Matchday 9 Euro 2020 Qualifying Odds & Best Bets: Saturday, November 16
- In-form Lewandowski could boost qualified Poland in Israel
- Netherlands will face stubborn Northern Irish team in Belfast hot-house
- Scotland seek another lift from recent gloom in Cyprus
Poland have already qualified for the finals of Euro 2020 but will still go all-out for victory away from home against Israel on Saturday as they aim to finish top of Group G.
The remarkable goal-scoring form of striker Robert Lewandoswki could be a key factor in determining the outcome in Jerusalem on November 16, at Teddy Stadium, at 2:45 pm EST.
He has hit the target in all but two of the club games he has played for Bayern Munich this season while also netting a hat-trick against Latvia last month in one of four international appearances this fall.
Euro 2020 Group G Israel vs Poland Odds
Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Israel | +0.5 (-190) | +188 | U 2.5 (-135) |
Poland | -0.5 (+142) | +146 | O 2.5 (+102) |
Draw | N/A | +237 | N/A |
All odds taken Nov. 12
Lewandowski has hit 23 goals in 18 matches for Bayern this season in a remarkable run of success – most recently scoring twice in the 4-0 defeat of Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga’s Klassiker fixture last Saturday.
Poland beat Israel 4-0 at home in Warsaw last June, with Lewandowski converting a penalty.
They lead the group after eight fixtures with 19 points from six wins, one draw and one defeat – three points ahead of second-placed Austria.
Poland have won away in Austria, Latvia and North Macedonia and can play under reduced pressure after becoming one of the early nations to qualify for next summer’s finals.
Israel are fifth in the section with 11 points after three wins, two draws and three defeats. They have a very slim chance of making the top two.
Israeli squad for the upcoming games against @pzpn_pl and @ffmmkd pic.twitter.com/LhwdeDxhs4
— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) November 6, 2019
They are undefeated at home after two wins and two draws. But impressive Poland have won away in Austria, Latvia and North Macedonia and can play under reduced pressure after becoming one of the early nations to qualify for next summer’s finals.
Pick: Poland
Euro 2020 Group C Northern Ireland vs Netherlands Odds
Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Ireland | +1.5 (-164) | +700 | U 2.5 (-113) |
Netherlands | -1.5 (+132) | -262 | O 2.5 (-113) |
Draw | N/A | +355 | N/A |
There have been some vague suggestions that the game could be switched to Malta for security reasons.
Northern Ireland’s hopes of finishing in the top two in Group C hang by a thread after a down-turn following their impressive start of four straight wins.
But the group leaders from the Netherlands will face a raucous and emotional occasion in Belfast on Saturday, November 16, at Windsor Park, on 2:45 pm EST.
Northern Irish hearts were broken when they lost 3-1 in Rotterdam in the corresponding away fixture last month after taking the lead in the 75th minute.
The Dutch lived dangerously but equalized in the 80th minute and then scored twice in added time to claim all three points.
This means that the price of +355 for the draw is very intriguing after the Irish proved so difficult to break down for so long in Rotterdam.
The Netherlands will qualify if they draw. They are in first place with 15 points.
Michael O'Neill has been appointed as manager of Stoke City but will take charge of Northern Ireland for any potential Euro 2020 play-off games. What does this mean for Northern Ireland football now? pic.twitter.com/vY4AyBl5wZ
— BBC Talkback (@BBCTalkback) November 8, 2019
Northern Ireland are third with 12 points behind second-placed Germany.
Michael O’Neill has been a popular coach of the home team and will receive even more warm backing than usual from the partisan crowd after agreeing to become manager of EFL club Stoke City – although he remains in charge of the international side, too.
The Irish will miss out on a top-two place if they draw and Germany beat Belarus in the same section. Or if they lose and Germany draw.
Michael O’Neill has been a popular coach of the home team and will receive even more warm backing than usual from the partisan crowd after agreeing to become manager of EFL club Stoke City – although he remains in charge of the international side, too.
The Netherlands could be without star forward Memphis Depay who is struggling for fitness. He has scored 10 times in his last 13 international games.
Northern Ireland won their first two home games in the campaign before succumbing 2-0 against Germany in September in Belfast.
Pick: Draw +355
Euro 2020 Group I Cyprus vs Scotland Odds
Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Cyprus | +0.5 (-174) | +210 | U 2.5 (-162) |
Scotland | -0.5 (+135) | +130 | O 2.5 (+122) |
Draw | N/A | +220 | N/A |
Neither Cyprus nor Scotland can qualify from Group I when they meet on the Mediterranean island on Saturday, November 16, at GST Stadium, Nicosia, at 9:00 am EST.
The Scots scored their only win of any kind of note in the group when they defeated Cyprus 2-1 in Glasgow last June.
Their other two victories came against the minnows of San Marino.
With Cyprus having won only once in four home fixtures, the draw at +220 on Saturday looks competitive.
Last month’s 6-0 win against San Marino was more significant than many might realize for the Scots because it lifted some gloom after a dismal period.
Scotland squad update:
IN: Lewis Morgan & Graeme Shinnie.
OUT: Liam Cooper, Ryan Fraser, Scott McTominay & Andy Robertson. pic.twitter.com/P8yCQF3hww
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 12, 2019
Coach Steve Clarke will seek to build on this uplift in Nicosia this weekend.
The Cypriots were hammered 5-0 at home by second-placed Russia in October.
They also lost at home to group leaders Belgium.
Their home win was a 5-0 defeat of San Marino in March. But they were held 1-1 in September by Kazakhstan in September.
Pick: Draw +220