UEFA World Cup Qualifying Odds & Picks: Matchday 5 (Sept 4)

• Fifth round of UEFA World Cup qualifying kicks off Saturday, September 4th, with 14 games
• The pick of the day’s games is Ukraine vs France, while Slovakia-Croatia likely to be a fiercely contested game
• Read on for a look at all the odds, along with three highlighted betting previews and best bets

The fifth matchday of UEFA World Cup qualifying will mark the halfway point for the bigger, six-team groups in the region’s qualifying campaign. While familiar names such as Italy, France and England are all currently on top of their qualifying groups, their path towards qualification is far from secure, and there is still much to play for.

Here’s a look at all the odds for Saturday, with a focus on three matches for your betting consideration below.

UEFA World Cup Qualifying Odds

Odds as of September 3rd at DraftKings

Ukraine vs France Prediction

After a 1-1 draw in Paris earlier this year, the two likely favorites to win Group D of UEFA qualifying lock horns for the second and final time here.

In 11 all-time meetings, France holds a decisive edge in the series, with six wins, and just one defeat, with four draws between the teams. And the defending world champions have also massively held the upper hand in terms of firepower too, outscoring Oleksandr Petrakov’s team by a massive 22-7 edge. However, that margin is skewed by a 7-1 friendly win that France registered in October 2020.

Kylian Mbappe has left the French squad and returned to Paris following a calf injury, per @lequipe.

He will miss their World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Finland. pic.twitter.com/D8xA99nKJ2

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 2, 2021

France was frustrated in its previous qualifying game against Bosnia & Herzegovina on September 1, where an Antoine Griezmann strike canceled out an Edin Dzeko opener as the 2018 World Cup winners dropped two points at home. Of equal concern was the red card shown to defender Jules Kounde, ruling him out of this game. And since then, Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe has also picked up a calf injury, ruling him out of this game.

Les Bleus drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday. Their next match is against Ukraine in Kiev tomorrow #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/nbEpNN0j0B

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 3, 2021

Ukraine also picked up a draw last time out, 2-2 in Kazakhstan, and will be looking to get back into the race for top spot in Group D with a win here, with the squad currently four points back of France entering this game.

Pick: Draw (+290)

Slovakia vs Croatia Prediction

With just one point separating first-place Croatia and third-placed Slovakia in Group H, this promises to be a tightly contested match in Bratislava.

💪#BeProud #Croatia #WCQ #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/jSAYILcSWR

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) September 3, 2021

Both teams are coming off draws in Matchday 4, with Slovakia held in Slovenia, while Croatia grabbed a point on the road in Moscow against Russia, currently second in the group on goal difference.

The two teams have played each other on 15 occasions, with Croatia, who was runner-up to France in the 2018 World Cup, heavily on top in the rivalry. Zlatko Dalic’s team has won on 10 occasions, with three draws and just two defeats, the last of which came in 1998.

Croatia is still the only unbeaten team in Group H. However, it has struggled to score so far, finding the net just four times. The fact the team is missing Real Madrid star Luka Modric for this game won’t help matters, either.

🎙| Zlatko Dalić (Croatia NT coach):
"It is impossible to replace Modric, I think one player cannot replace Modric." pic.twitter.com/Ch2IwZCfmH

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 1, 2021

On the flip side of that though, the defense has been outstanding, conceding just once in four games.

Pick: Draw (+230)

Israel vs Austria Prediction

Currently second behind runaway leader Denmark in Group F, Israel has made a solid start to its qualifying campaign, winning twice and drawing once to sit level on seven points with Austria.

Israel takes care of business, 4-0, on the back of an Eran Zahavi hat trick.

Next up: a crucial clash with Austria🇦🇹 on Saturday.

A look at the table headed towards matchday 5: pic.twitter.com/kOVThrNvgW

— Israel Football (@Israel_Footy) September 1, 2021

But while wins over Moldova and the Faroe Islands are nice, going up against an Austria side that gave eventual champion Italy a real scare in the last 16 before falling in extra time is a different beast.

Int. break | David Alaba vs Moldova

• Subbed on 83’
• 2 chances created
• 1 assist (in 7 minutes) pic.twitter.com/f04tOwVWeS

— Real Madrid Info ³⁵ (@RMadridInfo) September 2, 2021

Led by Real Madrid center-back David Alaba, Austria is looking to build on a breakout Euros and will be looking at this game as key to staying in touch with group leader Denmark. It will have to do so without captain Julian Baumgartlinger, who misses out with a knee injury, while RB Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer is also out with a groin problem.

Israel striker Eran Zahavi could cause Austria problems, particularly following his hat trick against the Faroe Islands on Wednesday, but Austria should have enough to leapfrog the hosts here.

Pick: Austria (+115)