World Cup qualifying tips: Saturday preview

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Saturday’s handful of World Cup qualifiers have the ability to divide opinion. 

There are plenty of hot favourites to link together and make up a racy sort of accumulator or if your thought process works another way, some big-price runners to mull over in the hope of an upset. 

France, Switzerland and Portugal all very much fall into the former category as the status quo in Group B is expected to be maintained with the last duo named in the region of 1/9 and 1/4 and expected to claim three home points against Latvia and Hungary.

Perhaps the most interesting fixture takes place at the top of Group H as leaders Belgium host second-place Greece in Brussels and both defend unbeaten records.

Perennially sexy picks for major finals, a win on Saturday for the Red Devils would mean a trip to Russia next year would be very much theirs to blow with an ultra-talented group inherited by new manager Roberto Martinez and assistant Thierry Henry absolutely thriving.  

It is four games down with maximum points secured, 21 goals netted and just one in the against column with Martinez’s old Everton pal Romelu Lukaku running riot already with five goals so far having had the luxury of sitting out the 6-0 romp in Gibraltar.

They put another eight past Estonia in November and everything seems to have come easily to the likeable Martinez on his first venture into international management after he was shown the door following a period of stagnation at Goodison Park. 

Martinez feels Lukaku could become the most dangerous striker in the world and another late brace for his club against Hull last weekend means he is no bigger than 3/1 here to open the scoring and an odds-on poke in the anytime market.   

Eden Hazard might be ruled out with a calf problem but such is the depth in this squad that any sort of combination from Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Yannick Carrasco and even beanpole enforcer Marouane Felaini looks a difficult one for any rival to contemplate.

While the Belgians flourish, Saturday’s rivals have been none too shabby either during qualification with three wins and a draw in, it is fair to say, rather less scintillating fashion.

Their attempt to reach Euro 2016 was little short of a shambles, one which included consecutive defeats to the Faroe Islands and saw Claudio Ranieri among the managerial casualties.

A period of reasonable prosperity has returned though following the appointment last autumn of German Michael Skibbe – perhaps it will also lead to some stability as well after the country went through a ridiculous four managers in a little over 12 months. 

A few of the old creaking parts have been sifted out by Skibbe with this group of players having a much fresher look to it and the opportunity to build together.

A place in the 2018 finals is not beyond the realms of possibility but even though they present Belgium with their toughest assignment in this campaign to date, taking over pole position in the table looks beyond them currently.

A home victory with a degree of comfort is on the cards but I won’t be paying on this occasion to find out. 

Posted at 2030 GMT on 24/03/17.