Ukraine 3-1 and Poland 3-2 in the playoffs.
Originally appointed on a short-term deal, Potter has extended his contract to 2030. Unlike Tomasson, the Englishman is popular among Swedes following his success at Ostersunds and his enthusiasm for Swedish culture.
Sweden finished third at the World Cup in 1994 but head into this tournament, where they will play in both Mexico and the USA, with lower expectations.
A win over Tunisia is pivotal to their hopes of reaching the last 32, but the Eagles of Carthage have similar ideas.
The Tunisians are serial qualifiers, with this their sixth appearance across the last eight World Cups. They beat France 1-0 in Qatar four years ago, and the expanded format boosts their chances of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time.
They made the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but were eliminated on penalties by Mali, leading to Sami Trabelsi's departure and the appointment of former Nottingham Forest and Ivory Coast manager Sabri Lamouchi.
The new head coach's decision to select a young squad for March's 1-0 win over Haiti and 0-0 against Canada hinted that he wanted to tap into the team's youth. The former France international has opted for a blend of ages for this tournament, however.
After an encouraging performance in a 1-0 defeat to Austria, in which they registered 14 shots, Tunisia also had good moments in their final friendly against Belgium, but faded in the second half and eventually lost 5-0.
There is talent in this squad, though, and they averaged 2.2 goals per game in an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Sweden vs Tunisia: Over 2.5 Goals
Sweden's playoff exploits suggest Potter's plans are more expansive than those of his predecessors, with his six matches in charge averaging four goals per game.
All of those matches also saw both teams score, including their June friendlies, a 3-1 loss to Norway and a 2-2 draw against Greece.
Viktor Gyokeres was again on target against the Greeks and although Alexander Isak is back, the Arsenal man remains Sweden's biggest threat.
The striker ended a 492-day international drought by scoring a hat-trick in the victory over Ukraine before netting the winner against Poland.
Gyokeres's presence raises expectations for goals in Monterrey, where an exciting encounter is on the cards.
Viktor Gyokeres anytime goalscorer @13/10
Score prediction: Sweden 2-2 Tunisia
