We already know 15 of the 32 teams that will contest the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and we'll know several more by the end of this international break.
Expectations will be high in Palermo tonight where 4-time winners Italy host North Macedonia who are trying to qualify for the finals for the first time after finishing behind Germany in Group J.
The Italians have a chance to redeem themselves following a disappointing campaign in which they finished unbeaten, but four wins and four draws saw them end up two points behind the Swiss.
Italy's recent successes, including of course being crowned European Champions, has been built on defensive solidity and they conceded just twice in qualifying but they should be wary of an ever-improving North Macedonia side who performed better on the road than at home including a stunning 2-1 win over Germany.
That said, anything other than a win for Roberto Mancini's side at 2/11 would be a major shock. Winning with a clean sheet pays 8/13. Best value could be in the 11/10 on under 2.5 Goals, that would've landed in seven of Italy's eight qualifying matches and you can see them shutting up shop if they go a goal or two ahead tonight.
The winners in Palermo will need to do it all again on Tuesday against either Portugal or Turkey. At 37 years old the focus will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and whether he can make it to one last World Cup before hanging up his boots.
The talismanic hitman scored just six of Portugal's 17 goals in qualifying with four of them coming in two games against Luxembourg and the other two as he bailed out his side in injury-time against Northern Ireland. So perhaps there will be life after Ronaldo for the Portuguese.
CR7 dominates the goalscorer markets which means there could be value elsewhere and the best alternative could Diogo Jota. The Liverpool has had a great season in the Premier League where he's scored 19 times already. He scored four for Portugal in Group A and is 6/5 to net against the Turks tonight in Porto.
Wales‘ opponents Austria earned their play-off place thanks to their performance in the UEFA Nations League which was just as well given their fourth placed finish in a group in which Denmark, Scotland and Israel all finished above them.
That's not to say they won't be tricky opponents but the Welsh could definitely have had a tougher draw. The winners will meet either Scotland or Ukraine in the play-off final but that match has understandably been postponed and doubts remain whether it will be played at all.
The lack of game time for the influential pairing of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsay will be a concern for Robert Page but the Welsh are unbeaten in 16 home internationals and can set up a potential Battle of Britain by winning at 7/4.
Super Singles
- Italy v North Macedonia – Under 2.5 Goals 11/10 Bet365
- Diogo Jota to score any time 6/5 Bet365
- Wales to win 7/4
Upcoming Match Previews & Tips
- Thursday’s Goals Accumulator Tips: Today's 13/2 Both Teams to Score & Total Team Goals Acca
- Thu 19:45 Wales v Austria
- Thu 19:45 Scotland v Poland
- Thu 19:45 Portugal v Turkey
- Thu 19:45 Sweden v Czech Republic
- Thu 19:45 Italy v North Macedonia
- Fri 19:05 Scotland Under 21s v Turkey Under 21s
Today's Racing Tips
Rizzel struck with wins with both of his selections on Wednesday. Today, he has picked out the one selection coming in the Marathon race at Chepstow.
Golf Tips
The first WGC event on the golfing calendar is here as The Caddy looks forward to the WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay at Austin Country Club, Texas and presents his top three players to keep an eye on. He's also provided his best bets in this week's DP World Tour event, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club, Qatar.
- Golf Betting Tips: WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay Preview & Predictions
- Golf Betting Tips: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Preview & Predictions
As always, let us know your tips and predictions for today in the comments section below and good luck with all your bets!
Portugal v Turkey – 6/5 Skybet
Each team 3+ corners & 10+ BP’s
New Zealand – New Caledonia
New Zealand is one of the best teams with the best defense in the Oceania Region. Five recent games have been wins without conceding.
With that record my angle of bet:
New Zealand -New Caledonia
Both teams to score. NO
Just the one pick from me yesterday but the Icandic goal gods came good with 8 goals ??
KÁ ÁSVELLIR VS. SKALLAGRÍMUR (9.00pm)
OVER 5.5 GOALS
(7/4, bet365) NAP ⭐️⭐️ ✅️
??
Australia v Japan 930am
Massive game for the socceroos today.. with 2 games left, they’re in third, three points behind Japan who are in second, but Austraoia have a superior goal difference.. a win today sees them leapfrog Japan into second, and an automatic qualification spot, with one game left in the group. Japan have only conceded 3 in 8 games and Australia simply have to go for it, and with that defensive record, it could be a long match trying to score.. going for these;
Australia 5+ corners 9/10
Australia 6+ corners 15/8
Australia 7+ corners 10/3
Australia 8+ corners 6/1
All bet365.. BOL
I was thinking along the same lines fitzy. Australia are missing so many players coming into this game, through injury, COVID cases and clubs refusing to release players. They have a bunch of players who have never played at national level, but will be desperate for the win. Goals is a risky proposition, as Japan rarely concede too many, but corners looks a good read.
