Danny Murphy has previewed the World Cup for Betway, and for anyone looking to bet on the tournament it’s a must-read, especially if you’re considering backing England.
The former Fulham midfielder’s take on World Cup betting is about as subtle as you’d expect from a man who’s made a career uniting midfields.
First he addressed the squad that Gareth Southgate had taken to Qatar. One of the main controversies facing the England manager was that surrounding James Maddison, who had played well for an extended period but did not seem to have the time to force him back into the Southgate plans.
The England manager has been strong under pressure, and in this case he selected the attacking midfielder, but it didn’t feel like a populist decision. He held his own in other areas, so Maddison’s call-up felt deserved, and Murphy was delighted to see a creative wild card added to the mix.
His prediction for Group B was that England would go through, but it’s clear he’s also a big fan of the US team playing in Qatar. He called them
“young, hungry and super fit”.
He focused on his incredible fitness levels, something that regularly impresses American players at major tournaments, but also noted the increasing amount of Premier League experience his team carries.
That includes Chelsea man Christian Pulisic, who has a point to prove not only for his country, having missed out on the last World Cup, but also for the Blues fans who have largely given up on him being the player they expected him to be.
Imagine how much he’d like to hit the English fans who don’t qualify him with a goal against them for the USA.
Ultimately, when it comes to predicting how well the Three Lions would do in the tournament, Murphy comes in with the kind of balanced opinion you’d expect from a solid pundit like him. His prediction, that England will reach the semi-finals but not advance any further, is quite accurate with what the bookies have done to them.
Southgate’s team already exceeded their prediction for the score in the first game, as they defeated Iran 6-2 instead of the 3-0 Murphy suggested.
Could they also beat their modest prediction of their final position? You can back them up with decent odds to reach the final at the bookmakers if you think so.
