Saturday's 2022 World Cup qualifying predictions and free football tips

Free football tips, best bets and betting preview for Saturday's World Cup qualifiers.

Where to watch

Sky Sports red button, 7.45pm Saturday

Best bets

Slovakia draw no bet
1pt 2-1 bet365

Israel draw no bet
1pt 6-4 Betfred

Preview

Tight games have been all the rage in World Cup qualifying Group H where, after four rounds of matches, just three points separate top from bottom.

Slovakia, third on six points, welcome Croatia, joint-leaders on seven, to Bratislava, and the Croats are worth opposing.

This match pits together two teams who shared the unwanted distinction of being hit for five by Spain in the Euros and both are far from their best right now.

Croatia, missing their chief energy source Luka Modric, were awful in Wednesday's 0-0 draw in Russia, the other big noise in the group. In fact, both teams were poor and Croatia are definitely going through a crisis of confidence at the moment.

The Slovaks, who beat Russia 2-1 in March, go into this game after a 1-1 draw in Slovenia.

Another nation who look to be worth taking on are Austria away at Israel in Group F.

Both countries are locked on seven points – both have lost once, to Denmark on each occasion – but the Israelis have probably got a better chance than the odds imply, especially on home soil in Haifa.

The Austrians are missing skipper Julian Baumgartlinger and new Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, and while players of the calibre of David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic will always pose a threat, they still look short enough.

They were handy winning 2-0 in Moldova on Wednesday night when Israel were winning 4-0 in the improving Faroes on the same night. And the hosts have more than enough quality firepower through PSV's Eran Zahavi and Munas Dabbur of Hoffenheim.

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