Top bets for Monday's England, Scotland & NI games

Will England finally qualify for the World Cup in Qatar tonight?

While nothing in international football is certain, playing against the team ranked dead last in FIFA’s rankings, and needing only a point to make sure of top spot and that trip to the World Cup this time next year is as close to certain as you can get. England won 5-0 in the reverse fixture back in March, making it seven wins from seven games with a total score of 42-1 against San Marino.

Correct Score England 5-0 San Marino (price boost to 6/1)

A repeat of the 5-0 Wembley win has been boosted by Spreadex fixed odds, and there’s every possibility England will qualify in style by scoring a few goals. On the flip side, Gareth Southgate, who is without five players, may use this game to give some of his young players a run out, while resting some of the more senior men.

Do Scotland have anything to play for against Denmark?

The Danes have qualification as group winners locked up, having won every game of this campaign. In fact they only conceded their first goal of qualifying late on in their last game, against the Faroe Islands. Scotland have second place and a play-off spot guaranteed, but avoiding defeat tonight gives them a chance of being seeded in those play-offs and therefore increasing the chances of going to Qatar. Lyndon Dykes, who has scored in his last four Scotland games but was suspended on Friday, when Steve Clarke’s team won 2-0 in Moldova, hopes to be back, though he’s suffering from a knock and an illness.

Total Goal Minutes (100-110)

We’ve seen some selling in goals and scoring markets as punters expect a tight encounter at Hampden Park. Denmark had been impenetrable until the Faroes grabbed a late goal, something that didn’t go down well with Kaspar Schmeichel, while a point for Scotland would be a useful result. Scotland have won five competitive games in a row for the first time in history, but Denmark, semi-finalists in the summer’s Euros, look a very good team and the hosts will do well to stop them scoring.

What other key qualifiers are there tonight?

Northern Ireland host Italy in a fascinating encounter for both sides. Italy are top of Group C by a goal difference of two from Switzerland, having drawn with them at the weekend. Northern Ireland are in third and can’t qualify, but they want to make certain they finish there with one eye on seeding for future campaigns. Switzerland will look to make up that two-goal difference at home to Bulgaria, the team Northern Ireland lead on goal difference by three goals in third.

Goals x Corners x Bookings (1000-1125)

There should be plenty of action at Windsor Park with so much to play for, and the Goals x Corners x Bookings market would reward that. Of course, there is no side better at shutting a game down and winning 1-0 than the Italians, which would be bad news for buyers. Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has been talking about his team going on the attack, but will they be good enough to get past that famous Italian back line.