Thursday's World Cup Qualifier Tips: Back wins for Wales, Poland & 9/2 Italy Bet Builder in Bergamo | OneFootball

Thursday's World Cup qualifier betting tips include 10/3 Wales and 9/2 Italy Bet Builder

Paul Higham has his best bets from all of Thursday's World Cup qualifying action with Wales tipped to progress at 10/3 and a 9/2 Bet Builder running in Italy v Northern Ireland.

Turkey v Romania Tip - Turkey too strong at home

Click here for Turkey v Romania odds17:00 kick-offLive on Amazon Prime PPV

Turkey are big 1/3 home favourites here as they chase a first World Cup since 2002 and their home form is more than good enough to beat Romania - with Spain the only away winners in a 10-game unbeaten home streak. Looking wider and Turkey's only four defeats in 21 home internationals has been to top sides Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Italy. Romania aren't in that league.

Romania have scored in eight straight away games but Turkey have far more firepower to call upon - and while five of their last six have gone over 3.5 goals at the same price I'm plumping for the visitors to get on the scoresheet even if in a losing cause.

Czech Republic v Rep. Ireland Tip - Czech defence to win the day

Click here for Czech Repiblic v Rep. Ireland odds19:45 kick-offAmazon Prime PPV

It seems odd that neither side has made a World Cup since 2006 but the Czechs are just about odds-on to move a step closer as 19/20 home favourites and the second-highest side in the FIFA rankings involved in these play-offs. They're unbeaten in 16 at home, winning 13, and they've conceded just one goal in the past five of those.

The luck of the Irish got them this far (that 96th minute winner in Hungary) and they beat Portugal at home and only lost 1-0 away so are capable of making this a scrap, which it's shaping up to be, but their luck could run out in Prague. A combination of just one away clean sheet in 10 coupled with the home side's defensive strength makes it hard backing against the Czechs.

Click here for Denmark v North Macedonia odds19:45 kick-offAmazon Prime PPV

Denmark suffered the biggest collapse in qualifying with a home draw to Belarus then that dramatic defeat in Scotland costing them an automatic spot, so despite being huge 1/4 fancies they've got some demons to bury. North Macedonia may be 10/1 shots but they only lost once in their group, albeit a 7-1 thrashing in Wales, and drew away at Belgium so they could play a decent spoiler role.

The Danes also have plenty of defensive injury absences and with their last five games going over 2.5 goals they may have to score a few to win this so we'll back a little bit of a goalfest.

Italy v Northern Ireland Tip - Get 9/2 on home Bet Builder

Click here for Italy v Northern Ireland odds19:45 kick-offLive on BBC Three & BBC One NI

Italy can't miss out again surely? They've lost in the play-offs for the last two World Cups so it's almost unthinkable of a third straight tournament being played without the four-time winners. And the Azzurri are 2/9 favourites to at least beat Northern Ireland to go one game away from qualification.

Just seven goals in six World Cup qualifiers won't cut the mustard for the Irish as Gennaro Gattuso's men scored 21 in their eight matches, led by Mateo Retegui who we'll back in a Bet Builder to take advantage of the Betfair Bet £10 Get £10 Sportsbok offer to hit the target twice, along with Nicolo Barella to have 2+ fouls as they've both done in three of four for their country.

Poland v Albania Tip - Poles to pinch it

Click here for Poland v Albania odds19:45 kick-offAmazon Prime PPV

Albania have made back-to-back Euros and only lost to England in World Cup qualifying so despite being 5/1 they have to be respected. Poland though are 13/20 for a reason - they only lost once themselves and drew with the Dutch twice, and with five wins in six at home they'll expect to go all the way to a third straight World Cup.

Albania have three 1-0 wins in their last three road trips but to lesser opposition, but even against the bigger sides they can keep things tight - seven of their last eight have gone under 2.5 goals and this should be somewhat similar. Poland have four clean sheets in six and I think they can grab another here.

Slovakia v Kosovo Tip - Too close to call in Bratislava

Click here for Slovakia v Kosovo odds19:45 kick-offAmazon Prime PPV

Slovakia won all three home games, including against Germany, without conceding a goal, and stretching back further they've kept five clean sheets in a row and six in seven home outings, so naturally go in as 11/10 favourites here. Kosovo have won five of seven away from home though including wins to nil in Slovenia and Sweden during qualifying - and they're 5/2 to edge this one.

One thing we shouldn't get is goals as these two just don't score too many and have really high records of both teams not scoring - 10 of 11 in Slovakia's case - and that should ensure this one is a tight and tense affair, and one I reckon will go the distance and require extra-time and possibly penalties to settle.

Ukraine v Sweden Tip - Back Potter to work his magic

Click here for Ukraine v Sweden odds19:45 kick-offAmazon Prime PPV

Sweden had a nightmare in qualifying but get a second chance heading to Valencia as slight 6/4 favourites despite not winning a single game in qualifying. Ukraine are 15/8 after winning three of four to claim second in the group behind France - although Azerbaijan and Iceland weren't exactly top-notch opposition.

New Sweden boss Graham Potter has had a bit of time now to formulate a plan though and Sweden do look to have the better squad despite a few injuries, and playing in a neutral venue could help them finally get a return to winning ways. They surely can't be as bad as they were in qualifying, can they?

Wales v Bosnia Tip - Red Wall to help Wales

Click here for Wales v Bosnia & Herzegovina odds19:45 kick-offLive on BBC Two & S4C

Wales found Belgium just a bit too hot to handle but they put up a good fight against them and are 5/6 favourites to move on to the final as they chase their first ever back-to-back World Cup appearances. Bosnia were 13 minutes away from booking an automatic spot before Austria equalised in their final group match, so even as 3/1 underdogs they've reason to be confident here.

But Cardiff is something of a fortress for Wales with just two defeats in 90 minutes in the past 14 outings in front of their home fans, and with Bosnia scoring in 11 straight games we can almost guarantee a few goals here. Bosnia and Edin Dzeko in particular will be dangerous and if it was a neutral venue or the fixture was reversed I'd happily back them, but that Red Wall in Cardiff will be the x-factor here and help Craig Bellamy's men get over the line.