Opta Stats: England record in Chelsea defender's sight

Gary Cahill has played in all five recent England clean sheets

The Opta trends offer reasons to be positive for Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales...

Romania v Northern Ireland
Friday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 2

The Green and White Army have scored exactly two goals in each of their last three matches

Opta note that Northern Ireland endured 459 goalless minutes before this boom to start Euro 2016 qualifying, so it is clearly essential to their transition from one win in ten in World Cup preliminaries to three in three to begin this process, two of those away to top-two seeds Hungary and Greece. Romania were breached in their opening home game against Hungary, and have lost three in four against their visitors.

Recommended Bet: Back Romania not to keep a clean sheet @ 2.166/5

Scotland v Republic of Ireland
Friday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 5

Republic of Ireland have netted 90th-minute goals in their last two away games

Regardless of how long it takes them, Republic of Ireland usually find a way to score, doing so in all bar one of their eight encounters in 2014. That exception was a clash with Italy. Scotland have been pretty productive too, most recently notching twice in Poland, and neither sides have been shut out in any of their combined six Group D fixtures so far, scoring 14 times between them in that period.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 2.26/5

England v Slovenia
Saturday, 17:00
Live on ITV

England have kept a clean sheet in five successive international matches

This isn't supposed to be a defensive golden age for England, with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand now long retired from international football. However, elements such as a structurally-savvy coach in Roy Hodgson and the consistent availability and dependability of Gary Cahill have enabled them to move within one clean sheet of their all-time high of six. Slovenia have fired four blanks in six 2014 outings.

Recommended Bet: Back England to keep a clean sheet @ 1.674/6

Belgium v Wales
Sunday, 17:00
Live on Sky Sports 5

Wales have lost just one of their last eight international matches, winning four and drawing three

Chris Coleman's team have commenced Euro 2016 qualifying promisingly, but not quite formidably enough to convince of their progress prospects, holding Bosnia and beating Andorra and Cyprus by one-goal margins. Replicate last year's 1-1 draw in Brussels and opinions will adjust though. Belgium have won by more than one goal in only one of their previous nine competitive games, and that was at home to Andorra.

Recommended Bet: Lay Belgium (-1) to win @ 1.8810/11