World Cup Qualifiers Part 2 – Matchday 7 Results, Matchday 8 Preview

You may remember that last week we brought you a preview of the Matchday 7 fixtures across the European World Cup Qualifying Groups.

All those games have now been played, but after a short rest, the teams will be back in action on Monday and Tuesday this week as we now head into Matchday 8, when we could well see the first European qualifiers for the World Cup Finals in Qatar in 2022 confirmed.

We couldn’t preview Matchday 8 in detail last week because we didn’t have the latest bet365 odds on those games, plus we didn’t know how Matchday 7 results would pan out and how that would affect each of the ten groups.

READ: England’s 2022 World Cup Odds Slipping

We do have both those things in place now though, so we are going to bring you our preview of Matchday 8 in European World Cup qualifying.

Remember, if you fancy a bet on these games then sign up now with our bet365 bonus code to claim the available Welcome Bonus and some bet365 Credits when you start betting on the site.

If you are based in the United States, then BetRivers Sportsbook offers you a fantastic selection of international matches to bet on from across the world.

European World Cup Qualifiers

Each of the ten group winners qualify for the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022.

The ten group runner’s up, along with the two best performing Nations League teams who did not finish in the top two of their group, will enter the playoffs, which will be played in March 2022.

The 12 teams will be drawn into three separate pathways, with one legged semifinals and a final to follow with the winning team from each of the three pathways taking the final three spots at the World Cup Finals for European teams.

Group A

Matchday 7 Results

• Azerbaijan 0-3 Rep of Ireland
• Luxembourg 0-1 Serbia

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Serbia – 6, 13-7, 14 pts
2. Portugal – 5, 11-4, 13 pts
3. Luxembourg – 5, 5-9, 6 pts
4. Rep of Ireland – 6, 8-8, 5 pts
5. Azerbaijan – 6, 3-12, 1 pt

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Portugal v Luxembourg
• Serbia v Azerbaijan

Tips

A win for Serbia over Azerbaijan would likely set up a crucial final night decided in Lisbon as Portugal and Serbia will go head to head on Matchday 10. It looks likely that these two teams will be the ones finishing in the top two spots in what has been a comfortable group for the pair.

Back Portugal to win 4-0 against Luxembourg (13-2), while Serbia should comfortably beat Azerbaijan 3-0 (11/2)

Group B

Matchday 7 Results

• Georgia 0-2 Greece
• Sweden 3-0 Kosovo

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Spain – 6, 13-5, 13 pts
2. Sweden – 5, 10-3, 12 pts
3. Greece – 5, 7-4, 9 pts
4. Kosovo – 6, 3-12, 4 pts
5. Georgia – 6, 2-11, 1 pt

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Kosovo v Georgia
• Sweden v Greece

Tips

A win for Sweden over Greece would move them top of the group, but Greece could close the gap on top spot with a win here, so this will be a pivotal game. The Kosovo v Georgia clash will simply make up the numbers in the group.

I wouldn’t bother betting on the Kosovo v Georgia game, but the Sweden game is appealing, and I think taking Alexander Isak, the impressive Swedish striker, to score at any time at 7/5 is a solid bet.

Group C

Matchday 7 Results

• Lithuania 3-1 Bulgaria
• Switzerland 2-0 Northern Ireland

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Italy – 6, 12-1, 14 pts
2. Switzerland – 5, 6-1, 11 pts
3. Ireland – 5, 4-5, 5 pts
4. Bulgaria – 6, 4-9, 5 pts
5. Lithuania – 6, 4-14, 3 pts

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Bulgaria v Northern Ireland
• Lithuania v Switzerland

Tips

This group is now a straight race between Switzerland and Italy for the top two spots and I think the Swiss will pick up maximum points from their trip to Lithuania. I’d back Switzerland and both teams to score no (Switzerland to win to nil) at 4/5.

Northern Ireland will hope to improve and secure at least third spot in the group, To do that a decent result in Bulgaria is needed and I think they’ll get that and I’m backing the draw here at 19/10.

Group D

Matchday 7 Results

• Kazakhstan 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Finland 1-2 Ukraine

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. France – 6, 8-3, 12 pts
2. Ukraine – 6, 8-7, 8 pts
3. Bosnia & Herz – 5, 7-6, 6 pts
4. Finland – 5, 5-7, 5 pts
5. Kazakhstan – 6, 5-10, 3 pts

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Kazakhstan v Finland
• Ukraine v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Tips

There hasn’t been too many wins in this group as things have been very tight and I can see that being the case here, although I do think Finland will eke out a 1-0 win over Kazakhstan (9/2 with bet365).

The second game is more interesting. Ukraine landed a huge win in Finland last time out, their first win after five draws in the group, but I think they may be back to picking up points again as I feel this game is likely to end all-square. Take the 13/5 on the draw for the Ukraine – Bosnia Herzegovina match.

Group E

Matchday 7 Results

• Czech Republic 2-2 Wales
• Estonia 2-0 Belarus

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Belgium – 6, 21-4, 16 pts
2. Czech Rep – 6, 10-9, 8 pts
3. Wales – 5, 7-7, 8 pts
4. Estonia – 5, 8-15, 4 pts
5. Belarus – 6, 6-17, 3 pts

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Belarus v Czech Republic
• Estonia v Wales

Tips

Two games that the Czechs and Welsh should win and need to win to stay in with a chance of second spot in the group behind the rampant Belgians. If Wales don’t win then Belgium qualify as group winners anyway.

