World Cup qualifying predictions, betting odds and tips: Gakpo crucial to Oranje success

Best bets

Austria -1 on handicap vs Romania
Austria vs Romania, 7.45pm Saturday
1pt 23-20 Hills

Cody Gakpo to score at any time vs Finland
Finland vs Netherlands, 7.45pm Saturday
1pt 9-5 Paddy Power

World Cup qualifying predictions

Austria have not qualified for the World Cup since 1998 but they have a golden opportunity to feature in the 2026 tournament thanks to a soft qualifying group.

Ralf Rangnick’s side kick off their campaign against Romania on Saturday evening and will be looking to put a disappointing Nations League campaign behind them.

Austria finished as runners-up behind Norway and were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Serbia in the promotion play-off so could do with a morale-boosting success over the Tricolorii.

Romania suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their first qualifier and face an uphill battle to top the group.

They are an ageing team and may struggle to contain an Austrian side who have scored 11 goals in their last four home games.

Six of Romania’s starters against Bosnia were 30 or above and they could struggle to deal with the energy of a vibrant Austria, who are worth backing to win by two or more goals.

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The Netherlands lost on penalties to European champions Spain in the Nations League quarter-finals but face a significant drop in class when they visit Finland in their first World Cup qualifier.

The hosts lost all six of their recent Nations League games and were held to a 2-2 draw by Lithuania last time out.

Cody Gakpo has scored a number of crucial goals for his country in recent years, netting three times at the 2022 World Cup before sharing top-scorer honours at last summer's Euros.

The Liverpool forward scored against Spain in March and is a tempting price to get on the scoresheet again in Helsinki.

Elsewhere, Albania host Serbia in a potentially volatile clash. The two teams share a long and complicated political history and have met only twice before, one of those games being abandoned. Bookmakers have suspended betting on card markets in what could be a feisty affair in Tirana.  

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