THE World Cup qualifiers are back this weekend, which usually means a lack of goals and a lack of excitement, and that certainly looks the case in Group C on Friday night when Northern Ireland host Azerbaijan.
The Irish performed heroics for boss Michael O’Neil to make it to last summer’s European championship finals, but they are a side that seems to do better when given the underdog tag and as the 1.62 favourites for a Belfast win that’s not a price that I would be rushing to take.
Azerbaijan is an improving nation, and under the guidance of manager Robert Prosinecki they’ve picked up seven points from three qualifiers and are more than capable of holding the favourites at Windsor Park.
You can get a massive 7.00 on an away win, which looks a little beyond them but the draw certainly does appeal at the 3.75 that Bet365 are offering.
In all four previous international matches between these two countries everyone has produced under 2.5 goals, and with Azerbaijan’s three matches in this campaign resulting in just TWO goals, under 2.5 on a freezing cold Belfast night looks a certainty at the 1.50 that Coral will offer you.
One goal, if we get one, should be enough for either side to win this and with Azerbaijan yet to concede in this qualifying campaign under 1.5 goals at 2.50 with William Hills looks appealing as does no goalscorer in the match at a more working man’s price of 7.00 with the same company.
GROUP A’s table-topping clash in Paris between France and Sweden looks a lot more appealing on the eye, but this is another that could disappoint.
These two countries have an identical record in qualification so it should be very difficult to split the two sides.
But that is not the case at all, as France are a very short price 1.28 with William Hills to claim top spot; however, if there is any international side in Europe who can let you down at short prices the French will be very close to the top of that list.
The French did impress in their last home match, coming from behind to beat Bulgaria 4-1, but I don’t believe the gulf between these two sides is as big as the bookies have it, and the Swede’s look huge at 16.0 with Bet365.
Sweden did lose 1-0 on their last visit to Paris in 2014, and in their last five matches in the French capital they’ve never been beaten by more than one goal, so the best bet in the match is Sweden +1.5 on the Asian handicap lines at the generally available 11/10 with most firms.
This looks another match where goals will be hard to come by, as six of the last seven matches between these two countries have featured under 2.5 goals; again that looks a spot of value at the 2.10 with Paddy Power.
If the French don’t score early, then an expectant Paris crowd usually gets on the team’s back. This could turn into a very nervy night and one goal might be enough to win it for either side and under 1.5 is also on my bet radar at 4.10 with BetVictor.
