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UKFIFA World Cup Best Bets: Expert Picks for June 23
June 23 brings four World Cup group-stage matches with several strong betting angles on the board. England vs Ghana gives us a clear attacking mismatch, while Portugal vs Uzbekistan is more about whether the favorite can find enough rhythm to push the total over the number.
Panama vs Croatia also stands out after both teams opened their tournaments in very different ways. Croatia needs a response after falling to England, while Panama has to show more attacking quality after being shut out by Ghana. Colombia vs DR Congo rounds out the card with one of the day’s more interesting spread picks, especially after Congo’s surprising result against Portugal.
These odds come courtesy of BetOnline.
| Game | Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| England vs. Ghana | England Over 2.5 Goals | (-105) |
| Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | Under 3 Goals Total | (+114) |
| Panama vs. Croatia | Both Teams to Score — No | (-105) |
| Colombia vs. DR Congo | Colombia Beats Spread | (-101) |
England vs. Ghana Prediction: England Over 2.5 Goals (-105)
England enters this World Cup group-stage matchup with a clear talent advantage over Ghana. The Three Lions are ranked fourth in the world, while Ghana sits 73rd, creating one of the larger gaps on the board from a squad-quality perspective.
The main reason to like this bet is England’s attacking ceiling. Harry Kane remains one of the most reliable finishers in world soccer and comes into this tournament in outstanding form after scoring 61 times for Bayern Munich this season. He also opened the World Cup strongly, scoring twice against Croatia and immediately giving England a proven focal point in the final third.
England’s attack runs deeper than Kane, too. Bukayo Saka gives the Three Lions a direct threat from the right, while Phil Foden can drift into central pockets and create chances between the lines. Jude Bellingham also adds a powerful goal-scoring presence from midfield, making late runs into the box and forcing defenders to choose between tracking him or staying tight to Kane.
That variety makes England difficult to defend for 90 minutes. Ghana has to deal with Kane’s finishing, Saka’s pace, Foden’s creativity, and Bellingham’s movement around the penalty area. England can score from open play, set pieces, and quick transitions, which makes the over 2.5 team goals a strong angle.
Ghana deserves credit as a tough, physical side, but this is a major step up in class. England’s pace, movement, and finishing quality should put Ghana under pressure for long stretches. If England scores first, Ghana may have to chase the match, which opens up even more space for Kane and the supporting attackers.
This is a better betting angle than simply backing England to win. The Three Lions have the attacking quality to control the match and score three goals on their own, especially if Ghana struggles to hold possession and defend repeated waves of pressure.
A 3-0, 3-1, or 4-1 type of result fits the profile of this matchup. England is the superior team, Kane is in elite scoring form, and the matchup points toward the Three Lions clearing this team total.
- Spread: ENG -1.5 (-175)
- Moneyline: ENG (-520)
- Total: 3
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan Prediction: Under 3 Goals Total (+114)
Portugal enters this World Cup group-stage match as the clear favorite, but their opening performance makes the under worth a serious look. Roberto Martinez’s side has the star power to control this matchup, though the attack looked surprisingly flat in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
That result is the key piece of this handicap. Portugal scored early but failed to build on it, finishing with only one shot on target. For a team loaded with attacking talent, that lack of final-third sharpness is a concern, especially when the total is sitting at three goals rather than 2.5.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s form also matters here. He remains a massive presence in the box, but he enters this match on a 10-match goalless streak in major tournament matches. Portugal has enough quality around him to create chances, but they haven’t looked like a team ready to run away with games at this level.
Uzbekistan should approach this match with a compact, defense-first setup. After losing 3-1 to Colombia, they have little incentive to open the game up against a stronger Portugal side. Their best path is to keep bodies behind the ball, slow the tempo, and force Portugal to break them down patiently.
That type of game script fits the under. Portugal can win this match without the score getting out of hand, and a 1-0 or 2-0 result feels very realistic. Even a 2-1 scoreline would push at three goals, giving this wager a little more breathing room than a standard under 2.5.
