The European part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, where 54 UEFA countries are competing for only 16 prized spots, continues with the second round of Matchday 5 games on Friday, September 5, 2025. As the competition intensifies, teams face off in crucial matches across Groups B, C, D, I, and L.
France is heading to play against Ukraine, bringing their star players as Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike joins the national team after Rayan Cherki got injured, this addition shows the strong strategy France has for this game.
Italy, now led by Gennaro Gattuso, starts their qualifiers away against Estonia, showcasing a blend of experienced players and new talent like Liverpool’s Giovanni Leoni and Bologna’s Giovanni Fabbian.
Scotland begins their journey with a challenging match away to Denmark, welcoming back right-back Aaron Hickey from injury, which is an important start for Steve Clarke’s team.
:
:
vs 
Denmark vs Scotland
Denmark has high hopes under the new coach Brian Riemer, who took over the team with the goal of refreshing and modernizing it. At home, the Danes are traditionally very strong and rarely drop points. The team has a solid midfield, with Hojbjerg as the playmaker, and in attack, they will rely on the young talents Rasmus Hojlund and Jonas Wind. The absence of Eriksen is noticeable since he is the engine in the creative phase, but the squad still looks powerful.
On the other hand, Scotland, under the leadership of Steve Clarke, continues with its well-known defensive and disciplined approach. However, the selection is facing issues with creativity, as it is uncertain whether Ryan Christie will be part of the team, and Lewis Ferguson is also a question mark. This could force them to play even more defensively and rely on set pieces or counterattacks through McGinn and Adams.
Denmark is an excellent team and plays very disciplined, and the advantage of playing at home is a significant factor in this match. We expect a victory for the home team.
1 (Denmark to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:1
:
:
vs 
Faroe Islands vs Croatia
The Faroe Islands aren’t really at the level to handle a team like Croatia, but when they play at home, they can be tough with their fighting spirit, physical play, and long balls. The team doesn’t have any big names, but they will try to use their motivation and teamwork on their own field. They lost in the first two rounds, and in the first match, they almost got a point against the Czech Republic. Their first win in the group stage was against Gibraltar with a score of 2:1.
Croatia, under Zlatko Dalic, comes in as the clear favorite. The experienced Luka Modric still controls the midfield, while Perisic and Kramaric are responsible for the attack. The defense, led by Gvardiol, is at a high level, but he might not be available for this match. However, there are players who can step in and do a good job. The Croatians rarely make mistakes against weaker teams. They are currently in second place, and after playing two matches, they have two wins, including a big victory over the Czech Republic with a score of 5:1.
Croatia is definitely the favorite in this match, and we expect them to take the lead even in the first half.
2-2 (Croatia to Win HT and FT)
Predicted CS: 0:3
:
:
vs 
Greece vs Belarus
Greece, under the leadership of Ivan Jovanovic, is trying to return to the top of European football. The team is known for its solid defense, led by Konstantinos Mavropanos and Tsimikas, while in attack, they rely on Giakoumakis and Tzolis, who are effective during transitions and set pieces. At home, the Greeks have a historically strong record and often use the support from their fans to put extra pressure on their opponents.
Belarus is a team that usually plays very defensively and doesn’t create many scoring chances. Their opportunities depend on individual breakthroughs, but their overall quality is limited. Motivation will be high, but they will struggle to handle the organization and pace of the hosts. The team is managed by Spaniard Carlos Ferrer, who is expected to instill more confidence in the players, especially in offense.
Greece has a much stronger squad, and the fact that they secured a spot in the A League of Nations speaks to their quality. We expect them to achieve an easy victory at home.
1 (Greece to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:0
:
:
vs 
Iceland vs Azerbaijan
Iceland is slowly building a new team with the golden generation. They still rely on experienced players like Johann Gudmundsson, but they also have young talents bringing in energy. At home, they are especially dangerous from set pieces, with a tall and strong lineup that can create problems in aerial duels. They are not satisfied with their performance in the Nations League and this season they will continue in a lower rank.
Azerbaijan, under coach Gianni De Biasi, is a team that focuses more on defense. They rarely score goals, but they know how to play disciplined. They haven’t won in 10 matches, with several losses, and in the group stage of the Nations League, they only scored 3 goals in 6 matches while conceding a whopping 17 goals.
Both teams are trying to create an offensive style of play, but in this match, we give the advantage to the home team.
1 (Iceland to Win)
Predicted CS: 1:0
:
:
vs 
Italy vs Estonia
Italy is led by the great Gennaro Gattuso, who will try to bring new energy and restore the attacking spirit of the team. With players like Cambiaso, Ranieri, and Barella, the “Azzurri” have a huge advantage in terms of quality and experience. At home, they often dominate possession and control the pace of the game.
