World Cup 2018 Group H Betting Tips, Preview and Information – Wide Open Group Offers Value
Check out our World Cup betting tips and analysis for Group H. Will Japan or Senegal shock Colombia and Poland and book a spot in the last 16 of the 2018 Russia World Cup? Our betting preview gives you the lowdown on this fascinating and wide open group.
If you do intend to bet on the World Cup, make sure you bookmark our World Cup betting offers post. Our dedicated page will be home to all our World Cup goodies, including enhanced odds offers, free bets, tips and more.
World Cup Russia 2018 Group H Fixtures (with UK times)
- Colombia v Japan – Tuesday 19th June, Saransk – kick-off: 13.00
- Poland v Senegal – Tuesday 19th June, Moscow – kick-off: 16.00
- Japan v Senegal – Sunday 24th June, Ekaterinburg – kick-off: 16.00
- Poland v Colombia – Sunday 24th June, Kazan – kick-off: 19.00
- Japan v Poland – Thursday 28th June, Volgograd – kick-off: 15.00
- Senegal v Colombia – Thursday 28th June, Samara – kick-off: 15.00
World Cup Group H Betting Odds and Tips
This is certainly one of the more open groups in the World Cup. All four nations have a very real chance of progression, as is shown by the fact that rank outsiders Japan are available at odds of 12/5 to qualify. As a comparison, in Group B, both Morocco (9/2) and Iran (8/1) are significantly longer.
The fact it is so open and tough to predict makes it a fascinating challenge from a betting point of view. It also means there is some real value. Our two tips for Group H focus on either end of the standings.
Starting at the bottom and working our way up, Japan appear to be a cracking bet to finish last. They are quite obviously the worst side in the group and it is hard to see them avoiding the wooden spoon. Despite that, they are priced at huge odds of 11/8. That suggests they have just a 42% chance of finishing bottom and we would argue that should be more like 55%.
Our second tip is for Poland to cause an upset and pip the South American favourites to top spot. The Poles are organised, well-drilled and have a great team spirit. In Robert Lewandowski they have arguably the greatest out and out striker in the world. He has 52 international goals and supported by Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik he should provide enough of a threat going forward to fire his side to top spot.
Of course, overlooking the likes of James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado may be considered foolish. Ultimately though we just feel that Lewandowski has a little more experience and is a more consistent performer at the top level.
Clearly the key game is likely to be the meeting between the two most fancied sides in Kazan. A draw may be enough for the Poles and that can be backed at odds of 12/5. Whatever happens in that match though, at longer odds than Colombia, it’s Poland who are the value bet to win Group H.
Group H Betting Tips
Please note that all odds quoted on this site are correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
Group H Winner Odds
- Colombia – 6/4 with Paddy Power
- Poland – 9/5 with Coral
- Senegal – 6/1 with Betfred
- Japan – 17/2 with Betfair
Poland are the highest ranked side in the group, currently 10th, but it is 16th placed Colombia who are fancied to win Group H. They made the quarters last time but only scraped through South American qualifying. Senegal are rated the 28th best side in the world by the governing body, with Japan 60th.
Conclusion
This is a group that, on paper, objectively, is low on overall quality. Colombia are 40/1 to go all the way, with Poland 60/1, Senegal 300/1 and Japan 500/1. Clearly none of the four are fancied to go far in Russia.
We struggle to see how Japan can avoid finishing bottom and odds of 11/8 look like great value. We also think there is real value in backing Lewandowski to lead his nation to top spot at big odds of 9/5. Senegal may offer a little value in the to qualify market at odds of 6/4 (BetVictor) but if pushed we’d opt for the group to finish Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan.