There’s 12 months until the World Cup in Russia and football games at the Confederations Cup may well offer an indication of what’s to come next summer.
The format is simple: eight teams have qualified for this tournament, either as world champions, champions of their particular regions or as host of the next World Cup.
But in what will almost certainly be used as a ‘dummy run’ for organisers ahead of 2018, will the results over the next fortnight act as an indication for sports betting fans?
The betting odds in these opening Group B matches suggest so.
Take Cameroon vs Chile.
After being crowned surprise winners of the Africa Cup of Nations in January, it will surprise a few that manager Hugo Broos and his team are backed at 1X2 Cameroon @ 4.80.
The African champions will certainly be out to prove critics they were wrong to tip them as outsiders but internal wrangles cannot help their mood.
Their opening opponents, La Roja, may be the South American champions but their recent away record is far from impressive, failing to win any of their last five World Cup qualifiers on the road.
Despite this, they have a high-tempo, high-pressing style which can be difficult to tame and some consider Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side and their so-called golden generation as favourites to win Group B.
Certainly, the odds of Asian Handicap: -1.00 Chile @ 2.23 show they’re favourites to win this one.
Perhaps they’re favourites to win the group, too, especially as Germany boss Joachim Low has selected an experimental squad.
Only six of the squad were at Euro 2016 last summer and just three survive from the 2014World Cup success in Brazil so the selected guys are relatively is inexperienced at this level.
Indeed, only Julian Draxler and Jonas Hector have won more than 20 caps each.
You write off the Germans at your peril, of course, and the world champions retain top-level quality.
Australia have qualified as champions of Asia and the Socceroos’ first appearance in this tournament in 12 years could be short-lived, judging by their odds for this clash – 1X2 Australia @ 7.20, while the Germans are tipped for a strong start First Half Asian Handicap:-0.75 Germany @ 2.38.
While this tournament may not make headlines all around the world, the world will be watching to see how Russia fares in its dress rehearsal.
And with a three-step plan being trialled, designed to stop discrimination – referees will have authority to stop and abandon games in the event of discriminatory behaviour – we may see more than a glimpse of next summer!
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
