International breaks aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but a break from domestic football can be good, particularly for Burnley fans… including this SBOTOP writer!
So what do we have to look forward to over the next week or so?
Well, there will be some top nations on show and some stellar players in the last rounds of the Euro 2024 qualifiers; some have already booked their places for the showcase finals tournament in Germany but there are three big hitting nations which still have work to do to qualify.
North Macedonia is a must-win for Italy
Luciano Spalletti has the challenge of taking the Azzurri to the finals in Germany but that is easier said, and written, than done. The head coach led Napoli to a Scudetto triumph last season but his next target is really in the balance. Italy are in third place in Group C and, with England already qualified the race for second place is still wide open. Ukraine are currently second, three points ahead of Italy and the two teams will meet at the Bayer Arena in Leverkusen on 20th November. So the Azzurri’s match against North Macedonia on Friday is a must win.
Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup; then they won the European Championship in 2021 before failing once again in their qualification campaign for the World Cup in Qatar last year. If they miss out on Germany 2024 it would be a third catastrophe in four campaigns; and that would represent a shameful period in Italian football history.
Juventus striker Federico Chiesa is the man Azzurri fans will be looking to for a goal threat to break down the Macedonian defence, while Serie A fans will look out for Napoli’s Elf Elmas who will be the visitors’ creative muscle.
The Euro 2024 betting odds price Italy at 1.15 to beat Macedonia, but the return match resulted in a draw and a repeat is at 5.80, with an away win at 10.60. It would be huge Euro 2024 news were the Azzurri to crash out, but not the type Spalletti is hoping for.
Poland in a Group E shootout with the Czech Republic
The tightest match to call is a clash between Poland and the Czech Republic who sit third and second in Group E, with surprise package Albania in the lead. Poland have played a game more and they must beat the Czech Republic to keep their top two hopes alive.
Albania have a match against the Group E whipping boys from the Faroe Islands to come, so Poland must beat the Czechs and then hope Moldova can get a result when they visit the Czech Republic next week.
A whole lot rests on the shoulders of talisman Robert Lewandowski who, at 35 years of age is still one of the best marksmen in the business. His supply will come from Napoli’s creative midfielder Piotr Zielinski and Aston Villa wingback Matty Cash, while the Czechs, captained by West Ham’s midfield general Tomas Soucek, will try to keep the Barca man quiet.
Look out for Bayer Leverkusen’s 21 year old forward Adam Hlozek too, he could be the man to shatter the Poles’ dreams.
With Poland at 2.51, the draw at 2.73 and the Czech Republic at 2.61, this match is on a knife-edge.
Netherlands can book their place against the ROI
With France already qualified from Group B the second place is being contested between the Netherlands and Greece who are locked together on 12 points. But the Oranje have a game in hand, against Ireland on Saturday, and a win will all but confirm their place at Euro 2024.
In the last round of matches, next week, Greece will face Les Bleus while the Netherlands will take on the minnows of Gibralter; so it would be a major shock if Ronald Koeman’s team was to miss out, but they will want to close the door on the Greeks this Saturday.
Ireland have won two of their seven matches, both against Gibralter so it is hard to see them troubling a team with Virgil Van Dijk and Nathan Ake at the back, Denzil Dumfries on the flank and Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen up front. Ireland’s danger man is Brighton wonderkid Evan Ferguson, but the 19 year old will do well to beat Van Dijk and Ake on his own.
At SBOTOP odds of 1.13 to beat Ireland, the Oranje are red hot favourites and, at odds of 1.86 with a -2.00 goals handicap, it should be a comfortable night for Koeman.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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