European World Cup qualifying has been bizarre over the course of the last year and change. Now, we're down to just two matches left to be played and two tickets left to be punched to the World Cup in Russia. Italy and Sweden will be up first on Monday with the penultimate spot to the World Cup from UEFA on the line, but Ireland and Denmark might be facing the even greater challenge.
The Italy/Sweden match will be played at 2:45 p.m. ET on Monday, November 13 at the San Siro in Milan. The Ireland/Denmark fixture will kick off from Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 2:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 14. Both matches can be seen on FOX Sports 1.
Italy vs. Sweden Odds at BookMaker.eu
Italy -200
Sweden +600
Draw +290
Over/Under 2.5
Italy is in a world of trouble at this point. The Azzurri were beaten 1-0 on the road in Solna last week in the first leg of this home-and-home series, and now, they're going to need to pick up a victory at the San Siro to reach the World Cup.
Worse for Italy is that it's going to have to figure out how to keep a clean sheet in this match. That mission wasn't accomplished on the road, as Gianluigi Buffon was beaten by Jakob Johansson in the 61st minute. Buffon was up against it for a good chunk of the match, and it's perhaps a bit fortunate that the Swedes only scored once.
Still, Italy has been one of the unluckiest teams here in the whole World Cup cycle. The team never should have been drawn into a group with Spain in the first place, and to get drawn against Sweden in the second round of qualifying either. Worse was the fact that the first 90 minutes of this tie in Solna was marred with all sorts of missed opportunities.
Italy won't have Marco Verratti in this matchup after picking up a yellow card that resulted in a suspension.
Ireland vs. Denmark Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ireland +185
Denmark +170
Draw +195
Over/Under 2.5
Denmark probably missed out on a big opportunity against Ireland in the opening match of this home-and-home series in Copenhagen. The Danes were held to a scoreless draw, and it's a wonder if they're going to get an opportunity to crack onto the scoreboard for a crucial away goal in Dublin on Tuesday in the last qualifying match in Europe for the World Cup.
Irish eyes were smiling on Darren Randolph all match long against Denmark. Jens Stryger Larsen had consecutive shots on goal at Randolph that were repelled while later in the match, Christian Eriksen had a point-blank opportunity denied by the Irish keeper.
Ireland didn't really even try to get much in the way at the Danish target over the course of the 90 minutes. Kasper Schmeichel was rarely tested, taking eight shots, just two of which hit the target and neither of which were threatening.
Though Denmark had 72 percent of the possession in the opening leg, it's hard to imagine that this is going to be the case again in Dublin. We suspect we're going to see Shane Long start this match from the get go instead of being called upon as a sub at the end of the match, and that could open up this offense quite a bit.
Denmark would be well-served to strike an away goal, as that would force Ireland to win the match in 90 minutes to get to the World Cup.
Both of these teams are in the midst of long absences from the World Cup, and a win in this fixture would prove to be the crowning moment over the course of the last decade and a half for either.
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