SWEDES to cause Portuguese problems in World Cup play-offs

In the first of our two part guide to the World Cup qualifying play-offs in Europe we look at the games involving the Nordic pair, Iceland and Sweden. The former play Croatia and the latter Portugal and here is a look at the best of the bets from these fixtures.

The World Cup will be missing either Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Cristiano Ronaldo after Sweden and Portugal where drawn together in the play-off stages. Bookmakers think it will be Zlatan who misses out as they make Cristiano and Portugal the 6/11 (888 SPORT/unibet) favourites to qualify for Brazil in 2014 while Sweden are 7/4 (SKYBET/CORAL) chances.

The opening leg is in Portugal (19:45, SKY SPORTS) and the hosts are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Sweden though four of these have ended drawn, including each of the last three. Portugal are 7/10 (william hill) for the home victory while the draw is a 29/10 (bet365/BETVICTOR) chance and a Sweden victory is priced at 5/1 (BETVICTOR).

Sweden have lost just three of their last 17 internationals with two of those coming against Germany and Argentina. I like the look of Sweden then on the Asian Handicap at odds of 43/40 (bet365) with a 0.75 start. This bet will pay out on a Sweden win or draw and only as a half lose if Portugal win the game by one goal.

Another bet worth taking is Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score at anytime as the Swede will have a point to prove as he thinks he is often overlooked when the conversation comes down to the worlds best players. Zlatan has scored 17 goals in 19 games so far this season and looks over-priced to net at anytime at odds of 12/5 (SPREADEX) in the opening leg.

Speaking of Ronaldo he is also in great scoring form and he has netted a remarkable 27 in 19 games so far this season and he might prove popular at evens (888 SPORT/BWIN/unibet) to score at anytime. Some bookmakers are even doing special bets on the duo and you can get a matchbet over the two legs on who will score most with william hill. The firm are offering 11/10 that it is Ronaldo, 2/1 the draw and 11/5 that it is Ibrahimovic.

If Iceland were to qualify for the World Cup at the expense of Croatia they would be the smallest nation to ever make the finals with a population of just over 300,000 a lot smaller than current record holders Trinidad and Tobago (approx 1.4 million). Bookmakers think the Iceland fairytale will come to an end in the play-offs when they do battle with Croatia who are the 1/4 (boylesports/betfred/betway) favourites to qualify while Iceland are 7/2 (GENERAL).

In the opening leg in Iceland Croatia are the 21/20 (ladbrokes) favourites with the draw on offer at 5/2 (bet365/BWIN) and an Iceland victory priced at 7/2 (BETVICTOR). I think the hosts will try keep things as tight as possible as coach Lars Lagerback the Swedish coach of Iceland is a safety first manager. It has been 0-0 at half-time in two of the last three Iceland home games and this looks the way to play this once more at odds of 28/17 (BWIN).

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Sweden +0.75 on Asian Handicap v Portugal, 43/40 (bet365)
SILVER: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score anytime v Portugal, 12/5 (SPREADEX)
BRONZE: Half time score 0-0 Iceland v Croatia, 28/17 (BWIN)

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25/11/2013     © Frixo 2026