After a four year wait, the World Cup finally returns and this year Russia would be the host. This game is not the most outstanding opener to a competition, but it looks like it would be a close game between not very good teams. The host are the lowest FIFA ranked team in this competition and they face Saudi Arabia who are only three place above them in that ranking. The Russians also have a really poor recent record as they start this World Cup with no win since October, they have lost 4 and drew 3 of seven fixtures since that time. Saudi Arabia may be just three places better than Russia in the latest FIFA rankings, but they have performed better in their most recent games. They lost 2-1 to Italy, succumbed to a 3-0 loss at the hands of Peru, but they did impress in their last game against Germany even though they ended as losers by 2-1. Saudi Arabia have won just two of their last 11 games, however, they have what might be considered an advantage as 11 of their 23 players play in the same team – Al Hillal, this would offer them more understanding on the field of play. The only previous meeting between these two nations ended 4-2 to Russia back in a 1993 friendly clash.

Santos head into this game after a positive week and they would be looking to get yet another good result here as Internacional visits them. Just a week ago, it appeared as if Jair Ventura would lose his job as Santos manager after a really poor start to the season. But his players have relieved some of the pressure by beating Victoria 5-2 before earning a respectable 1-1 draw against Corinthians in their last game. The hosts are still 15th on the league table, although they have a game in hand. A poor result in this game could see the fans turn on the manager again, and that would be on the minds of their players when they take to the field in this game. Internacional, on the other hand, have made a strong return to the top flight after playing last season in the Brazilian second division. They currently have 16 points from ten games and they would be eager to make that better in this game. Internacional are, however, not the best travellers as they have won just one in seven away games, and four of those matches have ended in defeats for them. The sides last met in 2016, with Santos beating Internacional 2-1 in their home leg of a Brazilian Cup clash but eventually going out after losing 2-0 away from home.  

Vancouver Whitecaps did not compete in the midweek US Open Cup and that may have given them some more time to rest, nevertheless, they would have preferred to play a lesser opposition in this game as they try to regain some confidence. The Whitecaps managed to get a win away from home against the Colorado Rapids the last time out, however, before that match, they were winless in five games and although four of those games ended in draws, they would still be disappointed by how they have started the 2018 season. Whitecaps finished 3rd in the Western Conference last season, but they are currently sixth and they have played a game more than all the teams above them. Orlando City played Miami United in midweek and they would have been happy to get a much-needed win after coming out of the game victors by 3-0. That win brought to an end a run of four successive losses and they would now be looking to get their first MLS win in five games. Orlando were on a 6 games winning streak before they started losing and lost four straight. They come into this game, 6th on the Eastern Conference table and they need a win here to lift their spirits. Vancouver Whitecaps have won two and drawn one of their three meetings with Orlando City, with their only previous clash at the BC Place Stadium ending 2-2 in July 2016.

This is Brazil’s last warm-up game before the World Cup and they would be looking to head to Russia on a high. More importantly, they would be keen to avoid another injury before the competition begins. Austria have a free summer having failed to qualify for the World Cup and they have less need to avoid injuries, they would be looking to build on their good recent run of form in this game. The World Cup would have been great with the likes of David Alaba, and Marko Arnautovic playing in it. But Austria made a mess of their qualifying campaign and now they would have to watch from home. This would be a huge disappointment for them as they would have liked to build on their qualification to Euro 2016 which was their first competition in 8 years. The Austrians come into this game in fine form having won all of their last seven games against opponents that include Russia, Uruguay, and Germany. Their 2-1 comeback win over Germany should make Brazil think of them as very good oppositions. Brazil beat Croatia 2-0 at Anfield in their last warmup game with the returning Neymar scoring the opener, however, this game would see them try their best to avoid another injury after Fred injured himself in training last week. The last time these teams met was in 2014, Brazil won the friendly 2-1

This game would be one of the biggest of the week in Brazil as Sao Paolo play host to Internacional. The home side just suffered their first loss of the season and this game offers them the chance to bounce back to winning ways, but that would be easier said than done. That first loss did hurt more because it came at the hands of their archrival Palmeiras, but confidence is still high in their camp as they have made a good start to the season with 16 points collected from their last 9 games, and they come into this game sitting in the 4th position on the league table. They are also unbeaten in their last 11 games at home. Internacional are also not doing badly themselves and they come into this game just a point below their host. For a team that has just been promoted to the first division that is not a bad position to be. They won their last away game, but that does not mean they do well when they travel as they have lost four of their last six away games and could not even score in five of those games. They come into this game having failed to win Sporting Recife at the weekend at home. Sao Paulo have lost just 1 of the last 7 meetings between the two, winning 3 times in the process.

Belgium’s first warm-up game ahead of the World Cup was against Portugal and the game lived up to its expectation somehow with a goalless a good result for the two nations. Considering that Roberto Martinez would be playing against defensive teams in the World Cup, you can understand why they chose to play the Portuguese. Belgium’s next two games would be against Egypt and Costa Rica, a clear indication that they are preparing for their clashes against Tunisia and Panama, it would be interesting to see how they fare against this Africans. Egypt is also heading to Russia and this game would be their last before their first in the World Cup against Uruguay on the 15th of June. Considering how talented Uruguay are on the offence, you can understand why the Egyptians have decided to test their mettle against Belgium. They are, however, currently struggling without Mohamed Salah who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder. Egypt have been dismal in the build-up to the World Cup with no wins from their last five games. They have also lost to Portugal and Greece so far to show that they are really reliant on Mohamed Salah. Belgium come into this game on the back of three games without conceding a goal, and 5 cleans sheets in their last six games overall. The last time these teams met, Egypt won by 4-0.

Nigeria come into this game after a 2-1 loss to England in another warm-up game. While that scoreline seems like it was a close game, the reality is far from that and the Super Eagles looked really poor defensively and could have been down by four goals in the first half if England had taken all their chances. They did enjoy some attacking play in the second half when Alex Iwobi scored almost immediately after the break, but with such a poor defence, the Super Eagles would achieve little in Russia when the competition begins. The Czech Republic also come into this game after a shocking defensive show in their last game against Australia as they conceded 4 goals and scored none against the World Cup-bound Aussie team. Although they would not be playing at the World Cup, that doesn’t mean they should not salvage some pride, and this game offers them another chance to get a win over a World Cup-bound team. We expect the Czech’s to approach this game from an attacking point of view after watching Nigeria against England, however, there is no guarantee that their defence would shut out the Nigerians. Nigeria have scored 8 goals in their last ten away games and they have scored at least one goal in three of their last four games. But they have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight games. The Czech Republic also have a similar record to their opponents as they have conceded in 9 of their last ten games, and they have scored in all but two of those matches.