The opening round of World Cup qualifiers in Europe continue on Monday night when three more groups get underway and plenty more fascinating matches take place to set them on their way.
In total there are nine matches on the card on Monday night and with only the top side qualifying automatically and just one more place in each group heading into the playoffs every point is going to count in this event which ramps up the interest and the pressure on the sides.
Group D
This is where the home focus will be on the evening as Wales and Republic of Ireland are both in the group. Serbia and Austria are also here in what is a really competitive looking section. Ireland head to Serbia on Monday night while Wales know they have to win when they host Moldova. Austria head to Georgia in the other game in the group.
Group G
Spain are the headline act in this group and you would think it is a matter of how many they win by when they host Liechtenstein. Italy are also in this section and they head to Israel to begin their qualification campaign while Albania host Macedonia in the other match.
Group I
Arguably the match of the night is saved for this group as Croatia and Turkey meet for the second time in three months having faced off in Euro 2016. History will be made when Kosovo play their first ever qualifying match when they head to Finland while two more Euro 2016 finalists meet in Kiev when Ukraine host Iceland.
Betting
There is going to be some really competitive football in these groups over the next 15 months or so and it will be interesting to see them play out but just like on Sunday, I’m going to head in cautiously and not pushing the boat out too much.
There has been a fair bit of money on Wales in the lead up to these matches and they are now a -1.5 handicap but I’m not sure I want to be backing that when Wales are without Ramsey. We saw in the Euro 2016 semi how big a loss he is to them and you have to go back to 2013 for the last time Moldova lost by more than 2 – at Wembley.
A two goal defeat would be enough for Wales to cover the handicap but there have only been three of them for Moldova since that night at Wembley and Wales aren’t always free scoring so I’ll leave that alone and head to the Euro 2016 rematch.
Croatia beat Turkey 1-0 in France in the summer but they absolutely dominated that match and had they won by three or four there could have been no complaints from the Turkish players or fans. This match will be played behind closed doors which could add a different complexion on things but all things being equal I’m with the home side here.
I believe Croatia have the best midfield in Europe right now and with Arda Turan missing for Turkey that is a big hole to fill. I fancy Croatia to dominate here and hopefully they can be a little more clinical than they were in France and fully cover a -1 Asian line.
Tips
Back Croatia (-1AH) to beat Turkey for a 4/10 stake at 1.98 with Unibet
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