World cup Qualification

It’s only two matches left of the World cup qualification (in Europe) and within five days it will be decided witch teams that will go trough to World cup and witch nations will have to play another qualification round to play in world’s greatest tournament.

Some teams are already qualified and others are still battling for their chances to go to World cup. All the 9 group winners are directly qualified and the eight best runner up will play a final match (home and away) to complete the 13 places that Europe have.

Try to see witch nations have a bit extra to play for before you place your bets for Saturday’s games. Here are all the teams that already are qualified as group winners: Spain, England and Netherlands.

Since Netherlands don’t play today my advice is to think twice before betting on England or Spain, Specially England.

And this leads me to one of my picks for Saturday’s matches:

Ukraine vs England, home win @ 2.60

Do you remember when England was going to secure their place to European Champion chip for about two years ago?

England just had to win against Croatia in the last game of the group stage. And since Croatia already had secured their place in Euro 2008 everyone thought that England was going to take an easy win just by the motivation. I remember that the odds were as low as 1.33 at the bookies around the world and England even took the lead twice.

But Croatia came back and won with 2 – 3 in front of a Wembley arena in total chock and the Croatian players and leaders where celebrating as they had won the World cup, without even needing the points.

Why am I talking about this when I bet on Ukraine?

Because England has their chance to take revenge on Croatia without even playing against them on Saturday. Before this game has 8 wins in 8 games and have looked solid. But a loss tomorrow would mean that Ukraine will take the second place of this group and kick down Croatia to the third place.

And since Ukraine only have to win against Andorra in the last group match I have a strong feeling that they will take the second place with a win home at Kiev.

I am not saying that England will loose on propos but I think that Ukraine’s higher motivation gives them a great chance to win this game and take a solid grip of the second place in this group.

My second pick is:

Ireland vs Italy, draw @ 2.8

This game really smells like it can finish with a draw. Both the team should be pretty happy with one point each witch would mean that Italy is qualified for World cup and Ireland have secured the second place witch means that they will reach the final qualification.

These types of games often finishes with a draw and even though Ireland has a small chance to win the group with a win my guess is that they are pretty satisfied with the second place.

There is lots of interesting matches that are played around Europe today. For example Germany will visit Russia for a very important match that decides witch team will win the group. And then of course the Nordic battle between Denmark vs Sweden.

See if you find any others picks that feels interesting. The odds is from Bwin-World-Cup

Finland 1.85 X  3.30 Wales 4.10

Russia 2.50 X 3.35  Germany 2.60

Belarus 1.30 X 4.65 Kazakhstan 10.00

Ukraine 2.60 X  3.45 England 2.45

Armenia 13.00 X  6.25 Spain 1.18

Estonia 7.50 X  4.25 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.40

Luxembourg 21.00  X  8.50 Switzerland  1.09

Cyprus    4.25 X 3.45 Bulgaria 1.80

Montenegro 1.65 X 3.50 Georgia 5.25

Denmark 2.40 X 3.30 Sweden 2.75

Israel 1.15 X  7.00 Moldova 14.00

Liechtenstein 2.75 X  3.30 Azerbaijan 2.4 

Slovakia 2.15 X 2.50 Slovenia 4.60

Greece 1.30 X 5.00 Latvia 9.00

Czech Republic 1.50 X 4.00 Poland  6.00

Austria 1.70 X  3.55 Lithuania 4.65

 Serbia 1.50 X 3.80 Romania 6.50

Belgium 3.60 X  3.40 Turkey 1.95

France 1.01 X  15.00 Faroe Islands 41.00

Portugal 1.16 X 7.00 Hungary 13.00

 Republic of Ireland 3.40 X 2.85 Italy 2.30

Best regards

 /Amrish