Kosovo host Sweden in an attempt to keep the dream alive, although they met the same opponent in 2021 and lost 6-0 on aggregate. Has anything changed in Franco Foda's camp or will we see more of the same?
As one of the national teams with the least experience in World Cup qualifiers, Kosovo are the ultimate underdog in Group B. But having been picked in such a competitive group could work in their favour, as the rest of the teams are fairly equal in strength. So, a couple of good results and some luck could be enough to put them in the mix for second place.
But the 4-0 first-round defeat to Switzerland could also be the start of a disastrous cycle, and their confidence could be further impacted by their previous results against Sweden. Blagult not only have a perfect record against Dardanet, but also appear to be in phenomenal form ahead of this clash.
Sweden conceded a single defeat in their last 10 fixtures and also won their group in the UEFA Nations League, and got promoted to League B. With players like Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga and Alexander Isak, Blagult have the potential to not only reach the World Cup, but even reach the playoffs.
How the bookies view it: Little hope for the hosts
As expected, Sweden have a considerable betting advantage but there is still quite a lot of value in the odds at this point. You can back Kosovo at 15/4, the draw at 11/4, or Sweden at 3/4.
Recent head to head: 7-0 on aggregate for Sweden
As previously mentioned, Sweden hold a perfect record against Kosovo, having played them three times since Dardanet became a FIFA member state. The teams actually played in the same qualification group for the 2022 World Cup too, with Sweden winning both legs 3-0. Before that, they also played a friendly match in 2020, also won by Sweden (1-0).
Players to watch: Gyokeres needs to regain his confidence
We love matchups that present opportunities for player bets, and this is a prime example. With Viktor Gyokeres in need of confidence, Kosovo certainly look like a suitable target. The 27-year-old just moved to Arsenal and has had a fairly slow start. But we all know his true abilities and how he performs for the national team. In the Nations League alone, Gyokeres scored nine goals in six appearances. And while he only contributed an assist against Slovenia, we expect a far better performance against minnows Kosovo.
Probable line-ups
Kosovo: Saipi, Pacarada, Dellova, Rrahmani, Vojvoda, Berisha, Rexhbecaj, Muslija, Zhegrova, Krasniqi, Muriqi
Sweden: Johansson, Starfelt, Gudmundsson, Sema, Larsson, Ayari, Bergvall, Karlstrom, Saletros, Elanga, Gyokeres
Anything else catch the eye?
While both national teams have multiple players from the Top 5 leagues, the individual qualities of Sweden's stars can and should make the difference in this match. Blagult should be able to control the pace and the ball, achieving a hard-fought win.
But we expect at least one goal from Kosovo, who are unbeaten in their last five games at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri. Meanwhile, Sweden have been inconsistent on the road, conceding in eight of their last 10 away matches. Alexander Isak will miss this match, so Sweden will have less firepower, but just enough to produce a 2-1 win, and why not after a goal by Gyokeres?
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