A week of World Cup group games is now complete, and matchday 7 was full of 1-0 results for the favorites: Spain over Iran, Uruguay over Saudi Arabia and Portugal over Morocco.
Here’s a look at the betting results from Wednesday.
Match #20: Spain vs. Iran (Group B)
Result: Spain 1-0 Iran
Moneyline: Spain -490
Spread: Iran +1.5 (+125)
Total: Under 2.5 (+106)
Spain thoroughly dominated possession the entire match, but Iran had their chances and even thought they had scored a historic goal to tie it 1-1 at one point.
Sometimes luck is all you kneed.
(we’ll see ourselves out) pic.twitter.com/B6arwyukFU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2018
Diego Costa was the +290 favorite to score the game’s first goal and it didn’t matter how pretty it was.
Iran will still have a chance to advance as they play Portugal in the final group match. Spain will play Morocco, who have already been eliminated.
Match #19: Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia (Group A)
Result: Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia
Moneyline: Uruguay -425
Spread: Saudi Arabia +2 (-140)
Total: Under 3 (-140)
Uruguay capitalized on a Saudi Arabia mistake through Luis Suarez in the first half to go up 1-0 and held on for the much-needed victory.
Luis Suarez taps it home!
The ball lands at his feet on the corner and he taps it home to give Uruguay a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/gsBC1qFq5Y
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2018
Saudi Arabia played much better than they did in their opening match, but they’ve now been eliminated along with Egypt.
Uruguay and Russia have advanced to the Round of 16; it’s just a matter of who will be 1st/2nd in Group A. The two teams meet in the final group match on Monday, June 25 to decide the group winner, and Uruguay are the slight +150 favorites (Russia +226, Draw +201).
Uruguay were -600 to advance and -140 to win Group A, while Russia were -275 to advance and +200 to win Group A.
Match #18: Portugal vs. Morocco (Group B)
Result: Portugal 1-0 Morocco
Moneyline: Portugal -153
Spread: Portugal -0.5 (-153)
Total: Under 2.5 (-135)
The first match of the day was an agonizing one for Morocco fans/bettors as they just couldn’t find the goal or two they needed. Portugal went up 1-0 in the fourth minute on a header by Cristiano Ronaldo but never got much going, and they were outplayed by Morocco for big chunks of the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo does it again!
He heads home the corner to put Portugal up 1-0 early against Morocco. pic.twitter.com/FDoyvInvt4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2018
Despite the overall advantage for Morocco, they were shut out yet again and are now eliminated from getting to the Round of 16.
All three favorites ended up winning today but none looked particularly great in their matches.
All three favorites to score the first goal cashed (Ronaldo +225, Suarez +225, Costa +290).
