The World Cup has a huge amount of betting opportunity and Star Sports have you covered this winter with a wide range of specials!
2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup
20th November – 18th December
Qatar
Opening Game: Qatar v Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Final: 18th December, Lusail Iconic Stadium
All Fixtures Live on BBC and ITV, including online platforms
Top Goalscorer
Harry Kane is the current starsports.bet favourite to finish this winter’s World Cup in Qatar as top goalscorer, repeating the feat he achieved at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Kane is absolutely still one of the best striker in the world and hasn’t exactly had a bad first half of the season with Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 12 goals in 15 Premier League appearances. However, with Spurs boss Antonio Conte recently admitting that his star striker is showing signs of fatigue – coupled with England’s form heading into the tournament – a Russian repeat may prove tricky.
At 14/1, Neymar looks appealing. There are very few – if any – easy games at the World Cup, but Brazil will have been relatively pleased with the group they’ve been handed for the upcoming World Cup (Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon). They should progress comfortably and there could be a few goals in it for Brazil’s forwards – Neymar in particular – and they should go deep into the tournament as well.
In terms of sheer depth, France’s attack looks the most impressive and exciting at the tournament. In Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe, France are capable of forming the most devastating duo in world football. As much as there are some doubts over Les Bleus in Qatar, it’s probably an idea to get a French forward on side and – after the year he’s had with winning the Champions League and Ballon D’or – Benzema could be the man.
This is a very unique World Cup in that it is taking place in the winter and midway through the 2022/23 domestic football calendar. That might mean that form plays a bigger role than ever before at this tournament so it’s worth having a look at some of the forwards who are in red-hot form heading into the searing heat of the Middle East.
After a tough start to life in the Premier League with Liverpool, Darwin Nunez is a man that now falls into that category with seven goals in his last 10 outings in all competitions and starsports.bet are offering 33/1 for him to finish the tournament as top goalscorer.
Past Top Scorers:
2018 (Russia): Harry Kane (England) – 6
2014 (Brazil): James Rodríguez (Colombia) – 6
2010 (South Africa): Thomas Müller, Germany*, Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands) & David Villa (Spain) – 5
*Of all players to have scored five goals during the tournament, Müller had the most assists (three)
2006 (Germany): Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 5
2002 (Japan and South Korea): Ronaldo (Brazil) – 8
Golden Ball Winner
It will be surprising to no one that Lionel Messi – regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time – is the current starsports.bet favourite at 17/2 as he prepares for his final ever World Cup and his last chance to achieve greatness with Argentina.
Wherever he plays, wherever he goes, Messi is always likely to be instrumental. He has put a rocky first season in Ligue 1 behind this term and has looked back to his exceptional best for PSG in the first half of this campaign. If Argentina are to go well at this World Cup, as looks likely, Messi will be at the heart of that and looks a safe bet for Golden Ball for that reason.
Despite being the favourite, Messi looks like a good pick as he is accompanied by one of the strongest Argentina squads he’s played with and fresh off the back of his success at the Copa America.
In one of the most inspiring comeback stories in sporting history, Christian Eriksen is set to return to the international stage with Denmark at this winter’s World Cup and he has been added to the staking plan at a very persuasive 50/1.
It will be a heart-warming story to see him back after the near-tragedy of EURO 2020 where he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch and he is likely to be a key cog in a Denmark side that could go deep into the tournament – is that a combination that sees him as a contender for the Golden Ball?
Past Golden Ball Winners:
2018 (Russia): Luka Modric (Croatia)
2014 (Brazil): Lionel Messi (Argentina
2010 (South Africa): Diego Folan (Uruguay)
2006 (Germany): Zinedine Zidane (France)
2002 (South Korea & Japan): Oliver Khan (Germany)
1998 (France): Ronaldo (Brazil)
Golden Glove Winner
The Golden Glove award, originally known as the Lev Yashin award, has been handed out to the most outstanding goalkeeper at the World Cup since its inception in 1994. Thibaut Courtois of Belgium was the most recent winner of the accolade at the Russia World Cup in 2018 – who will win it in 2022?
