Danes a great bet for vital victory

World Cup qualifying
From 4pm Sunday

It has been a tough period for former European champions Denmark but they look set for a brighter future and deserve to be clear favourites to win a crucial World Cup qualifier in Romania (7.45pm start).

Poland are looking strong to top Group E but there is a fascinating battle for second place with Montenegro, Denmark and Romania separated by only two points in the race for the playoffs.

Losing 3-2 away to Poland was no disgrace for the Danes and a 1-0 defeat at home to Montenegro was rotten luck as they won the shot count 20-5, the corners 12-0 and had 69 per cent possession.

However, a comfortable 4-1 thrashing of Kazakhstan has got Denmark back on track and their squad is talented even though exciting youngsters Kasper Dolberg and Yussuf Poulsen are not part of this squad. Feyenoord's Nicolai Jorgensen is also injured.

However, Christian Eriksen has been in stunning form for Tottenham and fellow midfielders Lasse Schone and Daniel Wass have reached the Europa League quarter-finals with Ajax and Celta Vigo respectively.

Defenders Jannik Vestergaard and Andreas Christensen are rated highly by Borussia Monchengladbach with Christensen one of the rare Chelsea loanees who may actually make it at Stamford Bridge.

Behind them is Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel and Romania, much like the Danes, are light in the forward area because of absentees.

Bogdan Stancu, one of the few to shine at Euro 2016, is injured and Deportivo's Florin Andone suspended with Tuesday's 1-0 loss against Russia making it three without a goal for the Cluj hosts.

Romania have put in one decent result in this qualifying process with a 5-0 win over Armenia but they were playing against ten men for 87 minutes.

Elsewhere there is the usual host of international mismatches with Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia long odds-on to win away to Azerbaijan, San Marino and Malta respectively.

One of the more interesting fixtures sees Poland head to Montenegro with visiting striker Robert Lewandowski hoping to add to his seven goals in qualifying. He has notched in all four matches so far and can be backed at 10-11 to continue the red-hot run.

Recommendation
Denmark draw no bet
1pt 17-20 Ladbrokes

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