4 minutes Below I’ve listed my best bets for Friday’s World Cup qualification matches.
The road to next summer’s FIFA World Cup continues this month with an exciting double-header of World Cup qualification matches taking place across Europe. With so many fixtures ahead of us, here at EveryTip.com our expert tipster has gone day-to-day to pick out some standout football betting tips ahead of this weekend’s matches. As well as exclusive betting tips, below you’ll find match insights and the best pre-match odds from our betting partners at BoyleSports. Below I’ve listed my best bets for Friday’s fixtures.
Israel have a solid recent away record, losing just two of their last ten qualification matches on the road. Their last qualification campaign saw Israel average 1.9 goals scored per match. Israel have already defeated Estonia this year, winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in the opening match in Group I. Despite the 2-1 scoreline when these nations met in Israel’s temporary Debrecen home, I’m backing the visitors to win to nil on Friday. Estonia have failed to score in eight of their last ten home competitive matches and have scored only two goals in their last seven competitive matches.
Prediction: Israel to win 2-0 (11/2)
Four-time world champions Italy have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups and missing out for a third straight tournament is unthinkable for the Azzurri. Norway away is probably the toughest assignment Luciano Spalletti’s Italy will face in qualification and I’m tipping them to get their campaign off to the perfect start. Italy are unbeaten in their last seven competitive away games (five wins, two draws) and conceded just four goals across seven matches in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Italy have won five of the last six competitive matches against Norway whilst Norway have failed to score in three of their last five meetings with the Italians. Norway does however possess tremendous firepower in the shape of Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth. Haaland has six goals in his last six internationals whilst Sorloth is coming off a campaign where he racked up 20+ La Liga goals for a second straight season. One of these sharpshooters will score in Oslo but the visitors should edge it.
Prediction: Italy to win 2-1 (8/1)
This is not a vintage Belgian squad with many of the ‘Golden Generation’ either retired or on the decline. However, they have a qualification record that stands up against any other nations and should have too much for a North Macedonia side that currently top Group J.
Belgium have scored in 29 consecutive qualifiers (World Cup and Euro) and their average goal difference in the last World Cup qualification campaign was +2.4 per match. Belgium have won six of their last seven qualifiers by a margin of two or more goals whilst North Macedonia have conceded two or more goals in five of their last seven matches against top-20 ranked nations.
If you’re looking for a potential goalscorer then look no further than Belgium vice-captain Romelu Lukaku. The 32-year-old comes into this on the back of a title-winning Serie A campaign at Napoli and has netted an astonishing 88 goals in 122 internationals for Belgium. There is plenty of value in the 9/2 on offer for Lukaku to score two or more in Skopje on Friday evening.
Prediction: Belgium to win 3-1 (8/1)
Craig Bellamy has hit the ground running as an international manager and Wales remain unbeaten under the new boss. Wales look certain to take all three points in front of a passionate Welsh crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday evening but at 1/33, they’re probably best left alone in the ‘Match Result’ market.
Wales are on an eight-game unbeaten run and this month, their unbeaten run at the Cardiff City Stadium could move past the two-year mark. Wales have kept five clean sheets in their last eight home qualifiers whilst Liechtenstein have scored just one goal in their last ten away qualifiers. These stats obviously enhance the appeal of ‘Wales to win to nil’ at 1/3.
Liechtenstein are on a 32-game losing streak in competitive fixtures and their average margin of defeat over the past two years is 2.7 goals per game.
Prediction: Wales to win 3-0 (5/1)
Like Belgium, this Croatian squad is not the force it once was but a Gibraltar side ranked 196th in the world are not going to create an upset here. Gibraltar have lost all ten of their last qualifiers, conceding an average of 3.7 goals per game and their goal difference across their last 10 World Cup qualifiers is -32.
Croatia have won their last six qualifiers without conceding against teams ranked outside FIFA’s top 100 and have kept seven clean sheets in their last ten away qualifiers.
Prediction: Croatia to win 4-0 (9/2)
Friday Correct Score Predictions:
- Israel to win 2-0 (11/1)
- Italy to win 2-1 (8/1)
- Belgium to win 3-1 (8/1)
- Wales to win 3-0 (5/1)
- Croatia to win 4-0 (9/2)
