More misery for the Scots?

The race to the World Cup continues this weekend with a host of qualifiers involving teams from Europe. Here is our guide to the best of the bets from these games.

Five wins in a row for Croatia has seen them shoot up to fourth in the FIFA World Rankings and they are 4/11 (WILLIAMHILL) to see off a Scotland side without a win in their last seven World Cup qualifiers. Gordon Strachan and his side will take heart from the fact that all three previous clashes between the two have ended all square and you can get 17/4 (BWIN) that this game ends in a draw. Those who think Scotland can hand Croatia their first defeat in eight game can back them to do so at 11/1 (sportingbet). Croatia are blessed with a number of goalscoring options and the first seven players in the first goalscorer markets are all Croatian. Mario Mandzukic who scored in the Champions League final and in three of the last four internationals at can be backed at 4/1 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes) to open the scoring. Eduardo has netted in two of the last four Croatia games and he is 9/2 (GENERAL) to net first. Jordan Rhodes has scored two goals in his last two start for Scotland and can be backed at 14/1 (bet365/BETVICTOR) to score first or 19/4 (BETVICTOR) to score anytime.

The bet in this game then could be to take Croatia to win to nil which can be backed at 17/20 (ladbrokes). Croatia have conceded just three goals in qualifying so far and none in their three home games, Scotland meanwhile have netted just once in their last five away World Cup qualifiers.

After a comfortable 4-0 victory over Georgia the Republic of Ireland will be confident that they can see off the Faroes Islands at 1/10 (william hill/betway). Though Robbie Keane got among the goals it was Wes Hoolahan who was the true star of the show against Georgia and he must start against the Faroes. The player has had to watch a remarkable number of average (at best) players like Paul Green get international caps ahead of him. Hoolahan is 8/1 (SKYBET) to score first and 11/4 (SKYBET) to score at anytime. Most people will expect this game to be a walk in the park but I think the Faroes can frustrate for a while and you just have to look at the last two meetings between the sides which have been level at HT. You can get 4/1 (WILLIAMHILL) that 0-0 is the correct Half-Time score which has to be worth a little interest.

The pick of the bets from the other games (16 qualifiers are taking place Friday with a further one on Sunday) comes in the game between Albania and Norway where I am amazed to see that the hosts are 9/4 (BETVICTOR/SPREADEX) to defeat Norway. This is quite clearly pricing on reputation rather than form as Albania defeated Norway 1-0 (in Norway) back on March 22nd. I also like the look of Hamdi Salihi in the anytime scorer market at 10/3 (bet365). The player has scored in each of his last two games and in four of his last six. He grabbed the only goal when these two met back in March (his sixth at international level).

The worst bet of the weekend has to be siding with Portugal to beat Russia as 10/11 (BETVICTOR/CORAL) is far too short on a side who have won just one of their last six while Russia are unbeaten in their last eight games.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Albania to defeat Norway, 9/4 (BETVICTOR/SPREADEX)
SILVER: Croatia to beat Scotland to Nil, 17/20 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Hamdi Salihi to score anytime v Norway, 10/3 (bet365)

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06/06/2013     © Frixo 2026