Kick-off: 1945, 08/10/2021
Stadium: Eden Arena
TV: Sky Sports
Wales face a tough test in Friday’s crucial World Cup clash versus Czech Republic without talismanic front man Gareth Bale.
Both teams are level on seven points in the race to qualify from Group E alongside Belgium but the Dragons are tipped to fall behind here.
We’re happy to take 7/10 for a home win as our first Czech Republic vs Wales prediction.
A Look At Czech Republic’s Betting Odds
Czech Republic created a good impression at Euro 2020 when beating Scotland in Glasgow, drawing with Croatia and only losing narrowly to England in their pool.
Netherlands were then beaten 2-0 at the last-16 stage before a 2-1 loss to an inspired Denmark side in the quarter-finals.
Patrik Schick was the star of that tournament with five goals and the striker has been in superb form for new club Bayer Leverkusen.
West Ham duo Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek, plus Burnley forward Matej Vydra are familiar faces in a solid squad, while midfielder Antonin Barak is doing well on loan at Verona.
Last month’s World Cup qualifiers brought a 1-0 home win over Belarus and a 3-0 loss in Belgium.
Jaroslav Silhavy will know how important this contest is and the hosts have a good record at Eden Arena, where they beat England 2-1 a couple of years ago.
Silhavy’s side don’t tend to do big wins, though, so 23/10 they prevail by any one-goal margin appeals from the Czech Republic vs Wales odds.
A Look At Wales’ Betting Odds
Wales can take heart from having edged out Czech Republic 1-0 in Cardiff back in March, when Dan James headed in a late decider.
Their opponents did dominate the first half that night, though, before Schick was sent off soon after the break.
Connor Roberts also saw red on 77 minutes in a feisty affair and it would be no surprise to see emotions spill over again here.
The Dragons were far from disgraced at Euro 2020, drawing with Switzerland and beating Turkey before losing to Italy and Denmark.
Last month’s 3-2 win in Belarus boosted their World Cup qualification hopes but a goalless stalemate with Estonia in Cardiff was frustrating.
With Bale absent and fitness concerns over Aaron Ramsey, who has started only once for Juventus this season, the likes of James, David Brooks and Harry Wilson must step up.
However, Wales have failed to score in four of their last five matches, with that sequence only broken by Bale’s hat-trick in Belarus.
Let’s finish off our Czech Republic vs Wales betting tips by taking 5/1 for a 1-0 home victory.
Additional stats
Last result:
CZECH REPUBLIC 1-1 Ukraine – Vydra
WALES 0-0 Estonia
Head-to-head: Wales 1-0 Czech Republic, Wales 0-0 Czech Republic, Czech Republic 2-1 Wales, Wales 0-0 Czech Republic
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