Have you got Georgia on your mind?It's two World Cup qualifiers for Jonno's Home and Away column today, and try as hard as he can, he simply can't get Georgia out of his mind...
Over to Scandanavia for our first pick of the day - and Finland line up against Georgia in Group I, with the hosts looking to pick up their first points of this World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign.
Finland are on a bad trot going into this one, and have lost their last four competitive outings in their homeland, which will have knocked their confidence as they line up in Helsinki tonight.
A 1-0 loss in their opening group game against France is nothing to be disheartened about, but another goalless outing did make it just two goals scored in six hours of football at the Olympic Stadium for the hosts.
And boss Mixu Paatelainen will be desperate for his side to arrest that slump in this, a key game in the race for third place.
Visitors Georgia travel to face the Huuhkajat having already got off the mark in this campaign, following a well earned 1-0 victory over Belarus.
And the Jvarosnebi will be keen to make a good fist of qualification for a first major tournament since Euro 96 here - having picked up some impressive results of late.
Ketsbaia's boys go into this one having won four of their last six, and are quickly garnering a reputation as hard to beat, especially at their Boris Paichadze stadium.
But that's not to say that the Georgians suffer from travel sickness. Seven without defeat from their last 10 on the road indicates that the visitors have more than enough to match their Finnish counterparts here.
The away side are well known for their defensive capabilities but, if truth be known, are probably a bit light on quality up top. Although, eight goals scored in half a dozen games suggests that they are well capable of nicking one or two in the right conditions.
Ketsbaia saw his side concede a narrow 1-0 defeat to world champions Spain last month, and will be hoping that they can build on that result and take the positive momentum into the rest of their qualifying campaign here - and I think that they could surprise a few people.
I'm backing the away win here, as the odds are great value - but if you're feeling a bit more cautious, you might like the Draw No Bet, at 3.711/4.
Bet 1: Georgia (AWAY) @ 5.14/1
We're off to Berne now, and for our final tip of the week, we're focussing on Switzerland, who are aiming to protect their 100% record so far in this qualifying group.
Ottmar Hitzfeld's side are sitting pretty at the top of Group E following two wins from two, and have not yet conceded a goal in this competition as they prepare for the visit of Norway tonight.
Four wins from their last five suggests that the Swiss are in good form ahead of this one, and 13 goals scored in their last five shows just how much attacking quality the hosts possess.
The Schweizer Nati have smashed four goals in their last couple of games, and will be desperate to continue that run of results against a Norwegian side who currently sit second bottom of the group on goal difference.
Egil Olsen's side travel to the Stade de Suisse looking to improve upon recent form which has seen them fail to win in four of their last five outings.
And confidence may be low in the away camp, as the visitors have lost five of their last seven away from the Ullevaal Stadium ahead of this tie.
Half a dozen goals conceded in their last three outings suggests that there are weaknesses in the Norwegian rearguard, and that is something that the Swiss attack will be desperate to take advantage of here.
The hosts have flown out of the traps in their opening couple of encounters, and shown real quality - and I can't see their guests having enough in their locker to match them this evening.
Bet 2: Switzerland (HOME) @ 1.715/7
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий