The Best Bet: Back a drab affair in Sweden vs South Korea

After Mexico’s 1-0 win over world champions Germany on Sunday, both Sweden and South Korea are acutely aware that victory will stand them in good stead in their bid to progress from Group F. 

However, in the second match of this group, it’s difficult to get your hopes up in what is, to many, expected to be the dullest game of the Russia 2018. For all of their attacking talent, neither side excels going forward, though Sweden’s steadfast backline means South Korea, despite the offensive personnel of Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, are tipped to struggle. 

As Sweden proved in the qualifying double-header playoff with Italy, one chance is all they need to win, with the backline, marshaled excellently by Andreas Granqvist, as solid as they come. That being said, Sweden haven’t won a game since defeating Italy 1-0 and haven’t scored more than one goal in a match since trouncing Luxembourg 8-0 last October. 

South Korea have won only one of their last six matches ahead of today’s meeting in what is unlikely to reward viewers with an entertaining affair between two underwhelming sides. 

With the lack of credible goalscoring threat in the Sweden ranks, but a sold backline capable of shutting South Korea out, there is value in the over/under market for this Group F match. Indeed, we’re backing Sweden to nick it 1-0 in our match preview and under 1.5 goals in this game can be found as high as 2.83 on Marathon Bet. 

In Viktor Claesson and Emil Forsberg, Sweden at least have two top quality wingers capable of stretching opponents, but Marcus Berg and Ola Toivonen hardly inspire confidence in the attacking third. This is unlikely to be a match that sets the competition alight, but as seen above, there is trade potential in backing a drab affair between these two.