UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying Betting Preview: Northern Ireland & Scotland to qualify for next summer’s tournament?
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Odds and preview ahead of tonight’s four play-off finals
With 20 teams already qualified the UEFA Euro 2020 next summer, eight international sides are left in the hat to battle for the final four places.
Northern Ireland and Scotland saw off Bosnia & Herzegovina and Israel in their respective semi-finals, and now face one last match against Slovakia and Serbia respectively for their place at the European Championships.
Elsewhere, Hungary and Iceland are left to battle through Path A of the play-offs, while one of Georgia and North Macedonia would become the lowest ranked side in next summer’s tournament when they secure their spot at the finals.
Ahead of tonight’s huge crunch ties, we’ve previews all four matches.
Hungary v Iceland (19:45)
After beating Bulgaria in their semi-final, Hungary are buoyed by key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai being declared fit to make the squad. Adam Kovacsik, Botond Baráth and Benjamin Babati all miss out through injury, while László Kleinheisler remains in quarantine.
Iceland have no injury or quarantine concerns of their own, with Erik Hamren able to use the same starting XI that beat Romania 2-1 in their semi.
The Hungarians are the 11/8 favourites to win in 90 minutes, while you can find 7/10 on them to qualify. Iceland are 11/5 to win in regulation, while there’s 11/10 about them qualifying for the finals.
Adam Szalai and Nemanja Nikolic are the 5/1 favourites to score first, with Kolbeinn Sigthorsson also 5/1 to score first for Iceland.
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored both goals to edge Iceland past Romania, and he’s 25/1 to repeat his heroics with two or more goals here.
Northern Ireland v Slovakia (19:45)
Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has a full bill of health going into the match, with no suspension concerns either.
Slovakia are without a whole host of players, including Martin Skrtel, Martin Koscelnik and Martin Dubravka. Robert Bozenik and Matus Bero are also unavailable.
Northern Ireland are 13/8 favourites to win in 90 minutes, while Slovakia are 19/10. But after both sides came through their semi-finals after a penalty shootout, you can find 4/5 on Northern Ireland to qualify by any means, while Slovakia are evens.
Josh Magennis could be shifted out to the left for Northern Ireland, but he’s still the 5/1 favourite to score first, while Kyle Lafferty is 5/2 anytime.
Slovakia’s Michal Duris is 6/1 to score first, while Cologne midfielder Ondrej Duda is 10/3 to score anytime.
Serbia v Scotland (19:45)
Much like Northern Ireland and Slovakia, Scotland’s fate was decided by a penalty shootout in their win over Israel in the semi-finals.
Serbia’s coveted midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić scored a brace, including an extra-time winner to beat Norway and set up their play-off final with Scotland.
With home advantage, it’s Serbia who are the favourites to progress, with 8/13 about them winning in 90 minutes, or 3/10 on them qualifying by any means.
As for Scotland, they’ll be missing Ryan Fraser and Grant Hanley through injury, so come in as 5/1 underdogs to win the match, while there’s 5/2 on them qualifying for Euro 2020.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is in desperate need of a goal to rediscover his form, and he’s 5/2 to break the deadlock, while Milinković-Savić is 28/1 for another brace or more.
Lyndon Dykes could spearhead the Scottish attack, and he’s 15/2 to score first, while Oliver McBurnie is 7/2 to score anytime.
Georgia v North Macedonia (17:00)
Ranked 86th and 65th in the world respectively, Georgia and North Macedonia go head to head for the honour of entering the European Championships as the lowest ranked international sides in the tournament.
The home side edged past Belarus to get one step closer to the finals and are 33/20 to win the tie in the 90 minutes, while you can find 5/6 on them qualifying on the night.
North Macedonia beat Kosovo 2-1 in a close tie to get their chance of qualifying but come in as slight 19/10 underdogs to win the tie here, although you can find 19/20 on them qualifying for the finals.
Georgia’s Giorgi Kvilitaia is the 5/1 favourite to score first, while former Inter Milan front man Goran Pandev is 6/1 to score first for North Macedonia, or you can find 14/5 on him scoring anytime.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication.
