Football

Chelsea have failed to win any of their last four Community Shield matches and that poor record looks set to be extended when they meet Manchester City at Wembley. City prevailed 3-2 when the same teams battled it out for this trophy in 2012 and Pep Guardiola is the type of manager who enjoys picking up any silverware. More...

Watford and Brighton took part in two tight Premier League tussles last season and another cagey contest is on the cards when they open up this term. There were no goals in a Vicarage Road clash just under 12 months ago, while only a Pascal Gross strike separated them at Amex Stadium. More...

Huddersfield ensured their top-flight survival when picking up a point at Stamford Bridge in May and can begin the new campaign with another draw against Chelsea in Yorkshire. The Blues slipped to fifth place last season and will be keen to bounce back, but a change of manager may mean it takes time to regroup. More...

Wolves were a class apart in the Championship last season and are expected to adapt well to life in the Premier League, starting with a home game against Everton. Wanderers ultimately finished nine points clear at the top of the table and have continued to spend big on new talent. More...

Bournemouth lost their first four Premier League fixtures last season, so Eddie Howe will be eager to make the most of starting out with a home game against Cardiff this term. The newly-promoted Bluebirds are favourites to go straight back down after upsetting the odds when finishing second in the Championship. More...

Arsenal will begin life after Arsene Wenger by taking on Premier League champions Manchester City and would no doubt settle for an Emirates Stadium stalemate. The Blues started fast in last season's record-breaking campaign, but the World Cup may affect their early preparations this term. More...

Southampton had to survive a big relegation scare last term and will be determined to hit the ground running when kicking off the new Premier League campaign by hosting Burnley. The Clarets exceeded all expectations by finishing seventh but now have the distraction of Europa League action. More...

Liverpool go into the new Premier League season as second favourites to end their long wait for a first title since 1990 and can make a bright start versus West Ham. The Reds have a settled squad, whereas the Hammers may take time to get going after a summer shake-up. More...

Fulham's reward for a gutsy triumph in the Championship play-offs begins with the visit of Crystal Palace and a draw wouldn't be a bad result for them. The Eagles have an edge in class but lost their first seven Premier League matches last season and may settle for getting off to a steady start. More...

St James' Park will be rocking for Newcastle's clash with Tottenham on the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign. Spurs prevailed 2-0 here 12 months ago, but the Magpies did go on to enjoy eight home wins, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United among their victims. More...

Manchester United will be determined to go one better than last season's runner-up finish and can kick off the new Premier League campaign by beating Leicester. The Foxes struggled when visiting elite-level teams last term, picking up just one point from away fixtures against the top-six clubs. More...

Who will win the World Cup? BET HERE! We’ve taken an early look at the World Cup 2018 outright winner odds and are backing Brazil to lift the trophy for the sixth time. The Selecao are the only South American team to have prevailed at a past tournament staged in Europe, having triumphed in Sweden More...

We've picked out selections from the four World Cup quarter-finals on Friday and Saturday for our latest football accumulator tips and are eyeing a 16/1-plus pay-out if they all oblige. Bets of £5 or more on trebles and upwards with odds of at least 4/1 count towards bwin's great Acca Madness promotion, with Free Bets up for grabs! More...

Austria have claimed a couple of notable scalps in World Cup warm-up matches but may meet their match when facing Brazil in Vienna. The Selecao have never tasted defeat in nine head-to-head meetings, securing wins in six of those past encounters. More...

South Korea and Senegal have both struggled in World Cup warm-up matches but the timing of this clash may give the Asian outfit an edge. The Lions of Teranga lost 2-1 to Croatia only on Friday and their strength in depth will be stretched with such a quick turn-around. More...

Belgium complete their World Cup preparations by taking on Costa Rica in Brussels and are fancied to enjoy a smooth success. The Red Devils impressed when beating Egypt 3-0 on Wednesday, whereas Los Ticos may need more time to adapt to European conditions judged on Thursday's 2-0 loss to England. More...

France will be seeking a third quick win in World Cup warm-up matches when hosting the USA in Lyon and should be up to achieving that feat. Les Bleus have already seen off the Republic of Ireland 2-0 and Italy 3-1 in the last couple of weeks. More...

Spain will be keen to make a statement of intent when facing Tunisia in Krasnodar, six days before taking on Portugal in their World Cup opener. La Roja are among the favourites to claim outright glory at Russia 2018, following a couple of disappointing efforts at the last two major tournaments. More...

Denmark and Mexico have found goals hard to come by in World Cup warm-up matches and a tight tussle is expected when they meet in Brondby. Both teams have netted just once in their last three international friendlies as preparations continue for Russia 2018. More...

Peru have put together a strong set of results in World Cup warm-up matches and may be good value to get the better of Sweden in Gothenburg. Los Incas have rattled off four straight wins in international friendlies this year, scoring 10 times and conceding only once. More...

Switzerland have only lost once in 12 games since the start of last year and are worthy favourites to edge out Japan on home turf in Friday's World Cup warm-up match. The Samurai Blue have been far from impressive in recent friendlies, including last week's 2-0 loss to Ghana in Yokohama. More...

Poland are rated as lively outsiders for World Cup glory and can continue their preparations with a narrow win over Chile in Poznan. Both teams won their last international friendlies but the Eagles look better equipped to maintain that momentum on Friday night. More...

England complete their World Cup preparations when facing Costa Rica in Leeds on Thursday and we're not underestimating the visitors. Los Ticos drew 0-0 with the Three Lions at Brazil 2014 en route to reaching the quarter-finals and have shown some useful form in recent international friendlies. More...

Croatia and Senegal have produced moderate results in international friendlies and both look to be saving their best for the World Cup. That could lead to a cagey, low-key affair in Osijek on Friday, with chances expected to be few and far between. More...

Uruguay will complete their World Cup preparations by entertaining Uzbekistan in Montevideo and a smooth success should be on the cards. La Celeste won seven of their nine home games when qualifying for Russia 2018 by finishing second behind Brazil in the South American section. More...

Darren Anderton made more than 350 appearances during 12 years at Tottenham, also helping them win the League Cup in 1999. bwin caught up with the 46-year-old to discuss the future of manager Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs' summer transfer options and the likelihood of keeping hold of striker Harry Kane. More...

Germany have had an uncharacteristically sloppy build-up to Russia 2018 but should get back on track when facing Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday. Miroslav Klose hit a hat-trick as Die Mannschaft enjoyed an 8-0 romp when these teams last met at the 2002 World Cup. More...

Iceland have struggled a bit in World Cup warm-up matches and may be content to steady the ship by drawing with Ghana in Reykjavik. The Nordic outfit have lost to Mexico, Peru and Norway in the build-up to Russia 2018, so avoiding another defeat will be the first target here. More...

South Korea could do with a confidence-boosting win ahead of the World Cup and appear to have found suitable opponents in Bolivia. The Taegeuk Warriors have lost three of their last four international friendlies but this Innsbruck clash represents a drop in class. More...

Portugal put in a solid display when drawing with Belgium on Saturday and should now look for a morale-boosting win against Algeria in Lisbon. This will be the final World Cup warm-up match for the Euro 2016 champions before they take on Spain at Russia 2018. More...