Alisson is the starsports.bet favourite and it is not hard to see why. You just have to look at his most recent performance for Liverpool, an outstanding display where he pulled off a number of big saves against Fulham, to know what a top-class shot-stopper he is.
When analysing the previous winners of this award, it is clear that it helps to be a big name and also be part of a team that goes deep into the tournament. Alisson certainly ticks both of those boxes.
This market isn’t short of appealing options. Courtois becoming the first goalkeeper to regain the award at 11/2 looks tempting as does Emiliano Martinez at 7/1 after he was so pivotal to Argentina’s Copa America win last year. But, in the form he is in and at a reasonable price, it is hard to look past Alisson.
Goalscoring Pairs
Lautaro Martinez & Darwin Nunez looks a value pairing. Martinez matched Messi’s seven goals in World Cup qualifying (with five of the seven in 2021 onwards) and his record of 21 goals in 40 games for Argentina is impressive. A scorer against Italy in the Finallisma, he’s also bagged 25 goals in 49 games for Inter in 21/22, keeping his scoring record up despite domestic struggles for Inter.
Darwin Nunez struggled to adapt to English football initially but he’s finding the net for Liverpool, scoring six goals in his last ten games, and if he gets a spot upfront for Uruguay then his group gives him a chance of improving that record. Having played in friendlies against Iran and Canada, hopes should be high that he can start in a group where Uruguay are favourites to beat South Korea and Ghana.
All Star Goalscorer Pairs:
Memphis Depay & Kai Havertz – 5/1
Neymar & Alvaro Morata – 6/1
Kylian Mbappe & Gareth Bale – 13/2
Lionel Messi & Luis Suarez – 13/2
Harry Kane & Heung-Min Son – 7/1
Karim Benzema & Raheem Sterling – 7/1
Serge Gnabry & Alkesander Mitrovic – 7/1
Vinicius Jnr & Robert Lewandowski – 7/1
Lautaro Martinez & Darwin Nunez – 8/1
Cristiano Ronaldo & Kevin De Bruyne – 17/2
Highest Scoring Team
The first thing to note is that whilst the winning side hasn’t always won this award – Germany and Brazil managed to double up in 2014 and 2002 – to harbour serious hopes of taking this, you need to reach the semi-finals at least, and a soft group game on paper at least doesn’t hurt your chances either. The semi-finalists in Russia filled the first four spots and they filled three of the first four spots home in Brazil, the exception being Colombia who were enjoying the brilliance of James Rodriguez.
Brazil are understandable 4/1 favourites but their group of Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon looks harder than Argentina’s section of Mexico, Poland (conceded 10 goals in European qualifying) and Saudi Arabia. A last 16 tie against either France or Denmark would be tricky (although potentially high scoring, as it was when they went down 4-3 in the last 16 to France last time).
Their Quarter Final would be against the winner of Match 49, which is played between the Group A winners (Qatar, Senegal, Netherlands and Ecuador) and runners-up of Group B (England, USA, Iran and Scotland/Wales/Ukraine).
The chance of Argentina reaching a higher goals tally than Brazil before the semis, where goals usually dry up, look reasonable and with Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez in fine form they can get amongst the goals.
France have the attacking quality to rack up a big total somewhere but Didier Deschamps’ side come here with something to prove after a lacklustre year and may be opposable in the knockouts. England have struggled for goals all year and can be more conservative minded, whilst Spain – for all they have the talent to go very far – they scored only 15 goals in a group containing Kosovo, Georgia, Greece and Sweden.
Germany have to face Spain in the group stages and don’t have one outstanding forward, but Hansi Flick has got his side purring and with six players scoring three or more goals during their qualifying campaign. Admittedly that was a soft group which they took apart, but they scored 11 goals in their Nations League group despite finishing only third and they will be strong favourites against Japan and Costa Rica.
