Following a bumper weekend of action in the Premier League, attention now turns to international football, with the playoff round of the World Cup Qualifiers taking place across Europe. The eight teams still yet to learn their fate will be battling it out across two legs to qualify for next summer’s tournament and Thursday’s first leg matches are sure to be tense, tight affairs.
Croatia v Greece
This tie arguably looks the most one sided of the qualifiers on paper with Croatia having a much better squad than Greece, but in the lottery of knock out football, you never know. Croatia will be confident of picking up a win and on home soil I’m backing them to pick up a comfortable victory in this one against a weak looking Greece side.
World Cup Qualifiers Playoff – Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb – Thursday 9th November – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 18/5 at Unibet |
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Croatia
GreeceCroatia to win – 1/3
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
This tie on the other hand is a whole lot tougher to call; Switzerland were superb in qualifying and were very unlucky to miss out on top spot in Group B after winning 9 of their 10 games and only finishing 2nd to Portugal on goal difference. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland performed admirably in Group C, finishing 2nd behind Germany. I’m backing a draw in this one between two solid looking defences and I think it is a result which both managers would probably take pre-match.
World Cup Qualifiers Playoff – Windsor Park, Belfast – Thursday 9th November – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 19/4 at Unibet |
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Northern Ireland
SwitzerlandDraw – 19/4
Sweden v Italy
Both of these sides finished behind stronger sides in qualification, but I would say that they are quite evenly matched heading into the playoff round. Italy will be favourites to advance to the World Cup Finals, but with this Italy side you feel like you never really know what you are going to get. Sweden will be desperate to pick up a positive result at home and I can see this one ending in a score draw; a result which Italy will gladly take back home.
World Cup Qualifiers Playoff – Friends Arena, Solna – Friday 10th November – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 21/10 at Ladbrokes |
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Sweden
ItalyDraw – 21/10
Denmark v Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland qualified for the playoffs with a dramatic 1-0 win against Wales in a winner takes all clash in Cardiff back in October and their reward is a game against Denmark. Both sides will fancy their chances in this one with both teams having obvious weaknesses in their sides. I’m backing Denmark to pick up a win in this, but I do think the tie could go either way in the end and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Republic of Ireland win out in the end.
World Cup Qualifiers Playoff – Parken, Copenhagen – Saturday 11th November – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 23/10 at Skybet |
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Denmark
IrelandDenmark to win – 8/11
Total 4-Fold – 20/1 (Ladbrokes)