Kazakhstan v Scotland
The first of our March 21-23 Euro 2020 Qualifiers betting tips is for Kazakhstan v Scotland. Kazakhstan have been written off to qualify from a tough Euro 2020 group, but they enjoy home advantage in their opening match against a Scotland side who have underperformed on the road many times in the past. Could we see another upset in this match? The locals have lost only one of their last six, that run made up of two wins and three draws. Another share of the spoils would rank as a decent result and can be backed at 12/5 with Bet365, where you’ll find The Hawks at a market best price of 15/4.
More to Come
Scotland know tougher tests than this one will come, and their fate will be decided by how they perform against Belgium and Russia, but they also know just how important it is to get off on the winning foot and make the pool favourites work for their success. McLeish’s men go in search of a hat-trick, having won each of their last two, scoring seven goals in the process, while conceding just two. This won’t be an easy trip to make, by anyone’s standards, but the visitors are good enough. Back Scotland for the win at 4/5 (Coral).
Our Tip: Scotland to win – 4/5 at Coral
Austria v Poland
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion plays host to what should be a competitive fixture and the nerves in both camps as they look to land a vital win should make for a close match with the scores kept low. Austria have the backing of their own support and are unbeaten in two, following a draw with Bosnia by beating Northern Ireland 2-1 last time. Their recent form is somewhat of a mixed bag, however, with their last six starts returning three wins, one draw and two defeats. Bookies have them as favourites at 5/4 (Ladbrokes), but we’re siding with the level finish at an attractive 2/1 (Ladbrokes).
Don’t Write them Off
Poland are a side who should never be taken lightly but they make this trip on the back of a terrible run that sees them set-up winless in their last half-dozen. The visitors are an outfit low on confidence and that should show in the early exchanges of this match, but they also know this is the start of a fresh campaign and a match that allows them to wipe the slate clean and start afresh. They have lost three and drawn three of six, with each of those defeats coming in-a-row, losing to Portugal, Italy and the Czech Republic. Taking the 2/1 at Coral on an away win doesn’t appeal to us.
Our Tip: The draw – 2/1 at Ladbrokes
Belgium v Russia
This will be a fascinating contest and although it won’t feature too highly on the watch-list of casual backers, it will be one well worth catching the highlights of when the dust settles. Belgium and Russia have been dropped into a group with Scotland, Kazakhstan and San Marino, so you’d expect the winner of the pool to come out of this match, the teams probably finishing first and second at the final count, barring a shock from the Scots. Belgium are the better team, certainly on paper, and can play with the backing of a home crowd. The stats tell us to back the locals in our accumulators at 3/10 with Coral and that’s what we’ll do.
A Tough Ask
The Russians have their work cut out if they are to get any joy out of this group or, indeed, their opening match of the round and their recent form makes them difficult to trust. The visitors lost each of their last two before heading to Belgium, hammered 3-0 by Germany in a friendly that threw up more questions than answers for the coaching staff, before ending on the wrong side of a 2-0 against Sweden in the Nations League. This is the start of a rebuilding project for Russia as they look to bring back the glory days, but a heavy defeat here could heap misery on all concerned. We can’t get excited about the away win, even at 8/1 (Bet365), the draw does nothing for us either at 9/2 with the same bookie.
Our Tip: Belgium to win – 3/10 at Coral
Northern Ireland v Estonia
If Northern Ireland have their head screwed on for this match and can remain patient in the opening half, we have no doubt they will go on and win the match at a canter. They are a much stronger team than the one camped in the away dressing room, the fans will be supportive from the start and they’ll be allowed to play much of the game with the football in their possession, Estonia setting up defensively. Patience will be key here, but we fully expect a professional job from Norn Iron and have no trouble adding them to multiples. Coral trade the home win at 1/2 and that’s much better than we expected to find. We have that as our NAP of the night.
An Unlikely Win
Estonia know they’re not in with the best side in the group here and an upset is not completely out of the question, but we’re doubtful the visitors will believe they can win this and will go looking for the victory away from home. Keeping the scores down will be their main priority in this tie and that should see them pack the defence and limit the chances given to their hosts. Estonia did beat Greece 1-0 last time but have lost four and drawn one of their last six and we see no joy in trusting them with our cash. Lovers of a big price upset can have the visitors at 8/1, best with Bet365, but that does nothing to win us over.
Our Tip: Northern Ireland to win – 1/2 at Coral
Moldova v France
You’ve got to feel sorry for the Moldovans here as they get going against the might of France. They do have home advantage and will face an opponent littered with fringe and youth players, but it’s almost impossible to make a case for them getting anything out of the day and it’s much more likely they’ll end on the wrong side of a painful beating. Bookies think so too, as you would imagine, and have the home win available at 25/1 (Ladbrokes). That’s the kind of price we’d love dropped into our betting balance, but we’re not going to get it here. The draw is also off limits at 8/1 with Coral.
