Friday's World Cup qualifying predictions: betting preview & free football tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Friday's European World Cup qualifiers.

Where to watch

Italy v Switzerland
Sky Sports Premier League, 7.45pm Friday

Austria v Israel
Sky Sports red button, 7.45pm Friday

Best bets

Italy and under 3.5 goals
1pt 11-10 BoyleSports

Austria
1pt 4-6general

Verdict

Italy famously missed out on a place at the 2018 World Cup after losing out to Sweden in the playoffs but the European champions can move a giant step closer to Qatar 2022 by defeating Switzerland in Rome.

A wave of euphoria followed Italy's triumph at Euro 2020 and it has taken a while for the Azzurri players to refocus. Roberto Mancini's side were below par in September - drawing with Bulgaria (1-1) and the Swiss (0-0) – so they will be anxious to get back on track and avoid having to go through another playoff ordeal.

Italy and Switzerland are locked together on 14 points in Group C with the Italians top courtesy of a marginally superior goal difference.

However, Mancini will be looking for his team to put clear daylight between themselves and the Swiss before heading to Belfast on Monday for a potentially tricky final qualifier with Northern Ireland.

Injuries are mounting in the Italian camp with Giorgio Chiellini joining key midfielder Marco Verratti and centre-forward Ciro Immobile on the sidelines, but Italy demonstrated their strength-in-depth over the summer and it could come to the fore again.

The Swiss are without five injured senior players - Nico Elvedi, Steven Zuber, Breel Embolo, Granit Xhaka and Haris Seferovic - and they may lack the resources to cope.

Israel's slim hopes of a first World Cup appearance could be ended by Austria on Friday.

The Austrians can't make the top two in Group F but they will be involved in the playoffs due to their Nations League exploits - they finished top of their group in League B.

Israel were 5-2 victors when the sides met in Haifa in September but it could be a different story this time when they reconvene in Klagenfurt.

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