World Cup qualifiers: favorites face tough tests, while Finns and Poles unlikely to deliver fireworks

On June 10, European national teams will once again battle it out in the World Cup qualifiers. Here are my predictions for the upcoming matches.

• See also: Argentina vs Colombia prediction, H2H and probable lineups – 11 June 2025

Netherlands vs Malta: No trouble for the hosts

The Netherlands have landed in a workmanlike group, and it looks like they'll be fighting with Poland for the top spot. Ronald Koeman's squad kicked off qualifying with a 2-0 away win over Finland—goals from Dumfries and Depay, both netted before the midway point of the first half.

In the Nations League, the Oranje finished second in their elite division group, earning a playoff berth where they fought tooth and nail but fell to Spain—2-2 at home, 3-3 away, and then lost on penalties. Malta's qualifying campaign is going as expected: they've played three matches, haven't scored yet, but managed to grab a point thanks to a goalless draw away against Lithuania. I expect total dominance from the home side in this clash, as there's a significant gulf in class between the teams.

Bet for the match: Netherlands to win with a -3.5 goal handicap at 1.88 odds.

Romania vs Cyprus: No room for error for Romania

Romania can't be happy with their start to the World Cup qualifiers, suffering two defeats in their first three matches. They lost to direct rivals for the top spots—first at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina (0-1), then away to Austria (1-2). Romania's sole victory came away against hopeless underdogs San Marino—1-5.

On paper, Cyprus aren't contenders to get out of the group, but they shouldn't be underestimated. They started qualifying with a 2-0 home win over San Marino, then put up a solid fight in a 1-2 away loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, showing an impressive level of play. I expect a tough, end-to-end battle here.

Bet for the match: both teams to score—yes, at 2.24 odds.

San Marino vs Austria: By how much will Austria win?

This isn't a match worth watching, but it's definitely one to consider for a bet. Austria are a class above, but much will depend on how efficiently the visitors convert their chances.

San Marino have lost all three of their qualifiers so far, but were only thrashed once—1-5 at home to Romania. They fell just 0-1 away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and lost 0-2 to Cyprus, also away.

Austria have played just one match so far, beating a solid Romania side 2-1 at home. They're one of the main favorites to win this group. As we've seen in recent years, many teams have learned how to play football and defend well. San Marino are capable of avoiding a rout here.

Bet for the match: San Marino to win with a +4 goal handicap at 1.81 odds.

Serbia vs Andorra: Serbia need a convincing win

The favorite is obvious here—Serbia are on a different level and should dominate this fixture. Of course, Andorra will try to play as solidly as possible; while they lack quality, their defensive organization shouldn't be underestimated.

Serbia are currently next to last in the group, but that's only because they've played just one match, a goalless draw away to Albania. Competing with England will be tough, but second place is a realistic target.

Andorra have already played three qualifiers—no points, no goals, but in their last outing, they only lost 0-1 at home to England, which is something to be proud of. I don't think it'll be as easy for the hosts as it might seem at first glance. The underdog is definitely capable of giving the favorite a nervy night.

Bet for the match: Andorra to win with a +3.5 goal handicap at 1.61 odds.

Finland vs Poland: Tough trip for the Poles

These teams have a long history of head-to-head clashes, with Poland winning more often, though that means little ahead of this encounter. The visitors are seen as favorites, with a stronger squad on paper, but Finland are always a dangerous proposition at home.

The Scandinavians have landed in a tough group, but they fear no one, no matter the opponent. Technically, this is a battle between group leaders, but only because the Netherlands have games in hand.

Poland remain unbeaten after two matches, but home wins against Malta and Lithuania are hardly impressive—this opponent will be much tougher. I expect a tight, physical contest, which should hurt the entertainment value. Predicting a winner here is no easy task.

Bet for the match: under 2.5 total goals at 1.66 odds.

If you combine all these odds, you can put together an accumulator with a payout over 20. Of course, everyone can make their own adjustments, but this is a great chance to boost your bankroll—just remember not to take unnecessary risks.