Estonia is one of the weaker teams in the group and usually plays defensively, with most of the team positioned on their half of the field. Rauno Sappinen is one of the few who can create danger, but he will likely be isolated by the strong Italian defense.
Italy is a clear favorite at home and is expected to secure an easy victory, scoring at least 2 goals during the match.
1 & T1 2+ (Italy to Win & Italy Over1.5)
Predicted CS: 3:0
:
:
vs 
Moldova vs Israel
Moldova plays strongly at home, showing great fighting spirit and surprising opponents with their disciplined defense. Ion Nicolaescu is a key player in their attack, able to create chances and score goals. So far, they have played 3 matches and lost all 3, scoring 2 goals and conceding 10.
On the other hand, Israel, led by Alon Hazan, has a talented team. Oscar Gloukh and Dan Biton are in the midfield, while Manor Solomon excels in the attack. Their main issue is often their defense, but their overall quality is much higher than Moldova’s. They have played 3 matches so far, winning 2 against Estonia and losing to Norway at home.
Israel has a strong attack, and despite their defensive weaknesses, they have the qualities to secure 3 points in this match.
2 (Israel to Win)
Predicted CS: 1:2
:
:
vs 
Montenegro vs Czech Republic
Montenegro is known to be a tough host, especially in Podgorica. Stevan Jovetic is still the leader of the attack, while Stevan Savic holds the defense. With their fighting spirit and support from the fans, they can surprise stronger rivals. So far, they have played 3 matches, winning against the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar, but they lost to the Czech Republic away. The coach of the team is Robert Prosinecki, who has improved the team’s form.
Czech Republic, under coach Ivan Hasek, has a disciplined and quality team. Tomas Soucek and Pavel Sulc are in the midfield, and Patrik Schick is excellent in attack. The team is physically strong and dangerous on set pieces, which could be key against the host. Tomas Chory is suspended for this match due to a red card. They have played 4 matches so far and have 3 wins, but in the last round, they were defeated 5:1 by Croatia, and in this match, they will look to improve their performance.
Montenegro will try to earn points at home, while the Czech Republic is a stronger team and has already defeated today’s opponent at home. We expect a close match where we will see at least one goal from both sides.
GG (BTTS-Yes)
Predicted CS: 1:2
:
:
vs 
Slovenia vs Sweden
Slovenia has one of the most talented generations in its history. Benjamin Sesko is the main star in the attack, while goalkeeper Jan Oblak provides great security for the team. Under the leadership of Matjaz Kek, they are well-organized and know how to play tactically mature. They haven’t lost in the last 5 matches and managed to qualify for the B League of Nations.
Sweden comes with a mix of experienced and young stars. Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga lead the attack, while captain Victor Lindelof is in defense. Their inconsistency is a problem, as they often leave space for the opponent. They have been playing excellently lately and also secured a spot in the B League of Nations.
Both teams play dynamic football and create chances for goals, so we expect at least one goal from each side.
GG (BTTS-Yes)
Predicted CS: 1:1
:
:
vs 
Switzerland vs Kosovo
Switzerland, under Murat Yakin, remains a regular favorite in the qualifiers. Granit Xhaka is in the midfield, while Embolo and Rieder bring freshness to the attack. The team is balanced and stable. After a poor performance in the Nations League, they played a series of friendly matches where they showed excellent play.
Kosovo has individual talent with Muriqi and Krasniqi, but the team lacks enough collective strength. They often make defensive mistakes, which could be fatal against Switzerland. Recently, they have shown they can compete with better teams, achieving promotion to League B of the Nations League.
Switzerland has a more skilled and experienced squad and expects to secure an easy victory at home.
1 (Switzerland to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:0
:
:
vs 
Ukraine vs France
Ukraine, under the leadership of coach Serhiy Rebrov, plays with a lot of passion and discipline. With Georgiy Sudakov in the midfield, Dovbyk and Vanat in attack, they always have the potential to surprise. Zinchenko maintains the balance between defense and midfield, and the match is being played at Tarczynski Arena in Poland, where they hope for a good result in this game.
France, led by Didier Deschamps, remains one of the strongest teams in the world. Mbappe is unstoppable in attack, supported by Griezmann and Tchouameni. The defense is solid with Upamecano and Kounde. For this match, Camavinga, Cherki, and Dembele will not be on the field. The French have greater quality, but they need to be careful because Ukraine can be a tricky opponent.
A football giant like France is the absolute favorite in the match, but considering the motivation and good play of the host, we can expect at least 3 goals during the game.
3+ (Over 2.5)
Predicted CS: 1:2
Published:
:
: