World Cup Qualifying Group E odds: Wales trying to catch Belgium
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Preview and betting tips for World Cup Qualifying Group E
Belgium’s golden generation came up short once again at the European Championship but they are 1/20 in the World Cup qualifying Group E odds after making a decent start to their campaign.
The Red Devils, 12/1 in the World Cup winner odds, qualified for Euro 2020 with a perfect 10 wins and they triumphed in all three group games at the finals to set up a last-16 tie against Portugal which they won courtesy of a Thorgan Hazard strike three minutes before half-time.
However, the world’s number one ranked team then lost 2-1 in the quarter-finals to Italy, who went on to win the tournament by beating England on penalties in the final.
Red Devils in driving seat
Roberto Martinez’s side got off to the perfect start in World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 victory over Wales, the nation that famously beat them by the same scoreline at Euro 2016 to reach the semi-finals.
A 1-1 draw with Czech Republic was followed by an 8-0 rout of Belarus, the team they face last of all in a three-game spell over seven days at the start of September.
A visit to Estonia is followed by a home clash with the Czechs who are 10/1 in the World Cup qualifying Group E odds.
The Czech Republic were not expected to do well at the Euros but despite finishing third in England’s group they took advantage of an extra man to beat Netherlands in the last 16 only to lose 2-1 to Denmark in the quarter-finals.
Patrik Schick’s five goals meant he scored the same number as Cristiano Ronaldo but missed out on the Golden Boot because of the Portugal skipper’s sole assist.
The Bayer Leverkusen striker scored the equaliser in a 6-2 win in Estonia but an excellent 1-1 draw with Belgium went to waste with a 1-0 defeat in Wales.
Rob Page’s troops did not quite emulate the side that reached the last four at Euro 2016 but they advanced to the knockout stage once again as Group A runners-up ahead of Switzerland but were destroyed by Denmark in the last 16.
🏴 @aaronramsey holds a unique record in that he is the only player in the history of the national team to score in the finals of two major tournaments.
➡︎ https://t.co/DwZVQmsswr ⬅︎#EURO2020 | #WAL | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/vcqNcaP4po
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 12, 2021
Dan James’ 82nd-minute winner against the Czechs means they are third in Group E in the race to Qatar but with games against Belarus and Estonia to come in September they have the chance to move into second place.
The Welsh are 11/1 in the World Cup qualifying Group E odds but could still make the play-offs in third as one of the best two Nations League group winners.
Belarus twice trailed to Estonia in the group stage but ran out 4-2 winners and are 300/1 outsiders to finish top of the pool.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
