Czech Republic vs Wales
Two of the big hopefuls for World Cup 2022 meet at the Eden Arena in Prague on Friday night as the Czech Republic and Wales continue their qualification campaign.
Neither side is in the group of potential tournament winners according to the World Cup 2022 betting odds. But having both impressed in recent tournaments, either could turn out to be a dark horse in Qatar.
First they have to navigate European Qualification Group E, and one look at the table tells us just how crucial this game is.
The FIFA-ranked top side Belgium are storming away with the group on 16 points and they are followed by the Czechs and the Welsh, both on seven points, though Wales have a game in hand.
With third-placed Belarus on three points this is quite simply a two-way battle for second place. And after recently beating the Czechs in a bad tempered game in Cardiff, Wales can expect a hot reception when they turn up in Prague.
Talking Points
Czech Republic have hungry strikers
So far the Czech’s World Cup 2022 results in qualifying Group E have been inconsistent at best with two wins, a draw, and two defeats.
They opened their campaign well by thumping Estonia 6-2 and drawing with the Red Devils in March, but Boss Jaroslav Silhavy will have to lift his side following a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Belgium in the return game September, though the Czechs did have a friendly 1-1 draw with Ukraine to follow that up.
Jaroslav has a fully-fit squad to choose from with former Sevilla keeper Tomas Vaclik, now at Olimpiacos, in goal. He will provide direction and leadership for the defence while skipper Tomas Soucek will pull together the front six.
The West Ham midfielder has become one of the best box-to-box players in the Premier League and he is a key man for the Czechs, top scoring in the qualifiers with three goals.
Alongside Soucek, Hellas Verona’s 26-year-old midfield ace Antonin Barak has two goals in the competition and both have seven international goals to their names.
With goals coming from midfield, the pressure on the strikers is relieved a little. But the Czechs’ front two of Patrik Schick and Matej Vydra are hungry for goals.
Schick had an excellent Euro 2020 but has been a little quieter since, while Vydra is keen to show what he can do having been short of goals himself over the last year.
Silhavy may start with just one up front but both are likely to feature at some stage and they each possess bags of skill and a good eye for goal. And the Wales defence will need to be on its game to keep them at bay.
No Bale for Wales
Wales head coach Robert Page will be without his talisman for the October round of qualifiers as Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is out with a hamstring tear and his return to action is by no means imminent.
And that’s a big blow to the Welsh at this crucial point in the competition. Bale is their top scorer with three goals and the one player the Dragons look to when they need a spark.
Page will try to keep the game as tight as possible and, as the last line of defence, he can choose between Burnley’s experienced reserve keeper Wayne Hennessey or Leicester City understudy Danny Ward.
In front of them, the warhorse Chris Gunter could be alongside Liverpool youngster Neco Williams at centre-back.
A 0-0 draw at home to Estonia was a poor result last time out but Page would snap your hand off if offered that result on Friday.
History
The Czech Republic have a richer history than their opponents with two World Cup final appearances, in 1934 and 1962, and a European Championship title in 1976 followed by a final appearance at the 1996 Euros.
Wales’ best effort at a World Cup was a quarter final in 1958, though the Dragons did reach the semi-final of Euro 2016.
The two teams have met three times since the millennium and have shared the spoils, winning one each and playing out a draw.
The most recent result came in the return match back in March when Wales won 1-0 thanks to a late Dan James goal.
It was a feisty affair as both teams finished with 10 men after Schick was sent off after an altercation with Conor Roberts, before Roberts himself was dismissed for an elbow on Soucek.
Both have won two of the last six games, while the hosts are unbeaten in their last six games at home.
Betting Tip
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Czech Republic vs Wales | First Half Over 0.75 @ 1.75 |
| October 9, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
The Czechs are at SBOTOP odds of 1.69 to win this game with the draw at 3.35 and Wales at 3.88.
I think Wales will play for a draw without their main man Bale. But with the Czech Republic desperate for a win, I expect the hosts to go for the jugular from kick-off.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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