Betfair Live Video: Belgium are Eden to the group summit as Macedonia fail to spot the Hazard

Croatia vs Serbia Friday 17:00 A struggling Serbia travel to Croatia in a feisty looking tie hoping to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. With six points already separating second and third spot, the visitors need to pick up something from this encounter to avoid Group A appearing done and dusted.

 

 

 

Croatia have looked solid so far, without setting the group alight. Three wins along with a draw in Belgium has seen them go joint top with the group favourites with a comfortable ten points. Although considered quite susceptible to conceding the odd goal, the Croatian strike force has got strength in depth, and quality that could see them challenging well fancied sides. Jelavic and Mandzukic seem to be the favoured partnership up top, but with Eduardo and Kalinic pushing for starts the options look healthy for coach Igor Stimac.

 

With a defence containing the strength and power of Ivanovic, Kolarov and Nastasic it comes as a surprise that the Serbians have struggled to keep teams out so far this campaign. Shipping three goals at home to a rampant Belgian side arguably doesn't reflect the talent of this Serbian side but certainly recognises the improvements that will need to be made if they are going to make any progress beyond this qualification stage. A shadow of the side under the leadership of retired Nemanja Vidic.

 

Expect a slender Croatian win by a single goal.

 

Recommended Bet

Back HT/FT Draw/Croatia @ 4.9

 

 

Kazakhstan vs Germany

Friday 18:00

 

With injuries to the German defence, Kazakhstan may sense a chance of an unlikely upset in the Astana Arena, although with only one goal to their name this campaign they may need a helping hand along the way...

 

With German centre backs Hummels and Badstuber out injured, Mertesacker and Boateng will slot into an otherwise familiar German starting line up looking to add to the ten points already gathered this group stage. With Gomez leading the line supported by the attacking threats of Muller, Ozil and Reus in behind, the visitors will confident in adding to the extraordinary fifteen goals scored in four games.

 

The hosts have their own injury concerns. Both wingers Shakhmetov and Nurgaliev will miss Friday's fixture with Khairullin and Shabalin expected to replace them on the flanks. With only a point to their name against an under par Austrian side, the hosts know that they will need to get something from their double header against the Germans if they are going to make any headway up this talented group.

 

The Germans should cruise to a comfortable win, with Ozil looking to take the outright lead in the goal scoring charts.

 

Recommended Bet

Back over 3.5 goals @ 1.94

 

 

Czech Rep vs Denmark

Friday 19:30

 

In a group chasing the leading Italians, Denmark travel to the Adruv Stadium in Olomouc to face an unbeaten Czech side sitting third in the group.

 

Czech coach Michal Bilek masterminded a solid goalless draw when these two sides last met, but with Italy stretching out their lead and the Bulgarians in pursuit, a victory on Friday night will be seen as the minimum requirement. Injury concerns have surrounded the host's camp so far this week with doubts arising over strikers Tomas Pekhart and Matthew Otter. This coupled with the hip injury to captain Tomas Rosicky has left the physio's with a busy week ahead of an important fixture.

 

The Danes have made a slow start to life in Group B managing two draws, and a loss at the hands of Italy. Heavily reliant on performances from strikers Bendtner and Rommedahl has seen them disappoint in front of goal as they have only managed to find the net twice in three games. A loss in the Czech Republic could see them slump to the bottom of a less than flattering group.

 

The hosts should have enough for the victory even with their injury concerns. Watford striker Matej Vydra could prove the difference if selected for a start.

 

Recommended Bet

Back Czech Rep. to win @ 2.24

 

 

Poland vs Ukraine

Friday 19:45

 

Group H brings us a battle between the two co-hosts of Euro 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. The rivals have got off to sluggish starts in a group that also features England, but will both see Friday night as an opportunity to put some pressure on the pace setters.

 

Polish coach Waldemar Fornalik will be reasonably satisfied with the start his side has made in a tricky group full of tricky ties. With impressive draws against England and Montenegro, they find themselves coming into this fixture unbeaten in the group and with the luxury of a game in hand.

 

Poland's next potential banana skin, suitably in the form of Ukraine's yellow army, will be hopeful of chalking up their first victory in a group that has so far only given them two points. A Shevchenko-less Ukrainian side will be relying on Dnipro striker Roman Zozulya to silence the partisan crowd by breaking his duck in the qualification stages.

 

Expect a Lewandowski inspired performance to prove the difference in Warsaw. Ukraine will prove tricky opponents, but the width of the Polish attack will leave their defence stretched and midfield stalwart Anatoliy Tymoshchuk feeling his age.

 

Recommended Bet

Back Poland to win @ 2.2

 

 

Macedonia vs Belgium

Friday 19:45

 

A fashionable Belgian side is developing quicker than expected. Sitting top of Group A, undefeated and unchallenged, they travel to Macedonia looking to cement their position as favourites for World Cup Qualification.

 

With a midfield consisting of Hazard, Dembele, Fellaini, Witsel and De Bruyne, you would be forgiven for thinking this team has been thrown together by an Abramovich-esque millionaire. However with this new generation of talent and flair coming through, it is no wonder that they are priced as short as 25.0 to take the title in Brazil. Ten points taken from four played and only one goal conceded has set them up nicely for a double header against Macedonia - being played this Friday and Tuesday.

 

Macedonia have surprised many with their less than shambolic start to the group stage. Sitting fourth in the group (above Wales and Scotland), and with a victory over Serbia to their name has seen expectations rise in Cedomir Janevski's camp. Maribor striker Agim Ibraimi is one to look out for leading the line for the hosts, accompanied by the experienced head of Goran Pandev.

 

Belgium should have more than enough on Friday night, setting them up nicely for six points in five days against the Red Lions of Macedonia.

 

Recommended Bet

Back Belgium to win 2-0 @ 7.8

 

Bet HERE

 

Viewed 573 times