Vietnam vs Pakistan — Tips & Analysis

Under 3.5: Pakistan are the reason we want the quieter game here. They barely score, less than a goal a game across their last 16, and they have won only one of them. They have lost by 3 or more goals in 8 of those 16 games, and they lost 0-4 to Thailand in this same group last week. A team that cannot score caps the total on its own, because the goals have to come from one end. Vietnam are strong but not wild. They have won 11 of their last 15 and they let in under a goal a game. Only 6 of those 15 games had 4 or more goals in them, and their games average close to 3 goals in total. This one is on neutral ground in Jakarta, so Vietnam have no crowd behind them. Pakistan can sit deep from the first whistle under Nolberto Solano, at their first FIFA tournament. A 3-0 Vietnam win is the likeliest result, and that gets the bet home. Now the honest part. Vietnam are second on a -1 goal difference against Thailand's +6, so they have a reason to keep pushing late. Pakistan also tied 2-2 with the Philippines last time out, which shows they can join in a scoring game. We still expect a comfortable Vietnam win rather than a flood of goals.