World Cup 2018 Betting: Lethal Lewandowski to strike again

Poland v Romania
Saturday June 10, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports Interactive

After their excellent showing at Euro 2016 (they lost on penalties to eventual winners Portugal in the quarter-finals), Poland are well on course to qualify for next year's World Cup. They have built up a six point lead at the top of Group E, and another win this weekend would be a huge step towards wrapping up the section.

Of course, it helps to have one of the world's best strikers in your ranks. Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scored 51 goals in 52 games for club and country this season. He has scored in each of his last six internationals, including a brace against Romania in the reverse fixture and a hat-trick against Denmark. He is priced at 3/4 on the Sportsbook to score in 90 minutes, and I think that's a fair price.

I also like the look of backing Both Teams To Score at [2.45]. Romania are struggling, and have drawn a blank in their last three qualifiers, but they have some decent attacking players and the Polish defence has regularly sprung a leak in this campaign. In their five WC2018 qualifiers, Poland have kept just one clean sheet. Indeed, they have managed just one shut-out in their last eight outings in all competitions.

Recommended Bets
Back Robert Lewandowski to score at 3/4 on the Sportsbook
Back Both Teams To Score at [2.45]

Kazakhstan v Denmark
Saturday June 10, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports Interactive

The Danes are one of the teams chasing Poland in Group E, and after failing to qualify for the last two major tournaments, the pressure in firmly on Age Hareide's side. Their hopes of a morale-boosting friendly win over Germany were dashed on Tuesday, as Joshua Kimmich scored a spectacular late leveller in a 1-1 draw.

Denmark have won just one of their five qualifiers, and although they smashed Kazakhstan 4-1 in the reverse fixture, they have every reason to be a little nervous as they visit Almaty. Denmark haven't won a single away game since November 2014, and in this campaign they lost 3-2 in Poland and drew 0-0 in Romania.

Kazakhstan have already held Poland and Romania to draws in Almaty, and if you add that form to Denmark's terrible body of work on the road, then the visitors' price of 1.51starts to look very short.

Recommended Bet
Lay Denmark at 1.51

Norway v Czech Republic
Saturday June 10, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports Interactive

It's been a grim time to be a fan of the Norwegian national team, with the side failing to qualify for any of the last four World Cups, and also missing out on the last four European Championships. That gloom shows no signs of lifting, as the only points Lars Lagerback's team have collected in this campaign have been from a victory over San Marino. The other four matches have been lost against Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland, Germany and Saturday's opponents from the Czech Republic.

The Czechs aren't looking too clever either. Goalless draws at home to Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan dented their hopes, as did a routine 3-0 drubbing in Germany. That said, they have already beaten Norway in this campaign, and they played really well in a recent friendly defeat in Belgium, pushing a strong side all the way in Brussels.

With the market split, I'm happy to back the Czechs with a bit of insurance by using the Draw No Bet market.

Recommended Bet
Back Czech Republic Draw No Bet at 2.04

Slovenia v Malta
Saturday June 10, 19:45

Live on Sky Sports Interactive

Malta continue to be one of the hardy minnows of European football, but the most important thing to remember ahead of this trip to Slovenia is that the Falcons are rarely hammered. In their last 28 matches, they have only lost by more than two goals on three occasions.

Slovenia's 1-0 defeat in Scotland last time out dented their hopes of grabbing a playoff spot, and they are hardly a free-scoring side. They won 1-0 in Ta'Qali in the reverse fixture, and they have won by more than two goals in just one of their last 31 games.

I'm happy to give the Maltese a two-goal start on the Asian Handicap.

Recommended Bet
Back Malta +2.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.04