Tricky Fins riding Euro qualification wave

World Cup qualifying for the Qatar 2022 tournament gets underway this midweek and in our quest for value I land in Scandinavia for the first betting preview of the week. Finland who will be looking forward to their adventure at the Euros this summer kick off their campaign by hosting an underachieving Bosnia and Herzegovina side. The visitors qualified for the World Cup in 2014 but have flattered to deceive since with aging generational talents Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko still their standout names, currently applying their trade at Barcelona and Roma respectively. As for the Finnish they are not as flashy but the team is far greater than the sum of its parts and with some exciting forwards themselves, they will fancy their chances at getting off to the perfect start.

Group D

Kazakhstan, recently relegated to League D of the Nations League, are likely to be the whipping boys in an otherwise fiercely competitive group. France are the top nation and are fully expected to fly through qualifying, but they did interestingly lose 2-0 at home to Finland in a friendly last November. The other nation is Ukraine, probably the most significant for these two sides, Didier Deschamps’ men should top the group and Kazakhstan prop it up, leaving these two to fight it out with Ukraine for second spot. With that a place in the playoffs and a dream chance at making the World Cup. With much more pedigree at tournament level, Ukraine will be fancied to earn second spot but with Finland’s form and Bosnia’s potential, it will be an interesting contest.

Big names

Finland sit just two places above Bosnia and Herzegovina in the rankings at 55. Arsenal academy graduate Glen Kamara is the main man outside of the forward line currently learning his trade under Steven Gerrard at Scottish Premier League champions Rangers. Markku Kanerva has a selection dilemma at the top of the pitch though, a nice problem to have. Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki will lead the line, only near on record breaker Ivan Toney has more goals than him in the English second tier this season. Joel Pohjanpalo is riding the Europa League challenging wave with Union Berlin in the Bundesliga and should take confidence from that onto the international scene but for me the favourite to partner Pukki is another Championship danger man in Brentford’s Marcus Forss. The 21-year-old has struggled for game time in recent months but it is clear the talent is there, the Finnish fans will be hoping he can develop into the talisman they currently have in Pukki, who turns 31 this month.

Goals?

Bosnia have the potential to score freely but have not been for some time now and as a result an unders punt is my only goals view in this one.

• Finland have scored in nine of 10.
• Finland have conceded in four of 10.
• Finland have seen both teams score in four of 10.
• Finland have seen over 2.5 goals in five of 10.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina have scored in five of 10.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina have conceded in eight of 10.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen both teams score in four of 10.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen over 2.5 goals in five of 10.

This is a tight one, it is a fresh slate that could give the visitors a lift, but you cannot ignore the form and therefore Finland are the stronger side here.

Finland - Bosnia and Herzegovina Betting Tip

Double Chance Finland to Win or Draw + Bosnia and Herzegovina to Score Under 1.5 goals with Betway at odds of 23/25 or 1.92.

Bet Double Chance Finland to Win or Draw + Bosnia and Herzegovina to Score Under 1.5 goals on Betway