World Cup qualifying predictions: betting preview and free football tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Thursday's European and South American World Cup qualifiers.

When to bet

Georgia v Sweden
Sky Sports Football, 5pm Thursday

Romania v Iceland
Sky Sports red button, 7.45pm Thursday

Paraguay v Chile
FreeSports, 11pm Thursday

Best bets

Sweden -1 on Asian handicap
2pts 82-100 bet365

Romania
2pts 4-7general

Paraguay draw no bet
1pt 4-5bet365

Verdict

Sweden finished above Spain in the Euro 2020 group stage and they can stay above the Iberians in World Cup qualifying Group B by defeating Georgia in Tbilisi.

Few teams are as successful at consistently performing above expectations than the Swedes, who were quarter-finalists at the 2018 World Cup.

Their passage to Russia 2018 was forged at the expense of Italy, who they defeated 1-0 on aggregate in the playoffs.

And they are on course to give another heavyweight a bloody nose because they are two points above Spain in the battle for automatic passage to Qatar 2022.

Sweden's trip to Seville on Sunday could be decisive but their first challenge is to defeat Georgia and make sure of heading to Andalusia in first place.

Janne Andersson's side have won five of six qualifiers and are 11 points superior to fourth-placed Georgia, who have taken just four points from a possible 21.

Georgia have lost all of their three home fixtures and are unlikely to threaten an upset against Sweden, who look a solid bet to overturn a one-goal Asian handicap deficit – meaning stakes returned in the event of a single goal success and a winning wager should they triumph by two or more.

Romania are two wins away from nailing down second place in Group J and can get the first of them by sweeping aside Iceland in Bucharest.

Mirel Radoi's improving side were worthy 2-0 winners in Reykjavik in September and should once again show their superiority over Iceland, who have only a slim mathematical chance of finishing in second place.

Fourth-placed Armenia and third-placed North Macedonia, who square up in Yerevan, are the main rivals to Romania, but their result will be irrelevant if Radoi's side can finish off with two wins (they head to basement boys Liechtenstein on Sunday).

Paraguay have won just two of 12 South American qualifiers but they can revive their qualification hopes by defeating Chile in Asuncion.

The Paraguayans drew 0-0 at home to Argentina last month in an evenly-matched encounter and have a much better chance against Chile, who have taken only two points from six away qualifiers.

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