PrepWednesday, June 17

Austria Delivers; Portugal, England, and Colombia Heavy Favourites Today

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Austria's 3-1 win over Jordan kicked off the day as expected, and now Portugal face DR Congo as overwhelming favourites before England meet Croatia in a cautious Group L opener and Colombia take on Uzbekistan.

The pool is remarkably aligned with the bookmakers today: 70 of 74 backed Portugal, 69 picked Colombia, and 55 chose Ghana—all matching the market favourites—but England-Croatia split the room with 40 calling an England win and 30 predicting a draw, suggesting more doubt than the odds imply.

Austria 3-1 Jordan: Pool Nails the Winner, Misses the Scoreline

Austria's comfortable victory over Jordan this morning puts them second in Group J on goal difference behind Argentina, who thrashed Algeria 4-1 yesterday. Both sides sit on three points after Matchday 1, meaning any win in their next fixtures will likely secure qualification to the Round of 32. Austria were clear favourites and 63 of 74 poolsters called it, though only two nailed the 3-1 scoreline—most expected a tighter 2-0 or 1-0. Jordan and Algeria now face must-win scenarios in their remaining matches to have any hope of advancing.

Portugal vs DR Congo (1pm ET): Ronaldo's Portugal Overwhelming Favourites

Portugal open Group K as heavy favourites against DR Congo, with bookmakers pricing them around 1.20-1.25 to win according to major sportsbooks. The pool is nearly unanimous: 70 of 74 picked Portugal, with 25 going for 3-0 and another 16 for 2-0. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, is expected to start and chase more World Cup history, while Rafael Leão and Bruno Fernandes anchor a star-studded attack. DR Congo, ranked outside the top 60, upset Ghana in qualifying but face a massive step up in class. A Portugal win would put them in pole position to top the group, especially with Colombia facing Uzbekistan later tonight.

England vs Croatia (4pm ET): Cagey Opener Expected in Group L Rematch

England and Croatia renew their rivalry in a Group L opener that has the pool split: 40 backed England, but 30 predict a draw—the most cautious call of the day. Betting markets narrowly favour England at around 2.10-2.20, with the draw at 3.20-3.40, per mainstream odds aggregators. Harry Kane leads the line for England, while Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice control midfield, but Gareth Southgate's side often start tournaments slowly. Croatia, semifinalists in 2018 and 2022, remain dangerous with Luka Modrić orchestrating at 40 and a battle-hardened defence. With Ghana facing Panama in the late match, both England and Croatia know a draw keeps things tight but a win puts them in control—21 poolsters called 1-1, sensing conservatism.

Ghana vs Panama (7pm ET) & Uzbekistan vs Colombia (10pm ET): Pool Backs the Favourites

Ghana are favourites against Panama with 55 of 74 pool picks, most expecting a narrow 1-0 or 2-1 win. The Black Stars boast Premier League talent in Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey, while Panama—surprise qualifiers from CONCACAF—are heavy underdogs. Betting odds reflect this, with Ghana priced around 1.70-1.80. The night closes with Uzbekistan hosting Colombia in Group K's second fixture, and the pool is nearly unanimous: 69 of 74 picked Colombia, with 25 going 0-2 and 17 calling 1-2. Colombia, ranked in the top 15 by FIFA and coming off a strong qualifying campaign led by Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, are clear favourites at approximately 1.50 against the Central Asian underdogs. A Colombia win would set up a decisive clash with Portugal for group supremacy.

▸Sources (32)