This weekend, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers get back underway, with several big clashes taking place all around Europe. All the home nations are in action, with Republic of Ireland and Wales going head-to-head on Friday night.
Meanwhile, England welcome Lithuania to Wembley Stadium, whilst Scotland host Slovenia in Group F on Sunday. We’ll also be focussing on Northern Ireland’s match with Norway and Greece’s trip to Belgium, among a few others.
After this weekend’s matches, we’ll be halfway through the qualification process. Can Wales claw back some points on Ireland in Group D? Will England ease to victory? And can the Scots get back to winning ways?
- Republic of Ireland v Wales – Draw (2/1 at Betfred)
- Croatia v Ukraine – Croatia to Win to Nil (6/5 at BetVictor)
- Belgium v Greece – Belgium to Win – 1 (1/1 at Coral)
- Portugal v Hungary – Portugal to Win and Both Teams to Score (11/4 at Betfair)
- England v Lithuania – England to Win -2 (1/1 at Sky Bet)
- Northern Ireland v Norway – Northern Ireland to Win (7/5 at Ladbrokes)
- Scotland v Slovenia – Slovenia to Win (23/10 at Sky Bet)
World Cup Qualifiers
We’ve already been treated to some wonderful football, great goals and shock results in the current World Cup qualifying campaign, and we’re hoping for more of the same from this round of fixtures. Republic of Ireland and England top their groups, with the likes of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland still with plenty of work to do. Standby for what promises to be an enthralling weekend of international football.
Republic of Ireland v Wales – 24th March
On Friday evening, Republic of Ireland and Wales square off at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for a mouth-watering World Cup qualifier in Group D. With the Dragons already four points adrift of Ireland in the table, Chris Coleman’s men can’t afford to slip up in the Irish capital.
The Green Army have made an exceptional start to their World Cup qualification campaign, taking a superb 10 points from a possible 12. After kicking Group D off with a solid 2-2 draw in Serbia, Martin O’Neill’s boys have beaten Georgia, Moldova and Austria to go two points clear at the top. In contrast, the Welsh have drawn their last three.
We’ve got a feeling that both sides will cancel each other out in this vital qualifier. Being at home, Ireland will fancy their chances, but Wales know defeat is not an option in this one. Because of that, we believe there’s good value in Betfred’s price of 2/1 for the draw.
Draw – 2/1 at Betfred
Croatia v Ukraine – 24th March
The top two in Group I go head-to-head on Friday, as Croatia welcome Ukraine to Zagreb. With the Croatians sitting two points above their visitors in the table, they will be looking to open a five-point gap by the close of play at the Stadion Maksimir this Friday.
However, Ante Cacic’s men are coming up against a Ukraine side who are unbeaten during qualifying so far. After drawing with Iceland and Turkey, the Ukrainians have won their last two to fire themselves to eight points. Andriy Shevchenko’s troops also beat Serbia in a friendly last time out.
Nevertheless, Croatia are strong on their own patch and are clear favourites to add another three points to their tally in this one. Cacic’s boys have already won without conceding three times during qualifying, and we like the look of BetVictor’s 6/5 for the hosts to win to nil once again.
Croatia to Win to Nil – 6/5 at BetVictor
Belgium v Greece – 25th March
On Saturday, Roberto Martinez’s Belgium entertain Michael Skibbe’s Greece at the King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels. With only two points separating these two at the top of the Group H table, we should be in for a fascinating evening in the Belgian capital.
Belgium have been faultless so far during WCQ, winning all four of their matches, scoring a staggering 21 goals and conceding just once in the process. Greece have had a fine start too, taking an impressive 10 points from a possible 12, shipping just twice along the way.
Still, this is a game Belgium will be looking to dominate and win well. We fancy the home side to win by a margin, with Coral’s evens for the Red Devils to win -1 in Brussels a standout price.
Belgium to Win -1 – 1/1 at Coral
Portugal v Hungary – 25th March
The current European champions Portugal have left themselves with work to do in Group B, as Switzerland sit clear at the top by some three points. This weekend, Fernando Santos’s men welcome third placed Hungary to Lisbon for a massive qualifier.
They may be champions of Europe, but Portugal have looked vulnerable in their quest to reach Russia. However, they have responded well from their opening day loss to Switzerland, beating Andorra, Faroe Islands and Latvia to go second. Hungary, meanwhile, have kicked their campaign off with a respectable seven points from four matches.
Being on home soil, you would expect Portugal to win, but we don’t think the Hungarians will make life easy for Euro 2016 winners. Therefore, the standout bet in this one is the hosts to win and both teams to score, which is available at the top price of 11/4 with Betfair.
Portugal to Win and Both Teams to Score – 11/4 at Betfair
England v Lithuania – 26th March
Gareth Southgate has done a steady job since inheriting the managerial reigns at Wembley, and he will be looking for another three points when his England side welcome Lithuania to the English capital this Sunday.
England sit pretty at the top of Group F, having won three and drawn one of their first four qualifiers. Meanwhile, Lithuania have taken five points, and are certainly capable of causing the English one or two problems at the weekend. Nevertheless, the Three Lions have yet to concede a goal, and will be expecting to see off the Lithuanians on Sunday.
We believe England will be too strong for Edgaras Jankauskas’s Lithuania, and we feel Sky Bet’s standout price of evens for the home team to win with a -2 goal handicap is well worth having a punt on in this one.
England to Win -2 – 1/1 at Sky Bet
Northern Ireland v Norway – 26th March
Also on Sunday, Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland host Lars Lagerback’s Norway at Windsor Park. As it stands, Northern Ireland will be following Germany to Russia, but there’s an awful long way to go yet.
After their heroics in France during last summer, Norn Iron will be looking to kick on from that and reach their first World Cup finals since 1986. After earning handsome wins over San Marino and Azerbaijan, and an excellent 0-0 draw in the Czech Republic, O’Neill’s team have begun their World Cup qualifying campaign in solid fashion.
On Sunday, they welcome a Norway side who have lost three and won one, and are certainly there for the taking for the Northern Irish. The Green and White Army will back themselves to get the job done on their own patch in this one, and Ladbrokes are offering the tempting price of 7/5 for a home win.
Northern Ireland to Win – 7/5 at Ladbrokes
Scotland v Slovenia – 26th March
Finally, Gordon Strachan’s Scotland welcome Slovenia to Hampden Park with the home side in desperate need of maximum points. Despite an excellent start, when the Scots beat Malta 5-1 away from home, they have taken just one point from their subsequent three matches.
Therefore, if Scotland want to reach their first major tournament for 20 years, nothing short of three points will suffice this weekend. Standing in their way, though, are a Slovenia side who have taken eight points so far and sit second behind England in Group F.
Unfortunately for Strachan and co., we can see the Slovenians continuing their fine campaign by securing another victory on Sunday. The away team are available at the decent odds of 23/10 with Sky Bet to win in Glasgow this weekend.
Slovenia to Win – 23/10 at Sky Bet