PrepFriday, June 26

Top of the Table Showdowns: France and Norway clash for Group I supremacy while Spain eyes knockout berth

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Six matches across three groups today with qualification on the line, headlined by a Group I top-of-the-table thriller between unbeaten heavyweights France and Norway, and Spain looking to seal progression against Uruguay in Group H.

The pool is all-in on the favourites today—60 of 74 backed France over Norway despite the Scandinavians' perfect record, 52 picked Spain to down Uruguay, and 68 expect Belgium to finally show up against New Zealand—but Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia has split the room down the middle with 31 backing the Green Falcons and only 14 on the islanders.

France vs Norway: Six Points, One Knockout Spot

Both sides sit on maximum points with identical 2-0 records, but only one can guarantee Round of 16 passage tonight. France lead on goal difference (+5 to +4) and the bookmakers make them clear favourites despite Norway's perfect start, with Les Bleus priced around 1.70 to win according to major European bookmakers. Kylian Mbappé has been in electric form with three goals already, while Erling Haaland counters with four of his own for the Norwegians. Martin Ødegaard's creativity will be key to unlocking a French backline that has yet to concede, but Didier Deschamps' side boast both the pedigree and the firepower. The pool overwhelmingly backs France—60 of 74 picked them to win, with 2-1 the most popular scoreline—but two brave souls are backing the Nordic upset.

Senegal vs Iraq: Desperation Derby

Both teams are winless and pointless after two matches, turning this into a straight knockout: lose and you're almost certainly heading home. Senegal, despite missing the injured Sadio Mané, are heavy favourites with the bookies pricing them around 1.40, and the pool agrees emphatically—71 of 74 picked the Lions of Teranga, with 2-0 the consensus scoreline. Iraq's defence has been porous, conceding six in two matches, and manager Jesús Casas is reportedly shuffling his backline. For Senegal, Ismaïla Sarr and Boulaye Dia need to convert chances after profligacy cost them in their opening fixtures. A win here keeps faint hopes alive; anything less and Group I becomes a two-horse race.

Uruguay vs Spain: La Roja Can Clinch

Spain sit top of Group H on four points and can secure knockout qualification with any result tonight, while Uruguay (two points) need a win to control their own destiny. The bookmakers fancy Spain heavily despite the South Americans' home advantage, with La Roja priced around 2.10 to win and Uruguay out at 3.50 according to leading sportsbooks. Luis de la Fuente's side have looked imperious, scoring five and conceding just one, with young wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal terrorizing defences. Uruguay will counter with the physical presence of Darwin Núñez and the guile of Federico Valverde in midfield, but their defence has looked shaky. The pool backs Spain overwhelmingly—52 of 74 picked them to win, with 1-2 the favourite scoreline—while just one solitary soul believes Uruguay can pull off the upset at home.

The Undercard: Belgium Must Deliver, Cape Verde-Saudi Too Close to Call

Belgium's golden generation faces a must-win against New Zealand after underwhelming through two matches, and the pool expects nothing less—68 of 74 picked the Red Devils, with 0-2 the consensus. Kevin De Bruyne needs to orchestrate, and Romelu Lukaku must rediscover his scoring boots against a New Zealand side that has battled hard but sits bottom on one point. Bookmakers make Belgium heavy favourites at around 1.35. Meanwhile, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia is the day's genuine toss-up: both sit on two points in Group H, and the pool is perfectly split with 31 backing Saudi Arabia, 29 predicting a draw, and just 14 on Cape Verde. The Green Falcons are slight favourites with bookies around 2.30, but Cape Verde's resilience—they held Uruguay to a draw—suggests the 1-1 scoreline 24 of you predicted might be the smartest call. In Group G's other fixture, Egypt can clinch with any result against Iran, and 36 of you backed the Pharaohs while 29 hedged with a draw.

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