Paul Higham has the pick of Monday's best bets as the Euro 2020 qualifiers continue, including goals between Spain and Sweden.
Recommended bets
1pt Spain to win & both teams to score at 9/4
1pt Spain, Poland, Czech Republic & Austria to win at (Price Boost) 7/1
Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar (1945 BST Sky Sports Main Event)
Mick McCarthy sat through a turgid return as boss in their 1-0 win in Gibraltar and there’s not much to suggest this one will be that much better as the Irish haven’t exactly been entertainers of late with just five total goals being scored in their last seven games.
This should be exactly the game that they finally cut loose and bang a few goals in against the team ranked 195 in the world, but it’s hard to see where any glut of goals is coming from at the moment – and although they’ll certainly win the game it may again be a tough watch for McCarthy and Ireland fans.
Republic of Ireland to win and under 3.5 goals at 6/4
Spain v Sweden (1945 BST Sky Sports Football)
The Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid is the venue for Spain’s clash with unbeaten Sweden, who are in second place in the group after an eventful 3-3 draw in Norway in their second game of the campaign. Spain are imperious at home in qualifying but the Swedes will give them a good test just as Norway did in their 2-1 defeat in March.
The goals have been raining down for Spain with three goals coming in seven of their last nine and there’s already been 22 goals in the six games these two have been involved in with both sides scoring eight in their three games. There's no reason why Sweden can't find the net.
Sergio Ramos with a panenka penalty to give Spain the lead. 🇪🇸👏pic.twitter.com/vXcKIYd9Wt
— football.london (@Football_LDN) March 23, 2019
Czech Republic v Montenegro (1945 BST Sky Sports Football - Red Button)
The Czechs are worthy big favourites here after winning five of their last seven home qualifiers and they’ve beaten Montenegro to nil the last two times they’ve met. There shouldn’t be many goals with just two of Montenegro’s last 11 yielding three or more and they’ll again provide stubborn opposition – as three draws in four away games shows.
The hosts have won their last three Euro qualifiers 2-1 on their home turf and, while a win to nil was preferable at first glance, that run of 2-1s has led to an insurance bet coming in with a group score the option taken here.
Czech Republic to win 1-0. 2-0 or 2-1 at 11/8
Poland v Israel (1945 BST Sky Sports PL)
Poland can justify 4/7 favouritism thanks to a strong qualifying record at home – where they’ve not lost in five years. Israel pulled off something of an upset by beating Austria last time out but away from home they’ve not beaten a higher-ranked team since 2013, and there’s no confidence they can start now.
Poland have ten wins and a draw in their last 11 qualification games at home and averaged over three goals a game during that run. Lately they’ve not been as fluent with four of their last six games ending in 1-0 scorelines either way, but Israel away games usually have goals in and that seems the more likely outcome.
Poland to win & both teams to score at 5/2
Monday's Euro 2020 fixtures
Odds correct as of 1325 on 10/06/19
