An early start for Tuesday's friendlies as World Cup co-hosts Canada face tournament debutants Uzbekistan who have Fabio Cannavaro in the dugout and an impressive recent record of just two defeats in 17.
As you'd expect from a Cannavaro side, Uzbekistan are focused on defence - keeping clean sheets in six of their last seven wins. But Canada boss Jesse Marsch knows his side must build momentum ahead of the finals, and they too are decent defensively with eight clean sheets in 10 wins. This is likely another.
Back Canada to win to nil
Croatia have been massive World Cup overachievers, reaching a final and semi-final at the last two tournaments, while Belgium have usually underachieved given their star names. But both sides are much changed from their golden generation.
Croatia are 29/202.45 favourites but their unbeaten record at Stadion HNK Rijeka (W8 D2) will be tested against in-form Belgium, who are 17/102.70 but are unbeaten in 11.
Their friendly form isn't brilliant as they've conceded twice in five of the last six and have drawn three of the last four away from home. Croatia have scored in 16 of 18 friendly games. That adds up to a score draw here.
Georgia were poor in qualifying as they won just three points, and were a far cry from the side that reached the knockout stages of Euro 2024. Romania got a play-off spot but lost 1-0 in Turkey meaning neither of these two will play in the World Cup.
Georgia are home favourites and won their last game while Romania have two defeats on the spin, but Georgia lost four of five recently and the way Romania play will frustrate a home side who concede too many goals. At the prices an away win looks a value shout.
A surprise semi-final in 2022 is a tough act to follow for Morocco, who go to the World Cup this time as African champion after that controversial overturning of Senegal's final win last year. There shouldn't be much controversy here though as 1/101.10 favourites against Madagascar.
The 28/129.00 outsiders only lost 3-2 in their last meeting just eight games ago in that African Cup of Nations, and actually beat Morocco 3-0 in 2023. Plus they've scored in their last 13 outings so why can't they score here against a side just preparing to go to the World Cup?
Back Morocco to win and both teams to score
Ghana have lost five on the spin since qualifying for the World Cup, a run Wales would happily trade with the Africans for qualification, which they missed out on in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in the play-offs.
Carlos Queiroz will want results to improve quickly and he has a few star players back for this one so I fancy the visitors to get a result here. As Craig Bellamy wants a respone from his players, it's hard in these summer friendlies with nothing to play for.