I do expect both teams to win their games here and even a double on them doesn’t pay out great, so I’d back Aaron Ramsey to score the opener for Wales at 11/4, while Tomas Soucek is 2/1 to score at any time for the Czechs.

Group F

Matchday 7 Results

• Scotland 3-2 Israel
• Faroe Islands 0-2 Austria
• Moldova 0-4 Denmark

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Denmark – 7, 26-0, 21 pts
2. Scotland – 7, 12-7, 14 pts
3. Israel – 7, 16-14, 10 pts
4. Austria – 7, 11-13, 10 pts
5. Faroe Islands – 7, 4-16, 4 pts
6. Moldova – 7, 3-22, 1 pt

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Denmark v Austria
• Faroe Islands v Scotland
• Israel v Moldova

Tips

Denmark need a win to ensure that they qualify and I think they’ll get that against Austria such is their form at the moment. Scotland and Israel should also pick up wins.

Usually, I’d back a treble here but at odds of just 0.87 to 1, I think better options may be first goalscorers. Take Munas Dabbur (Israel) at 21/20, Kasper Dolberg (Denmark) 7/5 and Lyndon Dykes (Scotland) also 7/5 for that particular bet.

Group G

Matchday 7 Results

• Gibraltar 0-3 Montenegro
• Latvia 0-1 Netherlands
• Turkey 1-1 Norway

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Netherlands – 7, 23-6, 16 pts
2. Norway – 7, 13-6, 14 pts
3. Turkey – 7, 17-14, 12 pts
4. Montenegro – 7, 11-9, 11 pts
5. Latvia – 7, 7-11, 5 pts
6. Gibraltar – 7, 3-28, 0 pts

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Latvia v Turkey
• Netherlands v Gibraltar
• Norway v Montenegro

Tips

This group looks like it is going to go down to the last set of games and I can’t see anything but wins for the top three teams here, Netherlands should easily beat Gibraltar, Turkey should do likewise with Latvia and Norway should get the better of Montenegro.

You can back these three teams to pick up wins here at just better than even money at 1.03/1.

Group H

Matchday 7 Results

• Cyprus 0-3 Croatia
• Malta 0-4 Slovenia
• Russia 1-0 Slovakia

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Croatia – 7, 11-1, 16 pts
2. Russia – 7, 11-4, 16 pts
3. Slovenia – 7, 8-7, 10 pts
4. Slovakia – 7, 7-6, 9 pts
5. Malta – 7, 6-15, 4 pts
6. Cyprus – 7, 1-11, 4 pts

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Cyprus v Malta
• Croatia v Slovakia
• Slovenia v Russia

Tips

There’s nothing riding on the Cyprus v Malta game so I’d leave that fixture alone here, but I think Russia may struggle in Slovenia and I think a point is the best they will get here, while I expect Croatia to earn a win over Slovakia at home.

However, with Croatia facing Russia in the final game of the group, I do think that will decide who finishes top and second in this tight group.  Back the double here on a Croatia win and a Slovenia / Russia draw at 3.33/1.

Group I

Matchday 7 Results

• Andorra 0-5 England
• Hungary 0-1 Albania
• Poland 5-0 San Marino

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. England – 7, 23-2, 19 pts
2. Albania – 7, 11-6, 15 pts
3. Poland – 7, 24-8, 14 pts
4. Hungary – 7, 12-11, 10 pts
5. Andorra – 7, 4-19, 3 pts
6. San Marino – 7, 1-29, 0 pts

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Albania v Poland
• England v Hungary
• San Marino v Andorra

Tips

England should all but clinch top spot in this group this week, especially if Albania and Poland share the draw, which I feel they will. You can back that scoreline in Tirana at odds of 23/10, which I feel is a good bet.

England face Hungary at Wembley and I think after beating the same opposition 4-1 in Budapest, they should be confident of a win here. Take Mason Mount to grab a goal at any time in this one at 7/4.

Group J

Matchday 7 Results

• Germany 2-1 Romania
• Iceland 1-1 Armenia
• Liechtenstein 0-4 North Macedonia

Table

Data shown is games played, goals for & against and total points after Matchday 7.

1. Germany – 7, 19-3, 18 pts
2. North Macedonia – 7, 15-6, 12 pts
3. Armenia – 7, 8-10, 12 pts
4. Romania – 7, 10-8, 10 pts
5. Iceland – 7, 7-15, 5 pts
6. Liechtenstein – 7, 2-19, 1 pt

Matchday 8 Fixtures

• Iceland v Liechtenstein
• North Macedonia v Germany
• Romania v Armenia

Tips

Germany did shockingly lose to North Macedonia at home early on in the group but have won every game since and I can see them wreaking revenge for that loss in this game this week and that may well be enough for them to qualify as group winners.

That’s because I see Armenia and Romania sharing a draw in Bucharest, while Iceland should beat Liechtenstein and if you back those three results as a treble, you can get odds of 4.18/1 with bet365.