The I’s Have It In Thursday’s World Cup Qualifying

Three home teams starting with the same letter represent the value bets in the latest round of FIFA World Cup qualifying matches that kicks off throughout Europe on Thursday.

One of the major reasons that one is drawn to Italy, Ireland and Iceland is that each side holds a recent win over its midweek opponent. Italy will play Spain in Turin on Thursday, Ireland will face Georgia in Dublin on Thursday and Iceland will tackle Finland in Reykjavik on Thursday.

Italy and Spain are meeting for the second time in four months and the third time this year. Italy warmed up for UEFA Euro 2016 with a friendly 1-1 home draw with Spain before the Blues beat the Red One 2-0 in the last 16 of the aforementioned tournament. William Hill is listing Italy at odds of 3.10Bet €100 to win €31021/10Bet £100 to win £310+210Bet $100 to win $3102.10Bet HK$100 to win HK$3102.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp310-0.4762Bet RM100 to win RM310  to get the better of Spain yet again, odds that are an insult given the recent head-to-head data.

Italy is a scarcely believable 33-6-0 in home qualifying games since losing 2-3 to Denmark in 1999 so there is an obvious argument for backing the Blues on either draw no bet or double chance. Italy is available at odds of 2.10Bet €100 to win €21011/10Bet £100 to win £210+110Bet $100 to win $2101.10Bet HK$100 to win HK$2101.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp210-0.9091Bet RM100 to win RM210  with Paddy Power on the draw no bet market and the Blues are trading at odds of 1.55Bet €100 to win €15511/20Bet £100 to win £155-182Bet $100 to win $1550.55Bet HK$100 to win HK$155-1.82Bet Rp100 to win Rp1550.5500Bet RM100 to win RM155  with Bet365 not to taste defeat.

If one had to nominate one Italy wager then, in light of its 33-6-0 home qualifying record, it would have to be the Blues on the double chance market at odds of 1.55Bet €100 to win €15511/20Bet £100 to win £155-182Bet $100 to win $1550.55Bet HK$100 to win HK$155-1.82Bet Rp100 to win Rp1550.5500Bet RM100 to win RM155 . Remember, Italy would have paid dividends 39 times in a row on that option.

Ireland and Georgia are not strangers to each other having locked horns twice during UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying. Ireland accrued six points from its two UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches versus Georgia and, therefore, one is interested in supporting the Boys in Green at odds of 1.50Bet €100 to win €1501/2Bet £100 to win £150-200Bet $100 to win $1500.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$150-2.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1500.5000Bet RM100 to win RM150  with several bookmakers, including Betfred and William Hill.

In September 2014, Aiden McGeady scored two goals – one of them in second-half stoppage time – to fire Ireland to a 2-1 away victory over Georgia. Exactly 12 months later, Ireland required a 69th-minute Jon Walters goal to defeat Georgia 1-0. Ireland has lined up against Georgia seven times since the latter’s independence for a perfect seven successes.

Ireland is not one of Europe’s great shakes but it is far superior to Georgia, which has beaten only the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Lithuania and Kazakhstan in road qualifying games since the turn of the century.

Finally, Iceland is overpriced at odds of 1.70Bet €100 to win €1707/10Bet £100 to win £170-143Bet $100 to win $1700.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$170-1.43Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700.7000Bet RM100 to win RM170  with many bookmakers, including BetVictor, BoyleSports and SkyBet, to earn a FIFA World Cup qualifying triumph over Finland.

Iceland was one of the minnows that enjoyed its time in the limelight during UEFA Euro 2016, reaching the knockout stage and eliminating England before copping a hiding from France. Finland did not make it to the UEFA Euro 2016, failing to qualifying from a relatively weak pool that included the likes of Hungary, Northern Ireland and Romania.

Nine months ago, Finland and Iceland clashed in neutral Abu Dhabi and the Boys came on on top by a 1-0 scorelines. With Iceland enjoying home advantage for the rematch, one thinks that the Boys are highly likely to get the job done.

Tips Summary

Italy or Draw Double Chance
Thursday 6th October, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 1.55Bet €100 to win €15511/20Bet £100 to win £155-182Bet $100 to win $1550.55Bet HK$100 to win HK$155-1.82Bet Rp100 to win Rp1550.5500Bet RM100 to win RM155

Ireland to beat Georgia
Thursday 6th October, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 1.50Bet €100 to win €1501/2Bet £100 to win £150-200Bet $100 to win $1500.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$150-2.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1500.5000Bet RM100 to win RM150

Iceland to beat Finland
Thursday 6th October, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 1.70Bet €100 to win €1707/10Bet £100 to win £170-143Bet $100 to win $1700.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$170-1.43Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700.7000Bet RM100 to win RM170