Andy Schooler offers his best international football tips as Ireland chase a play-off spot and England head to Albania looking to complete a perfect campaign.
International Football Tips: WCQ Matchday 10
I mentioned the obvious England bet at the moment in my preview of their game with Serbia on Thursday without actually backing it. Let’s not make the same mistake again. England to win to nil has landed in the Three Lions’ last nine competitive games with keeper Jordan Pickford now on a personal run of 10 successive clean sheets for his country.
International Football Tips Albania v England
I’m surprised that outcome can be backed at odds-against here, even if this is a dead game for both teams – England have already qualified, while Albania will compete in March’s play-offs. The hosts have scored just 11 goals in 13 competitive internationals since Euro 2024. They only won 1-0 away to minnows Andorra on Thursday and managed just two goals in two games against Latvia in this pool. Throw in a recent friendly with Gibraltar, that was also won 1-0, and you can see why Albania may struggle to break down that solid England defence.
Another bet worth considering is Eberechi Eze to score 1+ goal at 3.15. His excellent finish at Wembley against the Serbs made it three goals in six appearances under Thomas Tuchel. Only two of those have been starts though and so he’s averaging a goal every 93 minutes in that period. Tuchel has said he won’t “experiment” during this international window but surely he’s not going with the same XI here. Eze looks at the front of the queue for a start and, if he does, those odds will appeal.
International Football Tips: Hungary v Rec of Ireland
I had to mention the England game but I’d much prefer to put my betting bank towards a game with something truly riding on it and that’s what we have here. With Portugal expected to beat Armenia at home and therefore finish top of the group, this looks a battle for second place and a play-off spot. Hungary hold the advantage at present so the draw favours them.
However, Ireland will be buoyed by Thursday’s win over the Portuguese in Dublin, a result which has revived their hopes of qualifying for their first World Cup since 2002. Hungary have only beaten Armenia in this group but expectation will be high and that will bring pressure. While Ireland could get ahead early and then try to see it out, it would seem more likely that they have to chase the game at some point and with that in mind, I believe some of their shot prices could be out.
They managed 23 shots in the reverse fixture in which they also had to come out and attack after falling 2-0 down. It ended 2-2. The player I like at the prices is Finn Azaz, who is 2.15 for 2+ shots. The Southampton man hit three from his role on the left against Portugal and has now landed the 2+ bet in four of his last five internationals.
International Football Tips: Ukraine v Iceland
Here’s another winner-takes-all showdown with a play-off spot on the line. The draw favours Iceland which should bring Ukraine out to play and there looks every chance of goals. The reverse fixture ended 5-3 in Ukraine’s favour and both sides have a strong recent history for being involved in games where both teams score. Iceland, who scored in both matches against France in this group, have now landed the BTTS bet in 10 of their last 14 games.
Hungary have conceded in their last 12, scoring themselves in nine of those matches. Their need for goals, plus a poor defensive record, makes both teams to score look great value at 2.0 – my bet of the day. I also can’t resist a punt on the player who looks Iceland’s most likely scorer, Albert Gudmundsson.
After netting against Azerbaijan on Thursday, he’s now scored eight goals in his last eight internationals. In club football, he’s managed three goals in eight starts for a Fiorentina side currently propping up Serie A. Essentially, form is good and here he’s playing against a defence which has just shipped four goals against France and hasn’t kept a clean sheet in well over a year. You know what to do.
International Football Tips: Matchday 10
England to win & BTTS ‘no’ @ 2.05 with kwiff
Eze 1+ goal v Albania @ 3.15 with kwiff
Azaz 2+ shots v Hungary @ 2.15 with kwiff
BTTS in Ukraine v Iceland @ 2.0 with kwiff
Gudmundsson 1+ goal v Ukraine @ 4.6 with kwiff
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