Chile to Top FIFA Confederations Cup Group B

Chile’s firepower combined with Germany’s experimental squad and the rosters of both Australia and Cameroon being below the necessary standard to challenge means that backing the CONMEBOL Copa America champion to top Group B is the best way to tackle betting on the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The 10th edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup will kick off in Russia on Saturday and the dress rehearsal for next year’s FIFA World Cup in the same country lacks strength in depth, particularly in Group B. Germany’s squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup features no players with more than 30 caps and more than half of its roster has not gone into double digits for national team appearances. Of course, Germany’s second stringers are better than the headliners of most countries but clearly its coach, Joachim Low, is using the FIFA Confederations Cup to provide untested players with a tournament opportunity. Only three members of Germany’s FIFA World Cup-winning squad are among its 21-man FIFA Confederations Cup roster – Diego Demme and Leroy Sane withdrew due to injury and have not been replaced even though Low could have called up players in their stead.

Australia is struggling to qualify for the FIFA World Cup because the AFC Asian Cup champion’s current squad is short of genuine world-class performers – that the Socceroos are still reliant on 37-year-old Tim Cahill for goals is a damning indictment on them.

It is five years since Cahill left English Premier League team Everton and since then he has earned millions playing for New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua, Hangzhou Greentown and Melbourne City in divisions that are second rate at best. And, like Australia, Cameroon is making hard work of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup even though it is the CAF Africa Cup of Nations champion. Cameroon’s most experienced player, Vincent Aboubakar, is a genuine handful up front but none of the Indomitable Lions plays for one of the big sides in the big European leagues.

With Australia and Cameroon looking out of their depth in FIFA Confederations Cup Group B, the battle for top spot should boil down to a straight fight between Chile and Germany. One thinks that Chile, the CONMEBOL Copa America champion with a reputation for attacking football, is more likely to put the cleaners through Australia and Cameroon than Germany so, in the event of a FIFA Confederations Cup Group B tie, the Red One has an excellent chance of being on the right side of the goal difference argument.

The chances are that Chile may only need a draw against Germany to end up as the FIFA Confederations Cup Group B winner and, therefore, the Red One has to be the section bet at odds of 2.70Bet €100 to win €27017/10Bet £100 to win £270+170Bet $100 to win $2701.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$2701.70Bet Rp100 to win Rp270-0.5882Bet RM100 to win RM270  with Betfair and Paddy Power – one’s view is that the pool should have a couple of joint favourites. If you are the greedy type then you could bet on Chile and Germany finishing first and second respectively in FIFA Confederations Cup Group B at odds of 3.25Bet €100 to win €3259/4Bet £100 to win £325+225Bet $100 to win $3252.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$3252.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp325-0.4444Bet RM100 to win RM325  with SkyBet.

With regards to the first batch of FIFA Confederations Cup matches, doubling Chile to beat Cameroon and Germany to beat Australia appeals – the multiple bet pays 2.35Bet €100 to win €23527/20Bet £100 to win £235+135Bet $100 to win $2351.35Bet HK$100 to win HK$2351.35Bet Rp100 to win Rp235-0.7407Bet RM100 to win RM235  with 188Bet. Chile was leading Romania 2-1 away from home when Gary Medel received his marching orders last week, whereas Cameroon was 0-2 down to Colombia on neutral territory when Robert Tambe saw red on the same day. There is nothing nice to say about Australia’s recent displays, the latest of which resulted in a 0-4 home loss to Brazil. The previous week, Australia had been outplayed at home to Saudi Arabia, the Socceroos only winning by virtue of a calamitous goalkeeper error. Germany, even at less than full strength, should be far too good for Australia based on the quality of their respective rosters.

Tips Summary

Chile to win group B, Confederations Cup
Starts Saturday 17th June
Odds: 2.70Bet €100 to win €27017/10Bet £100 to win £270+170Bet $100 to win $2701.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$2701.70Bet Rp100 to win Rp270-0.5882Bet RM100 to win RM270

Double – Chile and Germany to win opening matches
Cameroon v Chile – Sunday 18th June, 19:00 GMT
Australia v Germany – Monday 19th June, 16:00 GMT
Odds: 2.35Bet €100 to win €23527/20Bet £100 to win £235+135Bet $100 to win $2351.35Bet HK$100 to win HK$2351.35Bet Rp100 to win Rp235-0.7407Bet RM100 to win RM235