World Cup Qualifying Group C odds: European champions Italy on pole
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Preview and betting tips for World Cup Qualifying Group C
We’re taking a look at the World Cup qualifying Group C odds in which European champions Italy are the 1/4 red-hot favourites to finish top of the pool.
The Azzurri resume their World Cup campaign in September full of confidence after beating England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley and they are also just one match away from equalling the 35-game unbeaten international record held by Brazil and Spain.
Roberto Mancini’s side have already made a perfect start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with nine points from their first three matches and did not concede a goal in their 2-0 wins against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
Italy in frame for World Cup triumph
Their European success means they are 8/1 fourth favourites in the World Cup winner odds despite failing to qualify for Russia three years ago and standing in their way of automatic qualification are Switzerland, the team they met in the group stage of the European Championship.
A double from Manuel Locatelli and a goal from Ciro Immobile a minute from time gave the Italians an impressive 3-0 victory against the Swiss on their way to topping the group with a perfect record.
Italy face Bulgaria for a second time on September 2, three days before they travel to Switzerland who also have a 100% record.
A 3-1 win in Bulgaria was followed by an underwhelming 1-0 victory against Lithuania courtesy of Xherdan Shaqiri’s brilliant backheel finish in the second minute.
The Swiss are 5/2 in the World Cup qualifying Group C odds to book their spot in Qatar and what would be a fifth successive appearance at the tournament, although they may have to take the play-off route to secure their spot.
Northern Ireland have taken just one point from their first two matches against Italy and Bulgaria but can get their first win on the board when they travel to Lithuania on September 2 which they follow with back-to-back contests against Switzerland.
Ian Baraclough’s side are 40/1 in the World Cup qualifying Group C odds having last made it to the finals in 1986 when they finished third in a pool containing Brazil and Spain, the nation they famously beat four years earlier at their home tournament.
Bulgaria have won just one of their last 15 matches, a 3-0 victory against Gibraltar, and are 66/1 in the World Cup qualifying Group C odds, but having failed to beat Italy and Switzerland in 30 years they will need a miracle to reach the finals for the first time this century.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
