IT'S another night of high-tension football as four European sides bid to book their places at Brazil 2014.
Greece and Ukraine look to have done enough although Romania and France won't go down without a fight but the other two ties are in the balance.
Portugal go to Sweden 1-0 up thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's late strike in Lisbon and Iceland head for Zagreb locked 0-0 with Croatia.
So let's start in Stockholm with part two of Zlatan Ibrahimovic v Ronaldo. One of the world's best strikers will be sitting on a beach during the finals – but it's more likely to be on the Riviera than Rio – and it's looking like Ibrahimovic who will miss out.
The first leg was much cagier than expected and Tuesday's tie should be more open and exciting with Sweden needing to score at least two to qualify in 90 minutes. Portugal will have to decide whether to twist or stick but with a player of Ronaldo's talent on the park you have to fancy them to take the chance of grabbing an away goal that will leave the Swedes an uphill battle.
Ronaldo is 7-5 at bet365 to score with Ibrahimovic 8-5 with sportingbet but for me best bet is over 2.5 goals at 43-40 with bet365 in what should be a much more open contest than last week's.
Now to Croatia v Iceland with home boss Niko Kovac trying to do salvage qualification after Igor Stimac was sacked following his country's second group defeat to Scotland.
I tipped Iceland draw no bet in the first leg and they achieved it despite playing with 10 men for the final 40 minutes.
Croatia didn't lool scoring in the same way they hardly threatened Scotland home or away. I watched both of those matches and I don't think Iceland have anything to fear from a side that's netted just twice in five World Cup outings.
What might get to them is the occasion as they attempt to qualify for the first time and become the smallest nation ever to reach the finals.
Iceland have hit the target in 10 of their last 11 away matches, with Johann Gudmundsson hitting a hat-trick in a 4-4 draw in Switzerland. With away goals counting double Iceland may need just one to qualify and I'm taking a chance on them at 7-2 with the likes of McBookie.com and Coral. Croatia are just 2-9 at bet365.
To win in 90 minutes Iceland are huge at 11-1 with McBookie.com and bet365 with Croatia
They will of course have to keep the classy Luka Modric quiet and mark Mario Mandzukic closely but Iceland have quality players in their own right in the shape of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alfred Finnbogason and of course the experienced Eidur Gudjohnsen.
France were unlucky to lose 2-0 in Ukraine but I doubt they'll be able to overturn the deficit in Paris. Both sides had a man sent off in a fiery affair with the French raging at treatment dished out to star man Frank Ribery.
The Bayern Munich star is likely to be targeted again as the no-nonsense Ukrainians defend their lead. They conceded just four goals in England's qualifying group and no more than one a game so this is a tough task for the French to even win 2-0 and force extra time.
Best bet could be a red card in the game as it could be another bad-tempered affair. That pays 15-8 at Paddy Power.
France are about 1-2 to win the match and 2-1 with the likes of McBookie.com to qualify.
Recommended Bets
Sweden v Portugal over 2.5 goals
(43-30, bet365)
Iceland to qualify
(7-2, McBookie.com, Coral)
France v Ukraine red card
(15-8, Paddy Power)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
like the look of your tips mr f.croatia have been struggling
for goals lately and iceland have a couple of good strikers.
I am looking forward to everyone,s bit of info and stats for Tuesday,s games. Any team news ect will be appreciated.
I would certainly say my team Chesterfield have greatly improved with Olley Banks scoring at will. Its bits of information like this that makes this site the best.
The Sheffield Wednesday fans i work with were happy to come away from Derby county with a 3-0 loss a couple of weeks ago. Derby are playing very well at home at the moment.
Good luck!
Stephen, always helps when people comment about their own team. Fans usually know best.
Keeping it simple with a four fold
Spain -1
Belgium
Wolves
Newport
Any Gibraltar fans out there?
Good to see another spireite on here. Banks certainly is looking better since moving to a more attacking role in the last few weeks. Always makes me laugh with first scorers with lower leagues. The other week when Richards started he was 11/2 fgs and gnaduillet was 9/2. when gnaduillet started in midweek it was the other way around!
think france are way too short a price.
any suggestions on australia vs costa rica i think the new manager should fire up the boys and a packed sydney stadium should spur australia to a victorty?
have got australia to beat c/rica on my four fold including argentina,russia and egypt. Pays 120 to a 10dollar stake
Iceland to qualify. Red card France game pays about 10.5. Paddy power low stakes double for me gl all
If Iceland are to qualify theyd need to vastly improve on the ‘NO SHOTS ON TARGET’ stat from the 1st leg at home ive just read about,not a game ill be touching but good luck to any that favour the big odds on offer,it’d be good to see it come in.
Yeah but in the first leg you can accept that given a 0-0 is a great result for a lesser team to take away in the second leg, no goals conceded and they sure have the firepower to nick a goal over there.
Just have a feeling that Croatia will not miss out on the chance to qualify on home soil and despite their poor recent form they still have world class players that can produce a moment of brilliance when needed,its been mentioned Iceland are an improving team and them being able to find the back of the net in recent games but when you see that these games were against the likes of cyprus,albania,foroe island {1-0 home win }and Andorra you have to ask yourself if that truly shows ‘good form’….these are just some of the reasons I wont back them but everything ive posted recently has gone wrong so what do I know,good luck :)
They also drew away with group leaders Switzerland 4-4 coming from 4-1 down and 1-1 with Norway….its a team that i”m confident will score away from home against a poor Croatia. In the first leg they made 2 real good chances in the first half only to miss the target,after halftime and down to 10 men,they played to keep the clean sheet.
super single England to beat Germany
england altrincam dbl plus BTTS for me
Croatia to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 is evens @skybet
I put on Germany to win and both teams to score. Spain to win and both teams to score and holland to win and both teams to score. I know it’s out there but at 75/1 it’s worth a shout ?
I have to agree with Mr. Fixit’s recommendation of over 2.5 in Sweden. I actually placed over 2.25 at -112 at Pinnacle last night (pardon me but being Canadian I use American odds). I think that this second leg will be wide open.
I also like over 3 goals in the Brazil – Chile friendly late tonight and have taken a stab at France and Ukraine over 2.5 at 2.04 (+104) today. France has the talent up front and that result in the firs leg in my opinion was a bit lucky for Ukraine. This game should be an open affair from the outset.
Mr F.excellent tipping tonight..on your red card in France game,doubled up with Sweden game over @ around 5/1 !Cheers.