Denmark search for their first victory away to Greece
Denmark will be bidding to post their first victory of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign when they make the trip to Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis on Monday night to tackle Greece.
The visitors opened their Group C campaign with a goalless draw against Scotland, while Greece recorded a 5-1 victory over Belarus in their first match in the section on Friday night.
Greece put on a show in their Group C opener, with the hosts 4-0 ahead at the interval, and they scored a fifth just past the hour, with Belarus then netting once in the 72nd minute to make it a 5-1 match.
Greece have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, and they are aiming to make the finals of a World Cup for the first time since 2014, when they managed to reach the round of 16.
Denmark, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw by Scotland in their section opener on Friday night, so the visitors will be bidding to record their first win in Group C on Monday evening.
Denmark’s last victory over Greece was a 1-0 success during qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Denmark will be looking to post their first victory of this qualification campaign, but Greece were excellent last time out, and we are expecting the home side to be good enough for at least a point on today.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Israel, Italy faceoff in Group I
Italy and Israel will meet today, as they pursue a place at World Cup 2026. With Norway favourites to top their qualifying group, neither side can afford to drop points in Hungary, where the Azzurri will seek a second straight win under new management.
Following successive World Cup qualifying failures, Italy began their quest to end 12 years of hurt with a chastening 3-0 loss in Norway, spelling the end for Luciano Spalletti and leaving them trailing far behind top spot in Group I.
Spalletti then signed off with an unconvincing 2-0 win against Moldova, before handing the reins to new boss Gennaro Gattuso, who has been tasked with reviving the Azzurri and making sure they do not miss a third straight global finals.
With a nine-point deficit and two games in hand, Italy came into this month’s international window playing catch-up, and they completed their first mission by eventually sweeping aside Estonia on Friday.
Including two defeats in qualifying for Russia 2018 – and back-to-back UEFA Nations League losses last year – Israel have been beaten in all of the sides’ six previous meetings.
Yet, they will head into Monday’s crucial clash with a three-point lead over Italy – who still have one game in hand – and they remain contenders to at least finish runners-up in Group I.
In a strange atmosphere on neutral soil, Italy may find it tough to overcome an improving Israel side.
Nonetheless, the Azzurri seemed to have found a missing spark last time out, so if their back four can hold firm, three more points should be theirs.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Belarus and Scotland clash in Group C
Scotland will be bidding to record their first victory in Group C when they continue their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a clash against Belarus on Monday night.
Steve Clarke‘s side opened their qualification section with a goalless draw against Denmark on Friday, while Belarus suffered a 5-1 defeat to Greece, so there will be pressure on the hosts to bounce back here.
Belarus have never qualified for the finals of a World Cup, so they are chasing history, while they have also never been present in the finals of a European Championship, finishing fourth in their qualification section for Euro 2024.
The last meeting between these two sides came back in 2005, when Belarus recorded a 1-0 victory in a World Cup qualifier, but Scotland lead the overall head-to-head record two wins to one.
Scotland will have been encouraged by their performance against Denmark last time out, with Steve Clarke’s side picking up a point in a goalless draw, and they will now be aiming to move onto four points in the section.
Not since 1998 have Scotland been present in the finals of a World Cup, so there is plenty on the line, and they have also never managed to make it out of the group stage of this particular tournament.
Scotland have also been knocked out in the group stage of the last two European Championships, but simply making it to the finals of next summer’s World Cup would be a huge achievement for the nation.
This would be a huge win for Scotland if they can pull it off, and we are backing Clarke’s side to edge a close game on Monday evening in order to move onto four points in the section.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Switzerland welcome Slovenia to St Jakob-Park in Basel
Switzerland will be looking to strengthen their position at the top of their World Cup qualifying group when they welcome Slovenia to St Jakob-Park in Basel this Monday night.
The Swiss kicked off their campaign with a solid victory over Kosovo on Friday, while their upcoming opponents managed to secure an encouraging draw with Sweden.
Switzerland are chasing their sixth successive World Cup appearance, and the Red Crosses have certainly made an encouraging start.
Breel Embolo was the star of the show against Kosovo, with the forward bagging two goals in a thumping 4-0 win against Kosovo.
Switzerland also enjoyed a series of good results before their World Cup qualifying campaign, winning three straight friendlies against Luxembourg, Mexico and the United States.
Slovenia, on the other hand, kicked off their qualifying campaign with an encouraging 2-2 home draw against Sweden.
Slovenia have not qualified for a World Cup since 2010, but the team will be quietly confident after making it to the most recent European Championships and even progressing to the last-16.
Looking ahead to their clash against Switzerland, Kek’s side will certainly fancy their chances. Slovenia are unbeaten in four away games, including three competitive matches.
Switzerland have looked incredibly strong in recent games, and they will be a tough side to beat on Monday – especially at home.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Group B
Group C
Group I
Group L
