European World Cup qualifying continues on March 25, with 9 matches filling the Saturday slate.
Today marks the second of three straight days of action taking place around the landscape of European football.
I mentioned in my March 24 article that the groups contain 54 teams left battling for the 13 bids that FIFA offers out of Europe. Nine groups of six, labeled A – I, have already started the battle, and you can find those results at FIFA. Visit FIFA’s European World Cup qualifying page and you can see how the groups are faring through four matches.
There are nine matches listed for Friday in European World Cup Qualifying, and nine more coming on Sunday. Let me list the matches and reveal the lines that we get to use to find some action on the pitch.
Please note my normal routine of listing the 1×2 3-Way lines, the handicap/spread, and the totals for each match.
European World Cup Matches
Andorra vs Faroe Islands
3-Way 1×2 Lines:
Andorra +600
Faroe Isle -170
Draw +265
Handicap/Spread:
Andorra +1 -135
Faroe Isle -1 +115
Total 2:
Over -120
Under +100
Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Gibraltar
B & H -5000
Gibraltar +10000
Draw +3500
B & H -4.5 +145
Gibraltar +4.5 -165
Total 5:
Over -150
Under +130
Cyprus vs Estonia
Cyprus +105
Estonia +300
Draw +225
Cyprus -0.5 +105
Estonia +0.5 -125
Total 2:
Over -120
Under +100
Sweden vs Belarus
Sweden -195
Belarus +665
Draw +300
Sweden -1 -110
Belarus +1 -110
Total 2:
Over -150
Under +130
Switzerland vs Latvia
Swiss -900
Latvia +3500
Draw +800
Swiss -2.5 -110
Latvia +2.5 -110
Total 3:
Over -125
Under +105
Belgium vs Greece
Belgium -333
Greece +1150
Draw +420
Belgium -1.5 -110
Greece +1.5 -110
Total 2.5:
Over -115
Under -105
Bulgaria vs Netherlands
Bulgaria +545
Netherlands -185
Draw +320
Bulgaria +1 -110
Netherlands -1 -110
Total 2.5:
Over -110
Under -110
Luxembourg vs France
Luxembourg +3230
France -1565
Draw +1325
Luxembourg +3 +100
France -3 -120
Total 3.5:
Over -130
Under +110
Portugal vs Hungary
Portugal -335
Hungary +1155
Draw +425
Portugal -1.5 -120
Hungary +1.5 +100
Total 2.5:
Over -115
Under -105
Groups A, B, and H will be represented today, and matches from Groups D, G, and I were on played on Friday. When I put up Sunday’s European World Cup article, Groups C, E, and F will be topics of discussion.
Analysis & Predictions
So the thing to do now is find us some funds on the board, and I noted some sparklers to talk about as I was filling in the lines. How about those lines from the Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Gibraltar match? Gibraltar is just that much of a mess to be declared a +4.5 goal underdog! You would think that as the qualifying gets closer to the actual event the teams left would be at least a little closer to even then that, but no sir, not in Europe.
The problem is, can we really touch that match? Gibraltar has gone 18 straight outings between Friendlies, Euro’s and World Cup play without a win. You know what? The fact that I even mentioned Gibraltar in the article at all is good enough. I can’t suggest what you should do with your money if I am not putting any of my own money on it, so that’s a pass, I suppose.
We have actual money to make here, so where else can we look?
I thought about how to attack the Andorra match with Faroe Islands, because my goodness Andorra is a disaster at home. You would think at some point, any point, that at this level something would be taken from home outings. Andorra has been a welcome mat for every team who has visited the pitch at Estadi Nacional. The problem with that match is the lines, because -170 is simply unapproachable, and the -1 means Faroe has to win by 2 goals to outright cash that ticket? Then the total is set a simple 2 as well, so shoot us now! The line setters are not putting any user-friendly betting options there.
I do see an opportunity on the total in Cyrpus, where Estonia comes to town in Group H play.
Why is this total set at 2, and listed at a semi-reasonable -120? I think these two could bump into each other for 90 minutes and find the net twice. I could get back on the pitch today and find a way to put one ball in the back of the net against Estonia! So if someone out there has it in them to join me, and you think you can score, there are our two goals!
Seriously though, at -120 and the expectation for two goals to come, I can handle that.
Suggested Play:
Cyprus / Estonia
Total Over 2 @ -120
Bulgaria is hosting the Netherlands at Vasil Levski in Sofia, and this total also has my attention. Bulgaria always finds a way to score at home, no matter what teams comes to visit. The Dutch we know can certainly go in to Bulgaria and find the net a time or two themselves. I can just see a 2 – 2 result coming when I imagine how this match will play out. Depay, Robben and company should be confident walking in here, although Bulgaria is playing well in European World Cup qualifying too. These teams are only separated by a point in the Group A table, and we have seen plenty of goals throughout this group in the first four rounds of action.
I hope it continues because I am making a play on the Over. We all saw Mr. Depay come off the bench in the second half of their last outing against Luxembourg and put in a brace. Let’s hope he has the same influence this weekend.
Suggested Play:
Bulgaria / Netherlands
Total Over 2.5 @ -110
As you were perusing through the matches, did that line on Greece open your eyes a little? How about that +1150 to win, but yet we see a -110 on the +1.5 handicap line.
And then when you opened the FIFA European World Cup Group H table, how did what you saw there hit you? I will tell you how it me, because 21 goals through 4 outings for Belgium is downright obnoxious! Then we notice that Greece is right next to Belgium, and has 3 wins and a draw through their first four fixtures of the round.
At the same token, scoring on either of the two has been difficult, as they have combined to only allow 3 goals.
I am of the thought that when these two get together on Saturday, we will see a 2 – 1 match. That gives me two opportunities to cash tickets, so I will play it accordingly.
Suggested Plays:
Belgium / Greece
Greece +1.5 AH @ -110
Total Over 2.5 @ -115
If any of you followed Euro 2016, you surely remember the 3 – 3 craziness between Hungary and Portugal. I can recall it like it was yesterday, and when I saw Portugal and Hungary paired in the same group for European World Cup qualifying, I knew this day would be coming.
It is here, and the line setters must have forgotten how these two had a field day with each other’s defense. Not to say that just because that was a 3 – 3 affair that this will be like that, but we don’t need 3 – 3 to happen.
All I need is 2 – 1 to happen to cash both of these tickets I am suggesting.
Suggested Plays:
Portugal / Hungary
Hungary +1.5 AH @ -110
Total Over 2.5 @ -115
Well, that should get you taken care of for day 2 of European World Cup qualifying.
Be sure to check out all of my World Cup articles through the rest of the qualification process, leading right into Russia in 2018!
Remember when it is time to get your action in, turn to Diamond for all your soccer offers.
