Care to help me with my world cup qual bets?

Malta +2.75 AH is currently paying a little over even odds. Wait for some time...if you can get Malta +3 AH at even odds then that should be a good bet. I will take Malta +3 Asian handicap even at 4/5 when the line becomes available. Malta has not lost by more than 2 goals in any of their away matches.

1. England v Lithuania England

2. Slovakia v Malta Slovakia

3. Scotland v Slovenia Scotland

4. Denmark v Romania Denmark

5. Kazakstan v Armenia draw

6. Egypt v DR CongoEgypt

7. chec republic v san marino Czech Republic

8. Germany v Azerbaijan Germany you don't need help here either

9. Norway v Northen Ireland Draw

10. Albania v Italy Italy

11. Macedonia v Liechtenstein Macedonia

12. Finland v Turkey Finland

13. Isreal v Spain Spain

14. Wales v Ireland Draw

15. Ukraine v Croatia Draw

16. Moldova v Austria Austria

This is no walk in the park for Scotland.  Slovenia are well drilled and well organised defensively, England actually got away with it at their place drawing 0-0, they actually made the best chances catching us on the break.  Not an easy team to break down.  And it took a 93rd minute winner for England to beat them 1-0 when we played at home.  England were pretty lethargic in both games though it must be said (although when are we not?).

If Slovenia were still in it (it would take a miracle for them to qualify now even if they won), then I absolutely would not back Scotland to win this game away from home, but as anyone who has played football knows, when you are already out of a game, are you really going to put yourself out, expend all that energy tracking runners up and down the field, and keep your concentration for 90 minutes?  Or would you rather be a little bit selfish and save some energy from when you are on the ball to grab a bit of personal glory at the expense of your team?  I wouldn't want to bet on a game where I don't know if one of the teams (who are capable of a draw at least) are going to be motivated enough to put in a professional performance or not.

Don't gamble folks.

 

If you contemplate Luxembourg in any way getting a result against France, I'd love to be your bookmaker. That being said, France have always had that odd "blunder" game in them. Germany on the other hand, are a machine. They only get beaten by other top line nations. I can't remember a game recently that Germany has lost against a lower ranked team like Azerbaijan. In fact, ever. I know they have lose a couple of friendlies to the USA recently, but both occasions neither side had their "Best 11" on the park. I think maybe they lost a qualifier to Slovakia or Czechia a few years ago at home 3-0, but it was a long time ago.

Just to reiterate why Asian handicap is better for punters....Both Slovenia AH 0.0 and Malta AH +3 bets would have resulted in Stake refunded if I had made those bets. With European handicap both bets would have been lost.