International Friendlies

Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have both been struggling to sparkle of late and we're expecting a tense tussle when they meet in Dublin on Thursday. Each team is facing relegation in the newly-formed Nations League and scoring goals has been a real problem for these Emerald Isle rivals. More...

Scotland were booed off by their own fans following Thursday's 2-1 loss in Israel and face another tough test when hosting Portugal in Sunday's international friendly. The visitors are missing Cristiano Ronaldo but continued a good run of form when prevailing 3-2 in Poland without their talisman. More...

Wales face a daunting task when taking on Spain and it is hard to see the hosts getting anything out of Thursday night's international friendly in Cardiff. Luis Enrique has made a flying start to his reign as La Roja boss, beating England and Croatia in the Nations League. More...

Martin O'Neill will take a depleted Republic of Ireland squad to Poland for Tuesday's international friendly and we fear more misery for the men in green. Robert Lewandowski is poised to celebrate his 100th international cap for the hosts, who will be keen to make the occasion even more memorable with a win. More...

Michael O'Neill called Northern Ireland's Nations League defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina "a sore one" and Israel may feel the backlash at Windsor Park. The hosts are 66 places above their opponents in the FIFA rankings and are traditionally strong when playing in front of their own fans. More...

Austria have claimed a couple of notable scalps in World Cup warm-up matches but may meet their match when facing Brazil in Vienna. The Selecao have never tasted defeat in nine head-to-head meetings, securing wins in six of those past encounters. More...

South Korea and Senegal have both struggled in World Cup warm-up matches but the timing of this clash may give the Asian outfit an edge. The Lions of Teranga lost 2-1 to Croatia only on Friday and their strength in depth will be stretched with such a quick turn-around. More...

Belgium complete their World Cup preparations by taking on Costa Rica in Brussels and are fancied to enjoy a smooth success. The Red Devils impressed when beating Egypt 3-0 on Wednesday, whereas Los Ticos may need more time to adapt to European conditions judged on Thursday's 2-0 loss to England. More...

France will be seeking a third quick win in World Cup warm-up matches when hosting the USA in Lyon and should be up to achieving that feat. Les Bleus have already seen off the Republic of Ireland 2-0 and Italy 3-1 in the last couple of weeks. More...

Spain will be keen to make a statement of intent when facing Tunisia in Krasnodar, six days before taking on Portugal in their World Cup opener. La Roja are among the favourites to claim outright glory at Russia 2018, following a couple of disappointing efforts at the last two major tournaments. More...

Denmark and Mexico have found goals hard to come by in World Cup warm-up matches and a tight tussle is expected when they meet in Brondby. Both teams have netted just once in their last three international friendlies as preparations continue for Russia 2018. More...

Peru have put together a strong set of results in World Cup warm-up matches and may be good value to get the better of Sweden in Gothenburg. Los Incas have rattled off four straight wins in international friendlies this year, scoring 10 times and conceding only once. More...

Switzerland have only lost once in 12 games since the start of last year and are worthy favourites to edge out Japan on home turf in Friday's World Cup warm-up match. The Samurai Blue have been far from impressive in recent friendlies, including last week's 2-0 loss to Ghana in Yokohama. More...

Poland are rated as lively outsiders for World Cup glory and can continue their preparations with a narrow win over Chile in Poznan. Both teams won their last international friendlies but the Eagles look better equipped to maintain that momentum on Friday night. More...

England complete their World Cup preparations when facing Costa Rica in Leeds on Thursday and we're not underestimating the visitors. Los Ticos drew 0-0 with the Three Lions at Brazil 2014 en route to reaching the quarter-finals and have shown some useful form in recent international friendlies. More...

Croatia and Senegal have produced moderate results in international friendlies and both look to be saving their best for the World Cup. That could lead to a cagey, low-key affair in Osijek on Friday, with chances expected to be few and far between. More...

Uruguay will complete their World Cup preparations by entertaining Uzbekistan in Montevideo and a smooth success should be on the cards. La Celeste won seven of their nine home games when qualifying for Russia 2018 by finishing second behind Brazil in the South American section. More...

Germany have had an uncharacteristically sloppy build-up to Russia 2018 but should get back on track when facing Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday. Miroslav Klose hit a hat-trick as Die Mannschaft enjoyed an 8-0 romp when these teams last met at the 2002 World Cup. More...

Iceland have struggled a bit in World Cup warm-up matches and may be content to steady the ship by drawing with Ghana in Reykjavik. The Nordic outfit have lost to Mexico, Peru and Norway in the build-up to Russia 2018, so avoiding another defeat will be the first target here. More...

South Korea could do with a confidence-boosting win ahead of the World Cup and appear to have found suitable opponents in Bolivia. The Taegeuk Warriors have lost three of their last four international friendlies but this Innsbruck clash represents a drop in class. More...

Portugal put in a solid display when drawing with Belgium on Saturday and should now look for a morale-boosting win against Algeria in Lisbon. This will be the final World Cup warm-up match for the Euro 2016 champions before they take on Spain at Russia 2018. More...

Belgium were below par when held to a goalless draw by Portugal on Saturday but warrant another chance to impress when hosting Egypt in Brussels. The Red Devils scored a joint European record 43 goals in qualifying and will hopefully find a way to break the Pharaohs down. More...

Norway have put together a good run of international friendly results this year and are fancied to edge out Panama in Oslo. The Scandinavians have responded well to missing out on the World Cup and will be seeking a fourth straight victory here. More...

Nigeria showed plenty of industry in the second half against England and more of the same would make them a solid bet to beat the Czech Republic in Austria. Having failed to qualify for the World Cup, the Czechs looked short of motivation when crushed 4-0 by Australia on Friday. More...

Russia could do with a morale boost ahead of the World Cup and are fancied to edge out Turkey in Tuesday's Moscow international friendly. The hosts have gone six games without a win but their desire and hunger to hit form before facing Saudi Arabia a week on Thursday can prove decisive here. More...

Anfield will stage a cracking Russia 2018 warm-up match on Sunday when Brazil take on Croatia and we're backing the Selecao to come out on top. Brazil recovered from conceding an early own goal to win 3-1 when these teams met at the last World Cup in Sao Paulo and they can confirm that superiority. More...

England will be hoping to further enhance an impressive defensive record under Gareth Southgate when entertaining Nigeria in Saturday's international friendly at Wembley. The Three Lions have only conceded one goal in their last six matches and go into this World Cup warm-up game as hot favourites. More...

Mexico couldn't break down Wales in Monday's World Cup warm-up in Pasadena but Scotland may struggle to keep them out at the iconic Azteca Stadium this weekend. Alex McLeish's inexperienced squad have already gone down 2-0 to Peru on this trip and face another tough test here. More...

Serbia have assembled a solid squad ahead of Russia 2018 and they are fancied to see off a Chile side missing several key players in Austria. Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez are among those absent for the South American outfit in this international friendly at the home of Sturm Graz. More...

Peru are rated as dark horses to do well at Russia 2018, whereas Saudi Arabia are rank outsiders and we reckon those World Cup odds will be reflected in this warm-up. The South American side did us a favour when beating Scotland 2-0 on Monday and a repeat of that performance should suffice in St Gallen, Switzerland. More...