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World Cup Qualifiers 2018 2nd leg - 12th November - 14th November

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World Cup 2018 Qualifiers: Ninety Minutes for Glory



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Ninety minutes to decide whether next summer is played out on the Steppes or the beach. Each of the four first leg matches left an indelible mark in the footballing world.

All bar one remains in the balance with a fascinating second leg in prospect in Greece. Italy and Northern Ireland must retrieve single goal deficits while Republic of Ireland and Denmark know one mistake could kill their dreams.

Switzerland vs. Northern Ireland (First leg 1 – 0)

This had controversy enough for all four ties. The most bizarrely awarded penalty against Northern Ireland condemned them to defeat and effectively gave Michael O’Neill’s pre-match talks. A burning sense of injustice seared into the Irish psyche gives the men in green plenty of motivation.

The penalty masked the gulf between the two sides. Switzerland were by far the better team and the surprise was that they only managed a one-goal margin of victory.

O’Neill, adept at tactics, watched almost helpless as the Swiss technique and imagination tore through the midfield and defence. The Irish didn’t help themselves carelessly ceding possession which made the Swiss job much easier.

Yet with just one goal dividing the two teams, it is too soon to write the Irish off. However, their performance levels will need to be much higher if they are to progress to the World Cup finals.

Northern_Ireland_Switzerland_First_Leg.jpeg

Injury news

Switzerland: None
Northern Ireland: Dallas (Doubtful); Evans (Suspended)

Form

Switzerland: WWWWLW
Northern Ireland: WWWLLL

Stats

  • Northern Ireland have scored more than one goal in one of their last five away games.
  • Switzerland have won 10 of their last 11 World Cup qualifiers.

CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)

Switzerland: 4/9William Hill - Visit William Hill!

Draw: 16/5Ladbrokes - Visit Ladbrokes!

Northern Ireland: 9/5bet365 - Visit bet365!

Greece vs. Croatia (First leg 1 – 4)

Tales of heroism were plentiful in Ancient Greece; now, on the football pitch at least, the modern Greeks must provide their own to reach the 2018 World Cup finals.

Croatia were phenomenal in the first leg, helped by a Greece performance utterly bereft of discipline. Gifted the opener by Karnezis, Katinic was unmarked for the second. Perisic’s third before half-time meant it became damage limitation for the Greeks.

Sokratis gave hope but Luka Modric put clear daylight between the two sides. A failure to take late chances hurt the Greeks chances of closing the deficit, and gives hope for the second leg.

Changes will be rung by Michael Skibbe. In defence, Kostas Manolas available after suspension. Further forward, Christodoulopoulos and Gianniotas are in contention for places as Greece look to overturn the three-goal deficit.

Croatia are unlikely to be unchanged although Mario Mandzukic’s experience may be invaluable in a testing atmosphere.

Croatia_4_1_Greece_World_Cup.jpg

Injury News

None

Form

Greece: DDLWWL
Croatia: LWLDWW

Stats

  • Turkey are the only nation to over-turn a three-goal deficit in the UEFA play-offs.
  • Greece only scored more than two goals in two group games – both against Gibraltar

CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)

Greece: 6/5Stan James - Visit Stan James!

Draw: 5/2Ladbrokes - Visit Ladbrokes!

Croatia: 14/5Coral - Visit Coral!

Italy vs. Sweden (First leg 0 – 1)

Italy, the masters at qualifying for the finals of major tournaments, must do something they haven’t managed since 1973: beat Sweden by two goals. In the 12 matches since, they have managed six wins against five defeats so victory is by no means certain.

It might have been all so different had Darmian’s shot entered the net rather than striking the post. As it is, Sweden lead thanks to a goal from Jakob Johannson in the 61st minute.
Sweden’s energy pushed Italy out of their game plan, impressively as they maintained their plan throughout the ninety minutes. Giampero Ventura saw his side improve in the second half and needs that repeated in Milan.

His cause isn’t helped by Marco Veratti’s suspension. Lorenzo Insigne replaced the PSG man in the second half; it would be a positive step from Ventura to include him from the start although the much-coveted Jorginho may slot in to give Italy a double defensive pivot.

Sweden_Italy_World_Cup.jpg

Injury News

Italy: Veratti (Suspended)

Form

Italy: WLWDWL
Sweden: DLWWLW

Stats

  • Sweden have lost only one of their last eleven matches by more than two goals.
  • Italy have lost just one of their last nine home games, winning four by two or more goals.

CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)

Italy: 8/15 - William HillVisit William Hill!

Draw: 16/5 - bet365 - Visit Bet365!

Sweden: 7/1 - bet365 - Visit Bet365!

Denmark vs. Republic of Ireland (First leg 0 – 0)

It wasn’t the best of matches, but Martin O’Neill won’t care. A goalless draw was a good result for the Republic of Ireland with the Danes enjoying the lion’s share of possession. Darren Randolph’s double save in the first half may turn out to be the pivotal moment of this tie.

Encouragingly, they fashioned half-a-dozen chances from just 28% possession, but the concern will be the gap between attack and midfield. At times, Murphy – and later Long – were isolated but in Dublin, the Irish will be more aggressive although caution must apply since away goals count.

Age Hareide observed O’Neill’s side were "easy to read but difficult to beat". That damns his side as much as the Irish. Playing on the counter may suit the Danes with the Ireland midfield less likely to be strung across the pitch in as formidable a defensive barrier.

Denmark_Ireland.jpg

Injury News

Impressively, none of the 15 players from the first leg facing suspension received a yellow card so everyone is available.

Form

Republic of Ireland: DDLWWD
Denmark: WWWWDD

STATS

  • Denmark are unbeaten in ten (W5, D5).
  • Ireland have lost once to Denmark in the six matches played in the Republic (W3, D2).

CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)

Republic of Ireland: 7/4William Hill - Visit William Hill!

Draw: 28/15Ladbrokes - Visit Ladbrokes!

Denmark: 15/8Paddy Power - Visit Paddy Power!

SUMMING UP!

It’s hard to see Greece winning by three goals (8/1Visit Betfred!) but the remaining ties are less clear-cut on paper. Certainly, Switzerland deserve their odds-on status with over-confidence their biggest enemy. That’s reflected in Northern Ireland’s odds (9/1Visit Paddy Power!) and winning via a penalty shootout which may yet be their best hope for qualification.

The remaining two ties are in the balance. Italy are favourites to progress against an obdurate Sweden yet there is good value in a total of zero goals (13/2Visit Coral!).

In the last tie, Republic of Ireland’s issue is keeping a clean sheet. They have succeeded in one of the past five (9/5Visit Paddy Power!) home games which makes those odds seem quite generous.

Hardly surprising, but the qualifiers I see are Croatia, Switzerland, Italy with perhaps Denmark the only surprise.

Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (12:00 11th November 2017) and are subject to change.

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply

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Stuart is a freelance writer and well-known Arsenal blogger, writing A Cultured Left Foot since 2006. As well as football, he regularly writes about cricket, tennis, rugby, baseball and American football.

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