Can Ireland make it to the 2018 World Cup with a win against Denmark on Tuesday, at 7.45pm on Sky Sports Football?

Saturday’s trip to Copenhagen hardly saw Ireland make a great case for their inclusion in Russia next year. They managed just 28% of possession in the 0-0 1st leg, a game that saw Martin O’Neill’s side frustrate the Danes rather than pose any real threat. That needs to change if the Irish are to reach their first World Cup since their 2002 jolly in Japan and South Korea.



Denmark will obviously be unhappy with how things panned out at the weekend, though the fact that Ireland failed to score an away goal arguably puts Age Hareide’s side in the driving seat heading into Tuesday night. They also have in Christian Eriksen a genuine threat going forwards, even if the Irish managed to smother him on Saturday.

Despite being in Dublin, on the basis of that 1st leg visitors likely have the advantage, at a Denmark/Ireland (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 1.9-2.1.

Before the Irish find out their fate, Monday sees Italy try and avoid missing their first World Cup in 60 years when they host Sweden at 7.45pm on Sky Sports Football. The Italians have only ever missed one World Cup, all the way back in 1958 (in a coincidental quirk that year the competition was held in Sweden). Yet after losing 1-0 in Stockholm – thanks to a 2nd half goal from Jakob Johansson – Gian Piero Ventura’s men are in danger of bringing that astonishing run to a close.



As for the Swedes, they’ll feel they fully deserve their place in Russia. That had to battle through a qualifying group that featured both France and the Netherlands, the latter of whom they knocked out on goal difference. Then they were dealt easily the toughest play-off opponent, only to overall outplay the Azzurri.

However, the job’s not done just yet. In what is likely to be a throbbing San Siro Sweden have to prevent the likes of Ciro Immobile (who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 36-42), Andrea Belotti and Manolo Gabbiadini (both at 27-32) from scoring once again. That’s a tall order over 90 minutes, with Spreadex offering an Italy/Sweden Goal Supremacy spread of 1.05-1.25 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.1-2.3.