European heavyweights France, Germany and Belgium will all be looking to push their World Cup claims during the latest round of qualifiers, and we have made five predictions from Friday’s fixtures.
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Germany vs Luxembourg
Germany To Beat Luxembourg With Over 3.5 Goals @ 4/5
Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany have not made the start to qualifying they would have hoped for, losing to Slovakia - their first ever away defeat in World Cup qualifying - before being pushed all the way in a 3-1 home win over Northern Ireland, but the visit of Luxembourg should be a more comfortable affair.
Germany have won both their last two meetings with Luxembourg 7-0, while the team ranked 96th in the world are still searching for their first points in Group A after successive defeats.
Luxembourg have only recorded two wins since 2023 - beating Sweden and Kazakhstan at home - but aside from three heavy defeats to Portugal, they have not been thrashed by any nation in recent years either and will look to make life difficult for their hosts in Sinsheim.
Sweden vs Switzerland
Sweden To Draw With Switzerland And BTTS @ 16/5
Switzerland are off to a flyer in Group B, beating Kosovo 4-0 and Slovenia 3-0 at home, and are on a five-match winning streak stretching back to March, but now comes a bigger test of their credentials with a trip to Sweden.
The Swedes have only picked up one point from their opening two qualifiers, but with attacking options including the likes of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga and Barcelona teenager Roony Bardghji, they should pose a real threat to Switzerland’s perfect defensive record.
Historically, the two nations have been evenly matched, with 11 wins apiece and seven draws, and we think the honours could be shared in Solna.
France vs Azerbaijan
France To Score Over 3.5 Goals Against Azerbaijan @2/5
France top Group D after opening up with back-to-back wins, but have not set the world alight yet, edging past Ukraine 2-0 before beating Iceland 2-1, but Azerbaijan could find themselves in the firing line.
Kylian Mbappe scored in both of those French wins, and the Real Madrid hitman has struck in 10 of 11 matches for club and country this season - for a total of 16 goals - and he is 2/1 to open the scoring on his old stomping ground at the Parc des Princes, providing he can overcome an ankle issue first.
Azerbaijan prop up the group but bounced back from their 5-0 mauling to Iceland with a creditable 1-1 home draw against Ukraine last time out. However, they suffered a record-breaking 10-0 loss on their only previous trip to France - shipping seven goals after the break in the 1995 clash - and it could be another long night on Friday.
Iceland vs Ukraine
Iceland To Draw With Ukraine @ 21/10
Iceland are second behind 2018 World Cup winners France in Group D with three points after putting five past Azerbaijan before losing 2-1 in Paris.
Ukraine have picked up one point from matches against France and Azerbaijan and know they can ill afford a defeat to Iceland, who are likely to be their biggest rivals for a play-off spot in the four-team group.
Ukraine beat Iceland 2-1 in their Euro 2024 play-off final last year, thanks to a late Mykhailo Mudryk winner, and we think they could claim at least a point in Reykjavik.
Belgium vs North Macedonia
Belgium HT/FT Against North Macedonia @8/13
North Macedonia’s unbeaten start to World Cup qualifying will come under serious threat when the Group J leaders travel to second-placed Belgium on Friday.
With only one point separating the top three teams, this coming week could make a big difference to who holds sway in the group, with Belgium also travelling to third-placed Wales on Monday.
Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw in Skopje first up, former Leeds man Ezgjan Alioski netting a late equaliser for Macedonia, but Rudi Garcia’s men have hit form since then, beating Wales 4-3, Liechtenstein 6-0 and Kazakhstan 6-0. Kevin De Bruyne scored in all three of those wins, and he is 7/5 to net again in Ghent.
Macedonia, meanwhile, are a point clear of Belgium but have played a game more, and although they have only conceded twice in five games, we think the Red Devils will be too hot to handle.
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