Back Switzerland and Canada for the forecast

It’s no surprise that Switzerland are clear favourites to top the group at odds of 8/11 with bet365. Their task was made far easier when Bosnia & Herzegovina defeated Italy on penalties in the Uefa play-off in March, as there’s no debating which of the two teams they would prefer to have played.

Considering that their three opponents have a combined record of 11 defeats and one victory from 12 matches at the tournament, anything other than finishing top would be hugely disappointing.

Canada have lost all six of their previous matches, while Qatar also have a 100 per cent losing record after three group defeats as hosts in 2022. Only Bosnia & Herzegovina know what it’s like to win a match here, having beaten Iran 3-1 in 2014, although both teams had already been eliminated.

Switzerland, on the other hand, are used to playing in the latter stages of major tournaments. They were a penalty shoot-out away from reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024 and have played in the round of 16 at four of the past five World Cups.

The extended tournament gives them the opportunity to finally win a knockout match. By topping Group B, they will face a third-placed qualifier from Group E, F, G, I or J, and they would be odds-on to win that.

It’s very difficult to ignore their pedigree. Switzerland have top players such as Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo and Denis Zakaria, who should have more than enough ability to finish top, as they did in their qualifying group, conceding just twice in six games, of which they won four.

I’m backing them to qualify for the last 32 in first place, with co-hosts Canada as runners-up.

Although Canada have never picked up a point at this tournament previously, they will never have a better chance to reach the knockout stages than they do this summer.

They have the advantage of playing three times on home soil. Alphonso Davies is one of the most talented players at the tournament and they can also count on the likes of Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan.

Punters can back a straight forecast of Switzerland and Canada at 2/1, which is fairly generous in my opinion.