Turkey, Bulgaria and Iceland must-win treble pays over 12/1
Published:
Qualification for next year’s World Cup still hangs in the balance for many European nations and with Brazil 2014 providing the ultimate carrot plenty of unfancied teams should be backed to give their rivals some stick.
Groups B, D and E throw up perhaps the most interesting of ties for this final round of matches and we’ve put together a solid treble paying out at just over 12/1.
With Holland having won 10 and lost one of their last 15 matches this may not seem like an obvious choice. However, Louis van Gaal’s men have been victorious in just one of their last three away from home and with qualification already secure could struggle to get up for the trip to Istanbul.
Turkey know they must at least equal Romania’s result to gain a play-off berth and with The Tricolours at home to Estonia a win is looking vital.
Fatih Terim’s men will not be short of confidence, however, having lost just one of their last eight games. Turkey are not a prolific side in terms of winning at home but are certainly hard to beat as evidenced by four draws in their last seven as hosts.
The prize at stake in this match should elevate Terim’s side enough for them to secure a famous victory.
Bulgaria have struggled to overcome the Czechs in the past but a 0-0 draw in their last meeting showed that they can hold their own on their day.
Level on points with Denmark – who are almost guaranteed three points at home to Malta – Bulgaria are another side that know a win is a must and while losing three of their last four games is hardly the best preparation, their home form alone earns them a spot in this treble.
Lyuboslav Penev’s men have lost just one of their last six matches as the home side and welcome a Czech outfit that failed to win four of six away games before the fairly irrelevant 4-1 rout of Malta.
While the Czechs are not mathematically out of the running for second place they cannot amass enough points to secure a play-off spot. Bulgaria, meanwhile, can be sure that a home win will see them through as runner’s up.
Iceland secured their first win in six attempts over Norway last time the sides met and that victory will provide them with the belief required to get them over the line here.
The Norwegians have lost two of their last four at home and while that isn’t the most convincing of stats the level of opposition – Switzerland and Albania – shows that there are vulnerabilities to be exploited.
The hosts have nothing to play for and with Iceland winning three and drawing one of their last four on the road, a convincing win for Lars Lagerback’s men appears to be on the cards.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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