Nations League; predictions, betting preview and free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's matches in the Uefa Nations League

Best bet

Sweden
1pt 9-5 Betfair, Betfred

Faroe Islands +0.25 on Asian handicap
1pt 7-8bet365

Preview

Sweden and Croatia have been left behind by Portugal and France in the race for Nations League glory and relegation from the top table is the only concern in Stockholm.

While the Portuguese and the French contest top spot in Group A3 in Lisbon, the Friends Arena stages a showdown where avoiding the drop is the only prize.

As it stands, Sweden occupy the last spot in the section having lost all four of their matches to date.

But they could well be worth a bet to join Croatia on three points by beating the World Cup finalists.

When these nations met in Zagreb last month they produced a fairly forgettable affair in appalling conditions which the Croats won 2-1.

Now, though, they head to Sweden minus key defenders Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko and Domagoj Vida, who is self-isolating, which leaves them inexperienced at the back.

Head coach Zlatko Dalic can no longer call upon the recently-retired Ivan Rakitic or winger Ante Rebic while Hoffenheim's red-hot frontman Andrej Kramaric isn't available.

The match comes three days after they were in Istanbul for a friendly with Turkey which ended 3-3, hardly the ideal preparation for a competitive tussle in Sweden.

The Swedes, on the same night, lost 2-0 in Denmark but were without their Premier League contingent who weren't allowed to travel to that country.

They are available now, however, which means Everton keeper Robin Olsen plus Victor Lindelof and Emil Krafth will slot straight back in.

One of the big surprises of this Nations League campaign has been the Faroe Islands, who find themselves top of Group D1 on ten points and may well have already done enough to win promotion.

Certainly a point in Latvia would go close to clinching the deal and they look more than good enough to be able to secure a draw at least.

The last three internationals between these countries have ended all-square and the Faroes won 2-0 in Riga in a World Cup qualifier in October 2016.

They cannot call upon their talisman, Arminia Bielefeld striker Joan Simun Edmundsson, which only adds to the belief that the Islanders will pack the defence and invite one of Europe's most toothless nations to try to break them down.

Latvia made it two wins in their last 24 internationals with a 3-0 friendly success in San Marino on Wednesday. It was the first time they had scored more than one goal in a game for over three years.

The draw is a short price – Latvia have also drawn three of their four Nations League ties and cannot win the league – so the visitors +0.25 on the Asian handicap is preferred because they will doubtless get the odd chance on the counter.

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