Fitzy…if I’m reading it right prices for Australia goals much better at PP
>5.5 @ 21/10
>6.5 @ 4/1
>7.5 @ 7/1
>8.5 @ 10/1
GL…
Wow, don’t have a PP account but good spot, every bit of extra value helps
???????Wales vs Austria??
?World Cup playoff
?Bet: Wales to qualify: 19/20 (bet365)
?NAP 5pts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With me being a proud Welshman, you might think I’m letting my heart rule my head here but this bet is definitely statistically led.
Wales are imperious at home. They’re a good team now and the likes of Belgium, Croatia and Czech Rep have all tried and failed to beat wales at the Cardiff city stadium in recent times.
In fact, the last time wales lost at home was 3 years ago, losing 1-2 to Denmark in the nations league. You’d have to go back to 2017 to find a wales home loss in a Euros/World Cup qualifying loss. Impressive stuff.
I was expecting ‘wales to qualify’ to be around the 1/2 mark so I was pleasantly surprised to see it at a shade under evens. I think the bookies are underestimating wales, going on our old reputation of being poor. Wales are 2/1 (Unibet) to win in 90 mins, which is well worth taking on, but I’ll stick with the safer bet of wales to qualify on the night.
Austria have some decent players but have been off form. They finished 4th in their group (losing at home 0-1 to Scotland and 5-2 away at Israel) and only gained a qualifying spot through the back door of the nations league. Wales’s pacy attack should be too much for their iffy defence, roared on by a vociferous capacity crowd in Cardiff.
I’m backing Wales to see off inconsistent Austria to book a final spot for Qatar qualification.
Cymru Am Byth! ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I’ll be waiting on team news for a card long shot. Ethan Ampadu at 3/1 looks good but I’ll more than likely double him up with someone.
Which part of the holy land are you from Kris ?.
I’m from Bangor, we used to have a football team, but that’s a long story.
S4c are showing it for those without sky sports, only trouble is you have to listen to John hartsons garbled Welsh/English language which is very funny at times.
“Mae cymru yn lookio I passio I nol I keeper to trio wastio amser, Mae nwn well I mynd am y second goal rydwin meddwl”
Priceless ??
I’m from Pontypridd originally, Elvis.
Ha ha . Embarrassingly, being from down South I can only dream of speaking garbled Welsh like Hartson.
I’m based in the Midlands now so not far from North Wales. Stunning part of the world. (Wales, not the Midlands) ?
Confident about tonight? I’m surprisingly calm. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing…
SCOTLAND – POLAND
Player to be booked – J. Goralski 3/1 UNIBET
Lebanon
Vietnam
Over 0.5tgs double 9/10
Lost ?
Wales v Austria
Sweden v Czech Republic
Taking a punt on early corners and hoping the teams are not to cagey at the start
At least 1 corner in the 1st 10 min in each game 6/4 Bet365
Over 1 corner in the 1st 15 min in each game 3.73/1 Hills
Portugal
Italy
Over 1.5tgs
1/1
Over 2.5mgs
43/20
Also generous prices imo on headers scored
21/10 for 1 in Wales 2/1 for 1 in Sweden
25/1 For Both teams to score 1 in any of the games
Today’s OVER 1.5 MGS TREBLE
CHINA ??- SAUDI ARABIA ??
FIJI ??- PAPUA NEW GUINEA ??
SWEDEN ??- CZECH REPUBLIC ??
44/27
Good luck with your bets today!
Will add this for a longshot as expecting the home sides to be ontop with the home fans behind them;
PORTUGAL ?? O5.5 CORNERS
ITALY ?? O5.5 CORNERS
SWEDEN ?? O4.5 CORNERS
WALES ??????? O3.5 CORNERS
4FOLD
17/5
Team goals double @ 23/20 (Whill)
Netherlands u21 over 1.5tgs
Germany u21 over 2.5tgs
Looking at tomorrow and the u21 qualifiers which can be good for goals. Like the look of these two to net a few against Bulgaria and Latvia as both teams are a class above their opponents at this level.
Will be keeping an eye out for the Greece u21 vs Liechtenstein u21 game being covered for goals, if it is at all, with Liechtenstein conceding 41 goals in the 7 games so far.
Scotland vs Poland
Will have a low stake effort in this tonight for interest while watching it and think it’s a good price for what should be a fairly evenly matched game although as it’s a friendly im always wary at the level it’s contested at.
Bet builder @ 11/2 (bet365)
BTTS
Both teams to receive a card
Both teams 3+ corners
Good luck all ?
Afternoon gents,
Bit of a dry card and sticking with a single bet approach again…don’t think there’ll be as many goals as the Icelandic game last night ?
PORTUGAL VS. TURKEY
WALES VS. AUSTRIA
OVER 1.5 MATCH GOALS DOUBLE
(9/10,bet365) NAP ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best of luck!
Good luck shaker ???????
