With club football on hold, the international stage is where we turn our attention to as the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers begin. Bafana Bafana are one of the teams in action, but as you may find out, betting with your heart may not be the most sensible thing to do. Here, we’ll take a look at 10 matches to punt on.
We cater for everybody here at BET Central, so let’s see what’s cooking on the menu this week:
Zimbabwe v South Africa (Friday)
As patriotic as we would love to be, South Africa have made it very easy and have given us some comfort to look past them in this tie. Zimbabwe comes into this tie looking much better, while it’s yet to be seen whether the Bafana Bafana players have really bought into Hugo Broos’ coaching methods. The likes of Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona should have a field day here.
Suggested Bet: Zimbabwe to win or draw
Cameroon v Malawi (Friday)
Cameroon begin their World Cup qualifiers on Friday when they host Malawi in their opening Group D fixture. The Indomitable Lions – captained by Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting – will be hoping to start their qualification campaign on a winning note. You’d certainly fancy their chances of doing so against a Malawian side winless in their last five matches – not to mention losing three straight matches away from home.
Suggested Bet: Cameroon to win
Value Bet: Cameroon -1 handicap
Mozambique v Ivory Coast (Friday)
Ivory Coast are showing signs of getting back to their best again, enduring a six-game unbeaten run, beating the likes of Madagascar, Niger and Burkina Faso, before drawing to Ghana in their latest friendly. Mozambique had a disappointing COSAFA Cup, and before that, they had lost four games in a row.
Suggested Bet: Ivory Coast to win
Latvia v Norway (Saturday)
Norway will be overwhelming favourites when they come up against Latvia on Saturday. The visitors come off the back of a well-deserved point against the Netherlands, drawing 1-1. UEFA Forward of the Year, Erling Haaland, was once again in red-hot form, netting for his country against a Dutch side who had welcomed Virgil van Dijk back into the fold. Latvia have conceded eight goals in four matches, which isn’t a great record to brag about when coming up against one of Europe’s most feared strikers at the moment.
Value Bet: Haaland to score first
Serbia v Luxembourg (Saturday)
Serbia’s unbeaten run in their qualifiers will be put to the test when they host Luxembourg this Saturday. After three games, the hosts have claimed two victories and drew to Portugal. Serbia have netted seven times in those three outings, with Aleksandar Mitrovic banging in five goals. Luxembourg have had their moments, but with four goals in three matches, it’s hard to see them posing much of a threat.
Value Bet: Serbia to win both halves
Republic of Ireland v Azerbaijan (Saturday)
The Republic of Ireland have been very unlucky in their road to qualification so far, losing all three of their matches played. However, the Irish did hold a 1-0 advantage over Portugal until Cristiano Ronaldo single-handedly overturned the deficit in the final seven minutes of the match to dent Ireland’s chances and keep them without a point thus far in the group. Azerbaijan have also lost all of their ties played so far, but unlike Ireland, the visitors have had very few positives to talk about.
Suggested Bet: Republic of Ireland to win
Value Bet: Republic -1 handicap
Ukraine v France (Saturday)
Ukraine have been somewhat disappointing in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers, drawing all four of their matches to date. They recently drew against Kazakhstan in midweek, highlighting their difficulties to finish games off. France also drew on Wednesday, but have the excuse of being a man down after Jules Kounde was shown a red card.
Value Bet: France to win to zero
Faroe Islands v Denmark (Saturday)
Carrying a 100% record and sitting atop Group F of the World Cup Qualifiers, Denmark will be strongly fancied to beat Faroe Islands. The Danes have been excellent in their qualifying campaign, overcoming Israel, Moldova, Austria and Scotland, having scored 16 goals without reply. As for their neighbours, Faroe Islands, it’s been a long qualification journey.
Value Bet: Denmark -1 handicap
Gibraltar v Turkey (Saturday)
Turkey will look to move a step closer to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup when they host minnows Gibraltar on Saturday. The Crescent-Stars lead the Group G standings but have a narrow one-point advantage over Netherlands, Montenegro and Norway. Turkey have a golden opportunity to maintain their lead atop the table as they face the group’s whipping boys who have lost all four of their matches, shipping 17 goals.
Suggested Bet: Turkey -1 handicap
Value Bet: Over 1.5 goals both halves
Belgium v Czech Republic (Sunday)
Roberto Martinez’s Belgium host the Czech Republic in Brussels on Sunday. The Czechs did well to earn a 1-1 draw against Belgium in Prague back in March, but they face a very difficult task when they head to Brussels looking for a result. The Red Devils, who are in a healthy position as they sit top of Group E, have won both of their World Cup qualifiers on home soil in ruthless fashion, beating Wales 3-1, before an 8-0 demolition of Belarus.
Value Bet: Lukaku to score first
F1 News & Updates
Belgian Grand Prix Review
F1 News & Updates
F1: Hungarian Grand Prix Preview And Predictions
F1 News & Updates
Austrian Grand Prix Review – Verstappen and Perez Shine in Spielberg
International And Local Golf News And Tournaments
Podcast: US Open Golf Betting Preview
