Dakich Backs Germany Over 2.5 Goals, Picks Draw in Netherlands-Sweden

Q: With their coach's future uncertain, can the USMNT maintain its record-breaking momentum throughout the World Cup?

Yes — the USMNT has a credible chance to sustain its surge, but a deep run will depend more on the level of opposition than on Mauricio Pochettino’s contract situation. The evidence so far is strong. The United States opened with a record-setting 4-1 win over Paraguay, the most goals it has scored in a World Cup match, with Folarin Balogun becoming the first American since 1930 to score twice in a World Cup game. The team has also advanced out of the group with unusual authority, helped by pace, confidence and a more mature core, as Dan Dakich noted. The coaching uncertainty appears manageable for now. Pochettino’s deal expires after the tournament and he has been linked with club jobs, but both he and U.S. Soccer have said he is fully focused on the World Cup. Players including Tim Weah and Tyler Adams have publicly downplayed the issue, saying it has not affected the squad’s day-to-day work. On the field, there has been little sign of distraction. What will decide the U.S. ceiling is quality under knockout pressure. Analysts see a quarterfinal or even semifinal run as realistic, especially with home support and a potentially favorable bracket. But they also caution that the U.S. has not yet proved itself against a true elite power, and its historical knockout record remains modest. So the momentum is real, and the coaching noise has not derailed it. The harder question is whether this team can reproduce its group-stage sharpness once the opposition rises.

Q: Could Germany strategically play for a draw against Ivory Coast to secure an easier path in the knockout stage?

Yes — before kickoff, Germany could plausibly have viewed a draw as a strategic option, but it would have been a risky one. The case for it came from bracket management. FOX Sports analyst Chris Fallica noted that winning the group could set up a likely Round of 16 meeting with France, giving Germany a reason to consider avoiding first place. In the expanded 48-team format, a draw would have moved Germany to four points after two matches, leaving them in a strong position to reach the knockout stage while keeping flexibility in the final group game. But the downside was significant. A draw would not have guaranteed Germany top spot or even mathematically secured qualification on the day. It would have left the group more open, with Ivory Coast and potentially Ecuador still in contention, creating uncertainty rather than control. That is why most analysts still expected Germany to push for the win, and Julian Nagelsmann publicly said the objective was to win. The broader evidence also pointed away from a conservative approach. Germany entered the match after a 7-1 win over Curaçao, had won 10 straight matches, and was widely favored. Dan Dakich predicted Germany would attack and score over 2.5 goals, while other expert models also backed a German victory. In the end, the scenario is now moot: Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto and qualified for the Round of 32, so any draw strategy was only a pre-match possibility, not the outcome.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 20

Germany’s team total over 2.5 goals at +145 is Dakich’s top Saturday World Cup betting pick, with Ivory Coast coming off a narrow 1-0 win over Ecuador.
He expects Germany to stay on the front foot after a 7-1 rout of Curaçao, arguing Ivory Coast’s defense will face far more pressure than it did in its opener.
For Netherlands vs. Sweden, Dakich picks a draw, saying the Dutch were the better side in a late 1-1 draw with Japan and can trouble Sweden more than Tunisia did.
Sweden enters after a 5-1 win over Tunisia, but Dakich says that result may flatter them against a stronger opponent and could make a point acceptable.
He frames the picks after praising the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay, which clinched its group and reinforced his view that the Americans have real momentum.