I’d take anything, a 1-0 Wales win will do me.
Maybe Ramsay to score, he usually comes up with the goals that matter, that’s if he isn’t injured again.
Him and bale come in off playing little football this year but the atmosphere will give them an extra 10-15 minutes energy.
I’ve grown my nails in readiness……..
Sweden v Czech Rep
Draw at 11/5
Game to be decided on pens at 9/2
Wales v Austria
Draw at 19/10
Game to be decided on pens at 4/1
Both games could well be tight and you would think all the sides won’t take to many risks in such big games.
Italy to win -1 Handicap at 8/13
Portugal to win at 1/3
Sweden to Qualify at 2/5
Wales to Qualify at 4/5
Pays 9/2
Best of luck
NAP for today:
Turkey to score at 1.72
GL
International Match 19:45
Scotland vs Poland – over 4.0 first half Asian corners
Europe – World Cup Qualifying 19:45
Italy vs North Macedonia – over 4.5 first half Asian corners
Double 2.45/1 Bet365 **NAP**
Add
European U21 Championship Qual 19:45
France U21 vs Faroe Islands U21 – over 5.0 first half Asian corners
Treble 5.39/1 Bet365 **NB**
Good luck all
Had this one written down. Nice to see some others think the same!
Wales to qualify @ 19/20 – NAP/NB
Maybe an in-play.
Got a game to keep an eye on ?
Wales over 0.5tgs
Sweden btts
Portugal & Italy over 1.5tgs
4 fold 5/1
Good luck
Lost was a longshot
win double
Portugal
Uruguay
11/10
both teams to score double
cortulua v envigado
magallanes v cobreloa
william hill 3/1
NAP WON
Fingers crossed our Welsh brothers give Austria a total thrashing tonight ? ?
Evening,
Portugal v Turkey k.o 19.45
Burak Yilmaz Booking in 90mins.
Skybet 6/4 Goodluck.
Mint…
Evening,
Portugal v Turkey k.o 19.45
Burak Yilmaz Booking in 90mins.
Skybet 6/4 Goodluck.
Mint… ? Lost
Australia 5+ corners 9/10 ❌
Australia 6+ corners 15/8 ❌
Australia 7+ corners 10/3 ❌
Australia 8+ corners 6/1 ❌
Only 4 corners for Australia.. hopefully this evening goes better
No joy with my dearly corners – all LOSERS
Oops, early corners
Zulia FC v Deportivo La Guaira
21:00
Venezuelan Premier Division
Both teams to score 21-20 ?? NAP ??
At HILLS.
No reasons as I’m watching Wales right now, bookies pricing this to be a very low scorer so a first half goal would be handy to open the game up
Prediction 1-1
???????????
International Match 19:45
Scotland vs Poland – over 4.0 first half Asian corners (push)
Europe – World Cup Qualifying 19:45
Italy vs North Macedonia – over 4.5 first half Asian corners ✅
Double 2.45/1 Bet365 **NAP** WON at 1.975
Add
European U21 Championship Qual 19:45
France U21 vs Faroe Islands U21 – over 5.0 first half Asian corners ✅
Treble 5.39/1 Bet365 **NB** WON at 13/5
Well done all winners
Tip top Bully ??
I’ll take that ?
PORTUGAL VS. TURKEY
WALES VS. AUSTRIA
OVER 1.5 MATCH GOALS DOUBLE
(9/10,bet365) NAP ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✅️
??
Good stuff hull lad
Cheers Macca ?
In-play
Italy win @ 11/10
Did anyone take Macedonia inplay they were 66/1
NAP for today:
Turkey to score at 1.72
WON
No joy with my headers LOSERS
Well done all winners
???????Wales vs Austria??
?World Cup playoff
?Bet: Wales to qualify: 19/20 (bet365)
?NAP 5pts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✅
I don’t often celebrate too hard or go over the top after winning bets but this one is personal.
So….
WOOOHOOOO!!! COME ON WALES!!! ??????????????????????????????
Fully deserved. Gareth Bale – what can I say? What a man!
One game to go. ??
Well done all winners ??
Well in Kris
Cheers Macca ??
????????????????????? BALE ?????????????????????.
WELL IN KRIS………….
Thank you @Admin
One draw out the two means a small loss on the night.
Well done admin some cracking shouts and well done Wales thoroughly deserved.
Well done all winners
NAP in Venezuela lost ended 0-2 ☹️.
Wales win to cheer me up, now bring on Scotland at home ??????????????.
————————————————-
??NIGHT OWL ??
Panama V Honduras
01:05
World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers
Honduras to score 11-10 (SKYBET) main bet.
Side bet
BTTS 29-20 (UNIBET).
2 games last year ended
Honduras 2 Panama 3
Panama 2 Honduras 3
** Honduras scored in last 5 head to head **.
Honduras scored in 4 of last 5 h2h here..
??????????
???