World Cup Day 2 Tipsheet: Best bets and predictions including a 60/1 shot in Canada v Bosnia

Canada v Bosnia Tip - Back cards at big prices

Click here for Canada v Bosnia odds
Friday, 20:00
Live on BBC One

Co-hosts Canada have come a long way in a short time. This is by far and away their best team ever. That's if everybody is fit, which seems to be a bit of an issue at the minute.

This will be their third appearance at a World Cup finals, they've lost all six of their fixtures to date in '86 and '22 and will be looking to show the world what they can do after their flop in Qatar. 

The Canucks have home advantage, playing their games in Toronto and Vancouver, but the fact they bypassed qualification is both a blessing and a curse.

Sure, they were guaranteed a spot at the tournament but the rigmarole of a CONCACAF qualification campaign would have been good preparation. 

As it stands, we only have recent June friendlies with the Republic of Ireland and Uzbekistan to lean on, and the two draws with Iceland and Tunisia at the end of March. Or September, October and November's games with Romania, Wales, Australia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Six of those nations are competing at the World Cup, so Canada have had a taste of what to expect this summer, albeit in friendly circumstances. 

Why cards is the best bet when Canada meet Bosnia

This thing is, these fixtures weren't so friendly. 

Canada's last 10 games have seen 52 cards flashed, 30 going the way of the Maple Leafs, with Canada picking up at least three cards in 60% of those games. Oh, and let's not forget a total of four red cards.

Jesse Marsch's side play a high-octane 4-4-2 and in a wide open Group B, we could see a full-blooded affair with Bosnia. 

Opponents Bosnia's route to the finals was nothing short of sensational, winning two play-off games in qualification. 

Former captain and all-round legendary figure Sergei Barbarez sets his side out in an direct, old-school 4-4-2 and it could cause some issues at the World Cup. 

The full-backs play with chalk on their boots, try to create overloads out wide and the side looks to pepper the box with crosses searching for Ermedin Demirovic and veteran frontman Edin Dzeko. 

Bosnia's pivotal play-off game with Italy saw six cards flashed and they had four players carded against Wales. 

It all points towards a violent fixture here and the appointment of Argentine referee Facundo Tello only stokes the fire further. 

He's averaged just under five cards a game this season, and dished out 8Y and 1R in three World Cup appearances. 

So, it's just a question of who to back in the player card market. 

At an industry best price of 9/25.50 with the Sportsbook, Ismael Kone's price to be shown a card appeals. Kone picked up three cards in five 2024 Copa America appearances and has an international cards per 90 average of 0.32. 

I'll also have a punt on a red card in the match at 6/17.00 and both teams to have a red card at 66/167.00 given the nations' recent track records.

USA v Paraguay Tip - Home comforts to see co-hosts win?

Click here for USA v Paraguay odds
Saturday, 02:00
Live on BBC One

Like their fellow co-hosts Canada, USA didn't have to go through qualification so this clash with Paraguay will be the first competitive look at Mauricio Pochettino's side since the 2025 Gold Cup.

They came runners-up in that CONCACAF competition, losing to Mexico in the final, and lost to Panama in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League.

In the March and June friendlies, they tested their mettle against some of Europe's elite nations. Belgium beat them 5-2, Portugal won 2-0 and most recently Germany beat them 2-1.

They also beat Senegal 3-2 in a topsy-turvy clash at the end of May, where they squandered a two goal advantage. 

This will be opponents Paraguay's first appearance at a World Cup in 16 years. 

Partly thanks to the expanded tournament, partly down to the revival under manager Gustavo Alfaro. 

Before he arrived, they only won one of six qualification games (D2 L3) and were knocked out of the 2024 Copa America in the group stages. 

Alfaro's side then only lost one of the next 12 qualification fixtures (W6 D5), the only snag being 16 of the 20 points they won came on their own patch.

Paraguay don't have the luxury of home advantage this summer, obviously, USA on the other hand do. 

That said, it's not enough to make me back the hosts, not with their defensive issues. No bet for me.

Now read more World Cup tips here!