World Cup predictions: Friday qualifiers tips and odds
Our expert has tips for all six of Friday's World Cup qualifiers involving European nations, which include Norway vs Italy and Wales vs Liechtenstein. Among them, we think a low-scoring win is on the cards for the beaten 2018 finalists Croatia when they visit Gibraltar.
Czechia vs Montenegro: Patrik Schick to score @ 11/8 with Sky Bet
Estonia vs Israel: Israel to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 @ 6/4 with Sky Bet
Gibraltar vs Croatia: Croatia to win and under 4.5 goals @ 4/5 with Sky Bet
North Macedonia vs Belgium: Isnik Alimi to be carded @ 11/4 with Sky Bet
Norway vs Italy: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 11/10 with Sky Bet
Wales vs Liechtenstein: Wales to have 11+ shots on target @ 11/8 with Sky Bet
Odds courtesy of Sky Bet Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
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Czechia vs Montenegro (kick-off, 7.45pm BST)
Something's got to give in this clash between Czechia and Montenegro, who both have six points from two games in Group L, and Patrik Schick's clinical eye for goal could be the difference.
The Czechia centre-forward has netted three times in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and only Harry Kane (26) bettered his total of 21 goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Estonia vs Israel (kick-off, 7.45pm BST)
Israel defeated Estonia 2-1 in Hungary back in March and a similar scoreline could be on the cards when the teams reconvene in Tallinn.
Estonia do not offer a lot up front, so will be reliant on their defence to get something out of this contest, and each of their previous three matches has been settled by a single-goal margin.
Gibraltar vs Croatia (kick-off, 7.45pm BST)
Croatia begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Gibraltar at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal and the minnows have it in them to keep the score down, even if Croatia do win as expected.
Gibraltar have lost their first two qualifiers 4-0 and 3-1 against Czechia and Montenegro, but before that they were unbeaten in seven games, six of which featured under 2.5 goals, and that run began with a 0-0 draw against Wales.
North Macedonia vs Belgium (kick-off, 7.45pm BST)
Englishman Chris Kavanagh will referee Friday's match in Skopje and, given he has averaged 4.89 yellow cards in all competitions this season, the caution count could be on the high side.
The home nation's midfielder Isnik Alimi could be worth a bet to go into the book, having committed three fouls in his country's last three matches and picked up yellow cards in games against the Faroe Islands in September and November last year.
Norway vs Italy (kick-off, 7.45pm BST)
Norway have scored nine times across their first two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Israel and they can contribute to another high-scoring affair against Italy in Oslo on Friday.
There is plenty of attacking firepower in the Norway squad with Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth and Jorgen Strand Larsen all involved, and both teams to score and over 2.5 goals looks overpriced at 11/10, given it has clicked in seven of Italy's last eight games and nine of Norway's previous 10.
Wales vs Liechtenstein (kick-off, 7.45pm BST)
Liechtenstein's World Cup qualifying campaign has started with 3-0 and 2-0 defeats against North Macedonia and Kazakhstan respectively and they could be in for another tough night in Cardiff.
Across those two defeats Liechtenstein allowed 33 shots, 11 of which were on target, and Wales look a decent bet to manage 11+ shots on target on their own at 11/8, with Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson in the starting line-up.
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