5 Handicap Tips for Thursday’s Internationals - 11/11/21

Hansi Flick’s Germany side come into matchday nine of Group J having already won the group, facing a Liechtenstein side that have managed just one point and conceded 23 goals in eight matches.

The last time these two sides played, Germany won the match 2-0 in Liechtenstein thanks to goals by Timo Werner and Leroy Sane, but, Die Mannschaft did register 30 shots with 86% possession.

In three of Germany’s last four matches, Flick’s men have hammered Armenia 6-0, as well as both Iceland and North Macedonia 4-0, where Jamal Musiala and Chelsea duo Werner (2) and Kai Havertz both got on the scoresheet. Having managed high tallies against sides that are arguably better than Liechtenstein, there is a good chance that Germany will score a lot of goals in their upcoming qualifying match for Qatar 2022.

A much more entertaining Russia side under Valeri Karpin’s stewardship take on Cyrpus in Group H of the World Cup qualifiers.

Since Karpin’s arrival, Russia have overtaken Croatia as leaders of the group following two 2-0 wins against Malta and Cyrpus, as well as defeating Slovakia and Slovenia 1-0 and 2-1.

In their victory over Cyprus, Russia dominated the match 2-0 away from home as they had 59% and had scored both of their goals in this match by the 55th minute.

So far in Group H, the visitors are bottom of the table, with just five points to their name, scoring three and conceding 13 in eight matches.

Sweden travel to Georgia in Group B, with Janne Andersson’s side looking to maintain their place at top of the group ahead of Spain.

The Swedes have managed 12 goals and conceded just three times in six matches whilst Georgia have leaked 12 in seven and only found the back of the net four times.

In the last meeting between these two sides, Sweden won this match 1-0 thanks to a goal by Viktor Claesson back in March, but, in the last international break in October, Andersson’s side beat both Kosovo and Greece 3-0 and 2-0, via strikes from Emil Forsberg and Alexander Isak.

The Republic of Ireland host Portugal at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday in Group A in what is effectively a dead rubber match for Stephen Kenny’s side as they are 11 points behind the visitors coming into this game on match day seven.

Portugal have scored 16 and conceded just four, whilst the Boys in Green have scored eight and conceded eight in six matches.

The last meeting between these two saw the visitors pull off a dramatic comeback, as two late goals by Cristiano Ronaldo won the game 2-1 having fallen behind to John Egan’s 45th-minute opener. In Portugal’s more recent matches, they have defeated the likes of Qatar and Azerbaijan 3-0, as well as thumping Luxembourg 5-0.

The final goal handicap tip on this list comes from Malta, as they go head to head with Croatia in Group H.

Malta are currently fifth in the standings, with just five points to their name due to their poor defensive record which has seen them leak 17 in eight games.

Meanwhile, Croatia have 17 points from their eight fixtures and have fired in 13 and conceded just three times. In Zlatko Dalic’s sides last three World Cup qualifiers, they have defeated the likes of Slovenia and Cyprus 3-0 away from home, as well as drawing 2-2 at home to Slovakia last time out.

When Croatia hosted Malta in March, Dalic’s men ran out as comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to goals by Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric and Josip Brekalo.