It’s a truly magnificent weekend of World Cup football, kicking off with the pick of the group stage games: Portugal versus Spain, at 7pm on Friday on BBC One.

There aren’t many worse ways to prepare for a tournament than firing your manager 2 days before your first game. Yet that’s exactly what Spain have down, ousting Julen Lopetegui after he announced he would be taking over at Real Madrid post-World Cup, with the legendary Fernando Hierro stepping in at last minute. Still, it hasn’t massively hurt Spain’s chances; they still have the 3rd best Outright Index spread at 38-41.



As for Euro champs Portugal, an ageing squad has left them a bit lower down that Outright Index list, at 22-25. However any side that includes Cristiano Ronaldo can’t be counted out, with the Real ace at a Super Mega PGM spread of 32-38. In terms of the fixture itself, managerial disarray hasn’t taken away the Spaniards’ edge, with Spreadex offering a Spain/Portugal Goal Supremacy spread of 0.3-0.5 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.25-2.45.

Turning to Saturday and France raise the curtain on their campaign against Australia at 11am on BBC One. With Antoine Griezmann, at a Super Mega PGM of 62-72, Olivier Giroud, at 47-55, and Kylian Mbappe, at 36-42, Didier Deschamps is spoilt for choice going forwards, and will be looking for a big haul against the Aussies at the weekend.



Australia required an AFC-CONCACAF play-off to reach Russia, beating Honduras 3-1 over 2 legs. That’s hardly the best competitive record going into a World Cup, and Tim Cahill and co. may struggle against the attacking nous of the French, with Spreadex offering a France/Australia Goal Supremacy spread of 1.75-1.95 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.75-2.95.

A few hours later and Argentina will try and avoid doing an England when they face Iceland at 2pm on ITV 1. Though they eventually came 3rd in CONMEBOL qualification, Argentina’s place in the World Cup wasn’t always guaranteed, the country finishing 13 points behind Brazil and only 2 ahead of Chile, who missed out on the trip to Russia. Now they’re there, however, it’s hard not to salivate at the twin-mights of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, who sit at Super Mega PGMs of 61-71 and 46-54 respectively.



For Iceland it’s a World Cup baptism of fire, and the debutants face an uphill battle to not to melt in front of Messi and co. Granted, they did top their qualification group ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey, so they’ve got it in them. It’s just, what they’ve got might not be enough, with Spreadex offering an Argentina/Iceland Goal Supremacy spread of 1.45-1.65 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.6-2.8.

Sunday then brings out the REAL big guns, as Germany start their defence against Mexico at 4pm on BBC One. Of course Germany are one of the favourites. They humiliated Brazil on route to the final in 2014, before making Messi cry by beating Argentina in Rio. And though they fluffed their lines at the 2016 Euros, their World Cup qualification campaign was flawless, winning all 10 games while conceding just 4! In other words, their Outright Index spread of 40-44 and fixed odds price of 5/1 are well deserved.



Though Mexico certainly aren’t a bunch of no-hopers, it’s hard to see West Ham’s Javier Hernandez, who has a Super Mega PGM of 13-17, stacking up against the likes of Timo Werner, Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller. That’s why it’s no surprise that the defending champions are at a Germany/Mexico Goal Supremacy spread of 1.1-1.3 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.75-2.95.

Finally Brazil will be seeking to erase 2014 from their minds when they battle Switzerland at 7pm on ITV 1. At an Outright Index spread of 43-47, a fixed odds price of 4/1, and with Neymar at 9/1 to win the Golden Boot, it’s safe to say the 5 time World Cup winners will be confident heading into their opener against the Swiss. They absolutely stormed qualification, and have a point to prove after the bitter disappointment of the last tournament.



Switzerland were actually very impressive during qualification, finishing behind Portugal on goal difference alone in Group B, before beating Northern Ireland 1-0 in the play-odds. However, that doesn’t really mean much against Brazil’s achievements, with Spreadex offering a Brazil/Switzerland Goal supremacy spread of 1.25-1.45 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.65-2.85.