World Cup Qualifier Tips: 27th & 28th March

It is fair to say that both these teams got off to the start that they wanted in their opening game of qualifying. Belgium came back from a goal down to beat Wales 3-1 thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and a Romelu Lukaku penalty.

The Czech’s also came from being a goal down early on away to Estonia to finish as the comfortable 6-2 winners on the night. West Ham’s Tomas Soucek scored a hat-trick while Patrick Schick also netted, as well as providing two assists.

The last time the two teams met was in June 2017 when Roberto Martinez’ team earned a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Batshuayi and Fellaini. That game though was a friendly match and in general, matches between the two have been very evenly contested with little between the teams.

Usually in such games, home advantage can be crucial, but a lack of fans I think hinders home teams on occasions and as such, I think given the quality in their squad, Belgium will be looking to gain a second win here. I do fancy the Czech’s to score, but I can see Belgium hanging on to record a 2-1 win here.

A quick look at the data for this fixture does not make for great reading if you are a Serbia fan. The home side have not beaten Portugal in six attempts and they have lost three of the last four between the two teams.

That included a 4-2 home defeat in the qualification for the Euro 2020 Championships, which Portugal are the defending champions of. That followed on from a 2-1 win in Serbia in October 2015 also in European Championship qualifiers.

In fact, having picked up just one point at home and two on the road, Serbia’s record against Portugal is better in Portugal than in their own stadium and despite their battling 3-2 win over the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, I don’t feel they are going to be celebrating at the end of this game.

Portugal made heavy work of beating Azerbaijan at home, but they do struggle more against teams that sit in and defend. Serbia won’t do that, and I think that plays into Portugal’s strengths and as such, while I can see Serbia scoring, I feel Portugal will run out 2-1 or even 3-1 winners.

England kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with an entirely predictable 5-0 win over whipping boys San Marino at Wembley. In truth, England could (and should) have had many more goals but for some wasteful finishing and an inspired display by the San Marino keeper.

Their opponents this weekend, assuming the game can get the go ahead, will be Albania who kicked off their World Cup campaign with a solid 1-0 win away to Andorra. That was a big win especially seeing as Hungary and Poland drew their game in Budapest.

England have enjoyed dominance in this fixture in the past. A 2-0 win in Albania in 1989 was followed a month later by a 5-0 win at Wembley in which Paul Gascoigne made a starring appearance. Then in 2001, a 3-1 win in Tirana was followed by a 2-0 win at Wembley.

It is fair to say since then Albania have come on as a nation and this is certainly not going to be an easy game for England and I can see Albania perhaps grabbing a goal. However, with the quality England have in attack, it would be criminal if they didn’t win this game and as such, I am backing them to land a 3-1 victory here.

There is no doubt that Serhii Sydorchuk’s deflected shot of Presnel Kimpembe has thrown Group D wide open. World Cup holders France had been expected to qualify from this group relatively comfortably but having been held at home by the team expected to be their closest rivals sets up a real chance for Ukraine to cause a shock here.

Finland had probably got an eye on a runner up spot in the group after qualifying for Euro 2020 for the first time but a draw at home to Bosnia Herzegovina in their first game, while not fatal to their prospects, certainly makes things more difficult, as does Ukraine getting a point in France.

There’s not a lot of history between the two teams with just two games. Ukraine won 2-1 at home and 1-0 in Finland in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup Finals and they would certainly accept both those results this time around if offered.

Finland are a much more dangerous team nowadays and I think in Pukki, they have a striker who can grab a goal in the Ukraine but I still feel that the home side will be too strong and I am backing them to land the win here.