The Netherlands also make strong appeal with a five goal start here. They were the top scorers at the group stages of last year’s Euros before their surprise exit at the last 16 stage, scored 33 goals when winning their qualification group and landed the most goals in their Nations League group against Belgium, Poland and Wales. There should be plenty of opportunities against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar, and they should have no fear against England, the USA, Iran and Wales in Round 16 if they qualify from a group they’re odds on to win.
Highest Scoring Team (Past World Cups):
2018 (Russia): Belgium – 16
2014 (Brazil): Germany – 18
2010 (South Africa): Germany – 16
2006 (Germany): Germany – 14
2002 (Japan and South Korea): – Brazil (18)
Goals Scored Handicap (Penalty Shoot-outs do not count)
This could be a value way to support a leading contender. There are thirteen goals between Brazil and the outsiders – in 2018 there was 14 goals between the winner and the last placed sides in competition, and in 2014 that gap was 17, albeit with Germany’s thrashing of Brazil extending their tally.
A five goal start feels generous for the Netherlands considering the price they are for their group, and the potential to make the quarter-finals at least.
Which Premier League Team’s Players Will Score The Most Goals?
With the most players (16) at the tournament, it’s understandable that Manchester City are favourites. However, a deeper look would suggest that a number of their players are not obvious goalscorers. Half of the city players headed to Qatar are defenders whilst a further five are midfielders, and for all that İlkay Gündoğan, Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva can get forward and score goals, they look to be the outliers – especially if Julian Alvarez is second fiddle to Lautaro Martinez for Argentina.
Chelsea’s position as second favourites is understandable given that Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech are all going, but they have struggled for form recently and goals could be in short supply for all but Havertz.
It could be worth backing Manchester United at 11/2. This would be taking a chance on the goalscoring form of Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes and especially Cristiano Ronaldo but all have a group which should allow them to create chances. Key defenders Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire are also header threats and if this contest is relatively low scoring – a possibility given how many notable Premier League stars are missing the tournament or staying at home – then United could give a decent run for your money.
Many will like Tottenham’s chances with Harry Kane, Richarlison and Son but England are struggling for chances, Richarlison faces huge competition with Brazil and Son is up against it to make the group stages. Darwin Nunez is Liverpool’s only forward of note in Qatar so Arsenal are of more interest but their entire challenge is carried by Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
Winner and Top Goalscorer Double
Brazil and Neymar along with Argentina and Neymar should be lots of fun if all goes to plan at 25/1 and 66/1 respectively.
WILLIAM KEDJANYI & JOE CITRONE
Star Sports are running a number of offers during the World Cup, one of which being our popular Two Good offer where we will pay your bet out as a winner if your team goes two goals up at any stage of the match!
RECOMMENDED BETS
Top Goalscorer:
BACK Neymar 2pts at 14/1 (Latest Star Price
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BACK Karim Benzema 1pt at 14/1 (Latest Star Price
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BACK Darwin Nunez 0.5pt at 33/1 (Latest Star Price
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Golden Ball Winner:
BACK Lionel Messi 3pts at 17/2 (Latest Star Price
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BACK Christian Eriksen 0.5pt at 50/1 (Latest Star Price
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Golden Glove Winner:
BACK Alisson 2pts at 4/1 (Latest Star Price
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Goalscoring Pairs:
BACK Lautaro Martinez & Darwin Nunez 2pts at 7/1 (Latest Star Price
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Highest Scoring Team Of The Tournament:
BACK Argentina 2pts at 5/1 (Latest Star Price
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BACK Germany 1pt at 15/2 (Latest Star Price
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BACK Netherlands 1pt at 10/1 (Latest Star Price
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Team Goals Scored Handicap:
BACK Netherlands 1pt each/way at 20/1 (Latest Star Price
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Which Premier League Team’s Players Will Score The Most Goals:
BACK Manchester United 1pt at 11/2 (Latest Star Price
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Winner and Top Goalscorer Double:
BACK Brazil and Neymar 1pt at 25/1 (Latest Star Price
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BACK Argentina and Neymar 1pt at 66/1 (Latest Star Price
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PROFIT/LOSS (NOV 2022): PROFIT +17.04 points
(Excluding ante-post recommendations CLICK HERE)
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