Euro 2020 Qualifying Matchday 9 Odds & Best Bets: Thursday, November 14

• Matchday 9 of Euro 2020 qualifying begins on Thursday, November 14
• England need only a draw against Montenegro to qualify, while Kosovo better than 4-1 to bear Czech Republic
• See the odds and predictions for some of Thursday’s top matches below

It’s Matchday 9 in qualifying for next summer’s European championships. Six teams have already clinched their places in next summer’s finals – Belgium, Italy, Poland,  Russia, Spain and Ukraine – but for most there is still work to do.

We’ll take a look at a selection of Thursday’s games (November 14) and see if we can identify some value for the bettors out there,

England vs Montenegro Euro 2020 Odds

All odds taken on November 10, 2019

A win or even a draw for England will see them qualify for next summer’s finals. Gareth Southgate will expect his team to get the job done against Montenegro who, with three draws and four defeats so far, have already missed out on qualification.

England won the reverse fixture in Podgorica 5-1, back in March, and so crazy odds of -1639 for the home win are understandable, but that ignores how teams raise their game when they go to Wembley.

Southgate’s men should win but Montenegro, with nothing to lose, will play with no fear and will know that this England defense is prone to errors. While six goals conceded in six games may appear a reasonable defensive stat, the England coach has openly confessed to being less-than-content with the way his team has defended and knows that against better opposition they will be exposed.

While Montenegro may not cause England the problems that Germany, France, Spain or Belgium will, they will still be aware that if they can get into advanced areas, they could have some joy.

So, expect an England win and for them to confirm their place in next summer’s finals, but a bet on the correct score should include a goal for the visitors. There’ll be some value there so it’s well worth a look.

Pick: England to win 4-1

Turkey vs Iceland Euro 2020 Odds

Group H has arguably been the pick of the bunch and with three teams battling for the top two automatic places, a win for Iceland in Istanbul would take it to the final game.

With France currently level on points with Turkey at the top of the group the permutations for Matchday 9 are as follows: if Turkey either win or draw against Iceland they will qualify; France will qualify if they win against Moldova, or if Iceland fail to win against Turkey, and if Iceland fail to win against Turkey they will be out of contention (and will have to rely on the playoffs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHJ21RYekk0

So the stakes in Istanbul literally couldn’t be any higher and it will a noisy, boisterous night in the Ali Sami Yen Stadium as Turkey look to qualify for their first second successive European Championships.

The Turks have a 100-percent home record as things stand, which includes a fine 2-0 win over France, and will fancy their chances of getting the points needed to get over the line but, equally, will be aware their only defeat in the group came against Iceland in June. And it’s that 2-1 win in Reykjavik that the visitors will cling onto as they approach this.

Two goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson gave Iceland a two-goal lead that evening before DorukhanTokoz pulled one back for Turkey, but it was a stubborn, dogged defensive display that saw them home. More of the same will be needed on Thursday from the Icelanders, and Turkey, with the stakes so high, may tighten up a bit as a result. But given a point is enough for Turkey, I’m going for a low scoring draw.

Pick: Turkey and Iceland to draw (+279)

Czech Republic vs Kosovo Euro 2020 Odds

On the basis of England needing only a draw against Montenegro to qualify, Group A looks likely to boil down to a two-horse race for the prized second spot. The equation is basically that the Czech Republic will qualify if they win at home against Kosovo but if it’s a draw or the visitors win, then it will still all be up for grabs as they head into the final game.

For Kosovo, they also have the fall-back position of a guaranteed playoff place as they won UEFA Nations League Group D3, but it’s been such a good campaign for the inexperienced Kosovans, they will head to Pilsen looking for the win. They will look to draw on the form they showed when playing England at the St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton; a game they lost 5-3 but not before giving Southgate’s men a real scare.

Also of significance is that one of the Czech Republic’s only two defeats came in Pristina, Kosovo in September.

There’s little value here with the Czech win, but there is with the away win because I really believe Kosovo’s talented technicians can spring a surprise here and take qualification to the final day.

Pick: Kosovo to win (+418)