The Experienced Side
France will hand vital experience to those usually on the sidelines of the main squad, but they’ll also know there’s no easy games at this level of football, especially away from home. Les Bleus must be professional in their approach to ensure they avoid an embarrassing defeat against the minnow of Moldova, but they have enough class in their third team to get the desired result here. France beat Uruguay last time and another victory is on the cards. Back them to win to nil at 4/7 (Bet365).
Our Tip: France to win to nil – 4/7 at Bet365
Portugal v Ukraine
There are certainly easier games Portugal could’ve hoped for in their opening match, but they are fancied to come through this test unscathed and bookies can’t see past a strong home win with a few goals scored in the process. The locals have drawn each of their last two, ending all-square with Italy before fighting out a 1-1 at home to Poland last time, a match they were expected to win. A third draw on the bounce is always a threat and backers can get 3/1 at Bet365, but we prefer having our cash on Portugal to make a return to winning ways. Back them in your accas at a handy 4/9 (Coral). That should come good without much fuss.
Under Performing
Ukraine have won only one of their last four with the spare in that run a 1-0 over Czech Republic. They deserve our full respect for that one, but they under-performed when ending goalless with Turkey and didn’t win many friends when going down to Slovakia on the road, losing 4-1 that day in a bit of a mauling. Will they go from that to beating Portugal? You wouldn’t think so and, despite Bet365 offering a market best price of 9/1, it’s not a bet that interests us. Ukraine are a capable enough side, but their opponents are a bit special when in the mood.
Our Tip: Portugal to win – 4/9 at Coral
England v Czech Republic
This match will be shown live on ITV from 7.45pm on Friday night and although the international break is never too popular with football fans or punters, this will give them something worth watching. England are on a five-game unbeaten run and have won each of their last three. They started that treble with a 3-2 over Spain before growing in confidence to hammer USA 3-0. There’s real belief in the camp at present and it showed when brushing aside Croatia last time, winning by the odd goal in three in front of their own fans. The Three Lions came back from a goal down in that one, Kane scoring a late winner. Back four-in-a-row at 1/3, best price with Bet365.
Try for the Upset
Czech Republic may have been written off by the masses before heading to London, but they go in search of a hat-trick, having won each of their last two. That started with a hard-fought 1-0 over Poland in a friendly match last November, before winning by the same score when hosting Slovakia in the Nations League later that month. They are no world beaters at the moment, but they are a hard-working team who give little away and are organised at the back. If England are to beat them, they’ll have to go and break them down. The draw is 4/1 at bet365 or you’ll get 11/1 at Coral on the away win, which will catch the eye of some.
Our Tip: England to win – 1/3 at Bet365
Gibraltar v Ireland
Gibraltar are at the stage of their development where they are just happy to take part and host some of European football’s biggest names. That’ll be the feeling in the camp again here when welcoming Rep Ireland to Victoria Stadium but few in attendance, if indeed any, will fancy the chances of a home win. Traders certainly aren’t being swept away by the romance of it all and offer a staggering 75/1 on Gibraltar getting the win, or 18/1 (Ladbrokes) for the draw. Two prices we’d love to have but just couldn’t risk our stake money on. This will be nothing more than another lesson for those representing the home team.
An Ambitious Side
Ireland have serious ambitions of a return to a major international tournament, but they have found wins thin on the ground of late and go without one positive result in their last six starts. That drought is made up of four draws and two defeats with each of those losses coming at the hands of Wales. They were last seen ending goalless with Denmark away from home and that result meant they haven’t scored a goal since September of last year. That has fans worried, but this is the perfect chance to remedy that. Back Ireland -2 on the handicap at 4/9 with Coral.
Our Tip: Ireland to win on -2 handicap – 4/9 at Coral
Spain v Norway
The last of our March 21-23 Euro 2020 Qualifiers betting tips is for Spain v Norway. Will we see the Red Fury rage here? Traders believe so and we must say we find it difficult to argue. It’s not often you’ll see the Spaniards get out of first gear at this stage of qualification, but they are in with a decent opponent who are capable of punishing any lapses in concentration. The home win is 2/11 at Bet365 and that’s one for your accas.
An Unbeaten Run
Norway are on a four-game unbeaten run with that purple patch showing three victories. They beat Slovenia 1-0 in the Nations League before handing out the same treatment to a decent Bulgarian side. A draw with Slovenia then followed and they rounded things off by beating Cyprus 2-0 last time out to boost confidence. Ladbrokes have the away win at 16/1 and that looks a bit of an overreaction, we certainly wouldn’t put anyone off. Back both teams to score in your multiples at 13/10 with Coral. Another price that’s bigger than we think it should be and another that’ll give backers a run for their money.