FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Odds & Picks – Matchday 8 (Oct 11)

• The next round of European qualifiers for Qatar 2022 Europe take place on Monday, October 11
• Among the big names is Estonia vs Wales and Croatia vs Slovakia
• We list the odds for all 13 games and preview three, offering our best picks

Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar continues on Monday, October 11 with a round of 11 games. Among them, Wales travels to Estonia, while Croatia also takes on Slovakia and Russia travels to Slovenia in Group H.

We list the games, show the odds, preview three, and offer some picks for each below.

World Cup European Qualifying Odds

All odds taken Oct 10 at DraftKings

Estonia vs Wales Prediction

Estonia comes into this off the back of an excellent 2-0 home win over Belarus on Friday night;  goals coming in the second half from Sergei Zenjov. The win saw them leapfrog Belarus and move off the bottom of Group E, but with only four points from their five games, they are out of the reckoning for qualification.

Väärt punkt Walesist! Wales 0, Eesti 0! Silmapaistev esitus Karl Jakob Heinalt, aga loomulikult oli kogu meeskond tasemel, et kvaliteetse võistkonnaga võõrsil viiki mängida. #eestikoondis #südamejapalliga

📸 Jana Pipar/Jalgpall.ee pic.twitter.com/xzxmR2v7U7

— Eesti jalgpall (@eestijalgpall) September 8, 2021

Wales, meanwhile, was earning a potentially priceless 2-2 draw in Prague against the Czech Republic, with Aaron Ramsey and Daniel James scoring for a Welsh team that was without its talisman, Gareth Bale. The draw saw Wales stay in third place in the group but they are only behind the second-placed Czechs on goal difference.

In the reverse fixture in September, the game ended goalless – the first time in four meetings between the teams that Estonia had avoided defeat – but Wales, with qualification in their sights, will be wary of letting any more points slip away.  For that reason, I see value here in the Wales win.

Picks: Wales to win (-165) / Aaron Ramsay to score and Wales to win (+320)

Slovenia vs Russia Prediction

It is make-or-break time for Slovenia who simply has to beat Russia in Maribor on Monday to keep alive their dream of qualifying for Qatar 2022. They are currently third in Group H but are six points behind the joint leaders, Croatia and Russia, so a win would close the gap to Russia to three with two to play. And they come into this with confidence after beating Malta 4-0 on Friday.

Russia’s tight, edgy, and hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Slovakia on Friday kept them level at the top with Croatia – who themselves won 3-0 away in Cyprus – and they head into this off the back of a four-game unbeaten run during which they have not conceded a single goal. This marks an impressive turnaround for Valeri Karpin’s team who performed poorly in the summer’s European Championships.

Летим в Марибор ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Cxl2YaAhr9

— Сборная России (@TeamRussia) October 10, 2021

This will be close, but the overriding message from Karpin to his troops will be not to lose. A draw would maintain that crucial six-point gap for the Russians and would virtually guarantee them at least a play-off. For that reason alone, there is value in the draw at +215.

Pick: Slovenia and Russia to draw (+350)

Croatia vs Slovakia Prediction

Croatia currently leads Group H on goal difference but knows that a win in Osijek, as with Russia, will virtually guarantee them at least a playoff place. The Croatians have responded well to a disappointing Euro 2020, which they exited at the round-of-16 stage, and have been unbeaten in their last four games.

🏃‍♂️ Ready, set, go!#Family #Vatreni❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/OWUWG3Jm9g

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) October 9, 2021

Slovakia’s chances of qualifying are hanging by a thread after their 1-0 defeat in Kazan, Russia, last Friday, and realistically they have to win here to even give themselves an outside chance of a playoff place. But with a gap of seven points between them and first and second places with just three games left remaining, they almost need a miracle to catch their hosts and Russia, especially as they are short of goals – just seven scored in their seven group games.

🇸🇰 Superb night for Slovakia 🥳

The hosts get their first #WCQ win this campaign by beating Russia 2-1 😎 pic.twitter.com/JkRcbP9Ktb

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 30, 2021

Croatia’s rock-solid defense – they have conceded just once so far – has been the backbone of their campaign and it is hard to see Slovakia’s ailing attack making too much of an impression on the hosts, especially with the stakes so high. A win here will put the Croatians on the cusp of qualification and I can see them achieving it comfortably.

Pick: Croatia to win 2-0 (+550)