Paraguay v France: Back another Olise assist in 7/2 Bet Builder

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Saturday 4 July, 22:00
Live on BBC One

France have underlined status as favourites

It's amazing to think that France started their round-of-32 tie against Sweden pretty slowly, giving up the game's first big chance to Alexander Isak, but it wasn't long before Les Bleus started to purr. Kylian Mbappe rattled a post, and then Michael Olise hit the other upright with an extraordinary scissor kick, but eventually Mbappe delivered the breakthrough just before half-time.

Bayern Munich superstar Olise went on to produce two assists in the second half as Bradley Barcola smashed in a second goal and Mbappe completed his brace. The befuddled and bamboozled Swedes fell to a 3-0 defeat.

France are understandably the 2.942/1 favourites to win the World Cup, and after racking up six goals in his first four appearances Mbappe is 2.186/5 to win the Golden Boot - read about the race here. The 27-year-old is the first player in World Cup history to reach 10 knockout-stage goals, and he has scored twice in three of his four appearances at this edition.

Olise is an interesting choice to win the Golden Ball award at 6.411/2. Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are deservedly ahead of the former Crystal Palace star in the running, but he has already come up with a staggering five assists, and is only two behind the tournament record set by Brazil's Ademir in 1950.

Now the French machine takes on a Paraguay team that has already surpassed expectations, and keeps showing it can bounce back from adversity. They claimed one win and one goal from their first six CONMEBOL qualifiers, but Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro came in to turn the team's fortunes around.

Paraguay looked to be in big trouble after they lost 4-1 to co-hosts USA in their opener, but they dug out a 1-0 win over Turkiye in their second game, and then ground out a goalless draw against Australia to progress as a third-placed team.

The South Americans were big outsiders against Germany, but they defended diligently, frustrated a fragile German side, and then delivered Die Mannschaft's first ever penalty shootout defeat at a World Cup.

Back Olise to star in Paraguay v France bet builder

France are a skinny 1.21/5 in the Match Odds market, but we can use the Bet Builder to get a better price in other markets. Let's start by backing Olise to pick up another assist. Didier Deschamps has moved him into the number 10 role, and he has blossomed with so much quality around him. It will need Olise's weight of pass and intelligence to open up a determined Paraguayan rearguard.

We can get an 7/24.50 treble on the Bet Builder if we throw in Paraguay to commit 14 fouls or more and midfielder Andres Cubas to commit at least two of those. Alfaro's team are averaging 13.3 fouls per match at the World Cup, and they have racked up nine yellow cards and a red already. Cubas has committed 12 fouls, including five in each of his first two games.

Use OddsBoost to back Mbappe to get a kicking

Although Mbappe has only been fouled four times across three games so far, I can't imagine Paraguay will give him an easy ride here. It's a grizzled, experienced defensive unit that the South Americans will field, and they'll look to get to Mbappe before he really starts to accelerate.

The Sportsbook's OddsBoost section has boosted the price of Mbappe to be fouled twice or more from 4/51.80 to evens, and that's an attractive price.

Now read about England's route to the World Cup Final