Euro 2020 qualifying free betting tips: Preview, predictions & best bets, including Scotland v San Marino and Wales v Croatia
Scotland and Wales are in Euro 2020 qualifying on Sunday. George Pitts previews the action with three tips to consider.
Recommended bets
2pts San Marino on the +5 handicap at 8/5
0.5pts Croatia to score 3+ goals v Wales at 11/2
0.5pts Bruno Petkovic to score anytime at 3/1
0.5pts Marcel Sabitzer to score anytime at 3/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Scotland v San Marino
A win for Scotland is highly likely here, and much needed following a confidence-sapping run of games.
They have now lost four in a row, conceding 13 in the five games since Steve Clarke took over as manager, and they are running out of time to rebuild confidence ahead of the Euro 2020 play-offs in March.
Clarke will need to make noticeable improvements for next month's double header against Cyprus and Kazakhstan to ensure Scotland approach their Hampden semi-final in March with any kind of momentum.
Who better to come up against, then, than the worst nation in FIFA's 210-team rankings?
San Marino were beaten 9-0 by Belgium on Thursday and they have not scored in two years, but manager Franco Varrella is fairly relaxed about their next game.
In quotes reported by the Daily Record, he said: "We need to pick ourselves up for our trip to Glasgow and get organised again. We aren't expecting anything like the same standard of opponents [than Belgium]."
Scotland only won this reverse fixture 2-0 back in March and they cannot go in thinking it will be a breeze.
Even against lesser countries they rarely score many, hitting three or more in a game just twice in the last 18 months - and they have come up against some of football's minor nations.
With their lack of imagination at the moment, and San Marino looking to bounce back with a more respectable performance after Thursday, it is well worth looking at the visitors in the handicap markets.
San Marino +3 is 8/1, +4 is 100/30 and, the more appealing option of them all, +5 is on offer at 8/5.
With a +5 handicap, even a 4-0 Scotland win sees San Marino ahead on the spreads and this price is too good to turn down when Scotland are not expected to come close to emulating Belgium.
Best bet: San Marino on the +5 handicap at 8/5
Wales v Croatia
Wales are leaving it until last minute to decide whether Aaron Ramsey will be fit enough to face Croatia.
The Juventus midfielder, who is yet to feature in their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign because of injury, has a thigh problem and trained on his own on Saturday away from the main group.
Croatia's recent clashes with Wales have been close, but they have avoided defeat in their five previous encounters and the World Cup finalists are gathering pace again after a bit of a lull post-Russia last year.
They have scored three or more goals in two of their last three games, which shows their attacking options, and you would be confident of them getting a result in Cardiff - especially so if Ramsey does miss out.
That makes the 11/2 price on them to score three or more incredibly appealing. Granted, the hosts have improved at the back under Ryan Giggs and it is going forward that has been the problem, but Croatia are by far their biggest test.
Bruno Petkovic is a newer name having missed out on their 2018 World Cup squad. The 25-year-old Dinamo Zagreb centre-forward is their top scorer in qualifying, with three goals in his last three appearances.
He has scored 10 goals in 17 appearances for club and country this season, which is impressive across the Champions League qualifiers, Croatian League and Euro 2020 qualifiers. He is expected to lead the line here and is best priced at 3/1 to score - odds well worth taking.
Best bets
Estonia v Germany
After a difficult transition period, Germany look to have turned a corner and Joachim Low's side are hitting their stride again with some impressive talents promising plenty for 2020 and beyond.
Serge Gnabry is the star making the headlines at the minute, following up his four goals against Spurs in the Champions League with his 10th goal in 11 appearances for his country as they drew with Argentina.
Then there is Kai Havertz, the 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen talent now linked with Europe's big clubs, and the impressive Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund.
Germany's youngsters face Estonia, 102 in the rankings, who they thrashed 8-0 in June, and the overs market is well worth a look.
Estonia were thrashed 4-0 by the Netherlands last month but Germany can go even better and bounce back from their friendly draw in Dortmund in midweek, where they threw away a two-goal lead.
Over 4.5 total goals in the game is above evens but over 4.5 goals for just the visitors gives you a much nicer 9/5 price.
Best bet: Over 4.5 total Germany goals
Slovenia v Austria
It's a huge match for both teams in Group G, where five points separate four teams. Poland lead the way on 16, Austria are second on 13 and both North Macedonia and Slovenia have 11.
Austria will travel to Slovenia determined to leave with at least a point but they make the trip with a number of injuries to their key players, with David Alaba, Stefan Lainer, Philipp Lienhart and Florian Grillitsch all out and Stefen Posch, Konrad Laimer and key forward Marko Arnautovic all doubtful after picking up injuries on Thursday.
Arnautovic is their top scorer in qualifying with six goals in seven appearances and he will be a big miss. Austria need someone to step up and attacking midfielder Marcel Sabitzer can do just that, using the added confidence of scoring in Thursday's win over Israel.
The RB Leipzig man has two goals in qualifying already and should play a supporting role to Michael Gregoritsch. He averages over two shots per game in the Bundesliga and three per game in the Champions League for his club and nearly 2.5 goals per game for Austria in the qualifiers, so he is clearly not afraid of trying his luck.
Considering his advanced midfield role and Austria's shortages, 3/1 on Sabitzer anytime looks generous and worth a small play.
Best bet: Marcel Sabitzer to score anytime at 3/1
Sunday's Euro 2020 fixtures
- Kazakhstan v Belgium (1400 BST)
1700 BST kick-offs
- Belarus v Netherlands
- Cyprus v Russia
- Hungary v Azerbaijan
- Scotland v San Marino
1945 BST kick-offs
- Estonia v Germany
- Poland v North Macedonia
- Slovenia v Austria
- Wales v Croatia
England to bounce back in Bulgaria
England are looking to bounce back from defeat against the Czech Republic as they travel to Bulgaria. Tom Carnduff has two best bets.
Odds correct as of 1500 BST on 12/10/19
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet@SportingLifeFC
Related football links
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
Sky Bet's responsible gambling tools are detailed here and if you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
MOST READ FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL TIPS
