Expert Picks

I hate that I am taking this position, but Türkiye at this price feels like a gift. Not that Paraguay are bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I think Türkiye should have a better match-up this time. The middle of the pitch is ripe for the taking, and that’s exactly where Türkiye wants to operate. Kenan Yildiz was only fit enough to start on the bench in the last match, but given the importance of this match, he should get the nod. This feels like a 3-1 win for Turkiye.

Paraguay were really disappointing in their 4-1 defeat to the USA on Matchday 1. They arrived at this tournament with a reputation for defensive solidity, but they were torn apart in Los Angeles. That defeat could knock their confidence as they prepare to face Türkiye. The Turks suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Australia in their opener, but they dominated the game - 63% of the possession, 28 shots on goal, seven shots on target. If they play like that against Paraguay, and they sharpen up their finishing a bit, they should easily win this game.