Portugal is still the better team and should dictate most of the possession, but their opener didn’t show enough attacking rhythm to trust a high-scoring performance. At plus money, Under 3 Goals is the best angle on this matchup.
- Spread: POR -2 (-141)
- Moneyline: POR (-680)
- Total: 3
Panama vs. Croatia Prediction: Both Teams to Score — No (-105)
Croatia enters this World Cup matchup looking to bounce back after a 4-2 loss to England, but there were still positives in that performance. England is one of the strongest teams in the tournament, and Croatia still managed to score twice against a far more talented opponent than Panama.
Petar Musa and Martin Baturina both found the net for Croatia in that match, showing that this side can create chances even when facing elite opposition. That matters here, because Panama should give Croatia more room to control possession and dictate the tempo.
Panama’s attack is the bigger concern. They failed to score in a 1-0 loss to Ghana, which was likely their most manageable matchup in the group. Ghana deserves credit for staying organized, but Croatia represents a tougher test in midfield and defense.
This is where the both teams to score market becomes appealing. Croatia has already proven it can break through against a high-level opponent, while Panama has not shown enough attacking quality to trust against a more experienced European side.
The most likely game script has Croatia controlling the ball, creating the better chances, and forcing Panama to chase for long stretches. Even if Panama pushes numbers forward late, Croatia should have enough structure and quality to limit clear looks.
A 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0 Croatia result fits the profile of this matchup. Croatia has the attacking edge, while Panama’s scoring struggles have a good chance to keep them off the board for this World Cup bet.
- Spread: CRO -1 (-126)
- Moneyline: CRO (-205)
- Total: 2.5
Colombia vs. DR Congo Prediction: Colombia Beats Spread (-101)
Colombia enters this World Cup group-stage matchup with a clear talent edge over DR Congo. The 12th-ranked Colombians opened their tournament with a win over Uzbekistan, and Luis Díaz wasted no time making an impact by getting on the scoresheet.
Díaz is the key man in this handicap angle. The Bayern Munich winger is coming off a fantastic club season, producing 29 goal contributions in 32 Bundesliga matches. He gives Colombia the type of attacking threat that can decide a match quickly, especially against a DR Congo side likely to spend long stretches defending.
Colombia also has more than one way to hurt opponents. James Rodríguez remains a reliable creator in midfield, while Jhon Arias, Jáminton Campaz, and Daniel Muñoz give this team width, movement, and secondary scoring options. That matters for a spread bet, because Colombia doesn’t have to rely on one moment of brilliance from Díaz to create separation.
DR Congo deserves credit for its surprising draw against Portugal in the opening match. Yoane Wissa’s equalizer showed this team can punish mistakes, and Chancel Mbemba brings valuable experience at the back. However, following up that type of emotional result against another top-tier opponent is a difficult ask.
The concern for DR Congo is game script. If Colombia scores first, Congo has to step out of its defensive shell, and that opens space for Díaz and Arias to attack in transition. Colombia’s pace and technical quality make them dangerous once the match stretches.
This is a clear favorite-vs-underdog setup, but the price on this soccer bet is still playable. Colombia has the better attacking profile, the deeper squad, and enough recent form to trust them against a team ranked well below them by FIFA.
A 2-0 or 3-1 Colombia result fits the profile of this matchup. DR Congo can make this competitive, but Colombia’s front-line talent should be enough to cover the spread.
- Spread: COD +1 (-115)
- Moneyline: COL (-185)
- Total: 2.5
Betting on the World Cup on June 23
June 23’s World Cup slate gives bettors a useful mix of favorites, totals, and matchup-driven props. England has the firepower to make a statement against Ghana, while Portugal’s slow start makes the under more attractive against an Uzbekistan side likely to sit deep.
Croatia’s bounce-back spot also creates value in the both teams to score market, especially with Panama still looking for its first goal of the tournament. Colombia vs DR Congo may be competitive early, but Colombia’s attacking depth gives them a strong chance to pull away and cover the spread.
