Friendlies such as England vs Brazil may hog the glamor during this international break but the Euro 2024 qualifying playoff semi-finals serve up the competitive action that rates more solid punting ground.
Our first-leg best bets are all about finding ways for away underdogs to outrun their odds.
Weekend International Football Tips
Gerson Rodrigues (Luxembourg) to score anytime vs Georgia @ 3/1
Greece vs Kazakhstan – both teams to score @ 13/8
Poland to beat Estonia & under 2.5 goals @ 19/10
Bet on the latest football odds at Betzone
Luxembourg go-to goal scorer value to net in Tbilisi
Georgia amassed just eight group stage points compared to the 17 recorded by Luxembourg, yet the latter are outsiders for victory in the first leg of their Euro 2024 qualifying playoff semi-final.
Admittedly the Georgians had a tougher section, with Spain, Norway and Scotland amongst their opponents, but the fact remains that Luxembourg are a far more dangerous side than their long-time minnow reputation might suggest.
Luc Holtz’s visitors can be backed at 21/20 to avoid defeat in Georgia, but a better value way of siding with the Red Lions to be competitive here could be backing in-form forward Gerson Rodrigues to net.
Slovan Bratislava ace Rodrigues has struck eight times in his last 11 internationals and the fact that the Portuguese-born goal scorer takes penalties for his adopted homeland only enhances his claims.
Tip: Gerson Rodrigues (Luxembourg) to score anytime vs Georgia @ 3/1
Underrated Kazakh attack can breach Greek rearguard
‘Yes’ is the 13/8 outsider in the both-teams-to-score market when Greece host Kazakhstan In Athens – state of affairs which seemingly has much to do with the Greeks’ 3/10 match-betting favoritism.
However Gus Poyet’s men shut out just one of their visitors in Qualifying group B and that was lowly Gibraltar. That the Kazahks are 17/2 match-betting underdogs belies the fact that they are more than capable of finding the net away from home in competitive action.
The Hawks got on the scoresheet in all five of their away assignments in Euro 2024 qualifying Group H and look good value to bag themselves a foothold to take back to Astana for the second leg.
Tip: Greece vs Kazakhstan – both teams to score @ 13/8
Scoreboard unlikely to reflect Poland class differential
Estonia are dismissively priced up as 14/1 underdogs to record a first-leg victory away to a Poland side that should have far too much class to come a cropper in this fixture.
Betzone players are unlikely to get rich backing the Poles at 2/13, but despite boasting world class marksman Robert Lewandowski amongst their number, the 19/10 about Michal Probierz’s outfit winning a match of less than 2.5 goals is worthy of closer inspection.
Just three of Poland’s last 15 internationals have seen more than two goals scored and their last six games have all featured less than three. That’s despite them playing the Faroe Islands, Moldova, Czechia and Latvia in their last four outings.
