After nearly three weeks of hectic World Cup scheduling, it is almost disappointing to have only two games to follow on Thursday.
The first of those features USA in a 1am kick-off UK time against Bosnia & Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Arena. USA were one of the first teams to book a place in the Round of 32 after winning their first two games in Group D. Bosnia & Herzegovina’s participation was only confirmed after a 3-1 win over Qatar in their last Group B match, which helped them qualify as one of the best third-place teams.
We then have to wait until 8pm to see Group H winners Spain face the challenge of Austria, runners-up in Group J. Spain negotiated the early blip of a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde to win their next two games and top their group by four clear points. Austria needed an equaliser six minutes into stoppage time to clinch a thrilling 3-3 draw with Algeria that confirmed second place and an automatic spot in R32.
Below we look ahead to both games with some selections from NetBet Sport’s wide range of World Cup odds.
*All odds are subject to change
USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina: Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 2.10
USA confirmed top spot in Group D with healthy wins over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0). That was a stark contrast to their poor run up to the tournament, in which they had lost three out of four matches. Their rejigged line-up then lost the final group game 3-2 to Turkey after conceding a goal eight minutes into stoppage time. The important thing to note here is their ability to find the net. They have only failed to score in one of their last 11 games. Bosnia & Herzegovina may have looked all at sea in a 4-1 defeat by Switzerland, but they too generally find a way to score. They have only failed to find the net once in their last 18 international matches.
USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina: Bet Builder – USA to win, Over 2.5 goals & Folarin Balogun to score anytime @ 2.90
Folarin Balogun looked particularly sharp with a two-goal strike against Paraguay in USA’s opening match. That earned the former Arsenal youth player the FIFA player of the match award. He was rested for the defeat by Turkey and has scored three goals in his last four international appearances, so should be firing on all cylinders for this crucial knockout tie. USA have bagged eight goals in their three games so far and noting the stats above about both teams being regular scorers, it feels like the right time to try a bet builder.
Spain vs Austria: Anytime Goalscorer – Mikel Oyarzabal @ 1.86
A lot of the world’s attention has been focussed on Barcelona’s teenage talent Lamine Yamal, but it is striker Mikel Oyarzabal who has been the star performer. The Real Sociedad hitman registered two goals and an assist against Saudi Arabia, which means he has scored five goals in his last five appearances for Spain. As a point of interest, all of those five goals have arrived in the first half of the games, so backing Oyarzabal as First Goalscorer may not be a bad shout. Anytime Goalscorer gives us a bit more breathing space.
Spain vs Austria: Outcome And Both To Score – Spain And No @ 1.85
Spain are a powerhouse in international football right now. The winners of Euro 2024 are on a 33-game unbeaten run since losing 1-0 to Colombia in March 2024. They haven’t conceded a goal in this tournament so far, following up the 0-0 draw with Cape Verde with wins over Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0). Austria’s top scorer in the tournament with two goals is veteran striker Marko Arnautovic, 37, who hasn’t played for more than 45 minutes in any game so far. Spain should be able to shut up shop and confirm a comfortable passage to the next round.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information. When the fun stops, stop.
