Wales v Israel Betting Tip 1, 2015-09-06

Wales can make history in Cardiff

Euro Qualifiers Tips

Wales v Israel
Sunday 6th September – Kickoff: 1700hrs
Football – International Football – European Championships

It is 58 years since Wales reached and major international championship, but that is what awaits them if they can win at home to Israel on Sunday. Gareth’s Bale late header away to Cyprus on Thursday means the Welsh are just three points away from ending a hoodoo which has plagued them for decades. As Chris Coleman has pointed out, however, there remains a lot of work to do in their remaining three games, and as Israel still hold realistic hopes of automatic qualification themselves, Sunday evening’s fixture in Cardiff promises to be an highly charged encounter.

When the draw for qualifying was made back in early 2014, Wales were considered fourth best behind Belgium, Bosnia and Israel, and of a similar level to the Cypriots. Fast forward to the present day and Coleman’s men are on the brink of causing quite a shock. They remain unbeaten in Group B, winning five of their seven games. In a group where Belgium were expected to dominate, Wales have a three point lead over that opponent and have taken four points in their two matches against them. It’s those two results, particularly, which have instilled a tremendous belief in the squad and whilst they are not booking hotel rooms in France just yet, two home games (one of which is against Andorra) gives them a huge advantage.

Israel have a yet to qualify for the European Championships since the nation begun participating in UEFA governed competition in 1992. They have given themselves a great opportunity of reaching the play-offs at the very least, but with a trip to Belgium still to come, there are still a lot of barriers for them to overcome if they are to fight off the challenge of Cyprus and Bosnia for that third place. On the flip side of that, however, if Israel can gain all three points on Sunday they would only be a couple of points behind the current leaders – giving them hope of clinching a top two finish. Thursday’s routine 4-0 win over the minnows Andorra was the perfect warm-up for this crunch tie.

Wales’ excellent form has – in the main – been built on fantastic defensive record. In their seven qualifying games to date, the Welsh back line has been breached just twice, away to Andorra and at home to Cyprus. Two clean sheets against Belgium and one apiece at home to Bosnia and away to Israel have been a real badge of honour for Coleman’s men and provided the platform for Bale and his supporting cast to make a difference at the other end of the pitch.

Israel will still be smarting from the 3-0 home defeat against Wales back in March. It was their heaviest home defeat in European Championships qualification since 1999, so expect them to be out for revenge on Sunday. They won their first two away games of this group when defeating Cyprus and Andorra, but were unable to continue their 100% record in Bosnia, going down 3-1 back in June. If they are to finish in the automatic qualification positions then they will have to get back to winning ways on their travels.

Wales v Israel Betting Tips

Not since 2002 when A Craig Bellamy goal beat Italy at the Millennium Stadium has a Welsh win been celebrated with so much enthusiasm as Bale’s winner on Thursday. Their destiny is now in their own hands and with a player such as the Real Madrid attacker in their midst, few would back against them getting that all-important win. Bale has six of his nation’s nine goals in Group B and scored twice in the away win over Israel. Expect him to be the talisman once more.

Israel know that this is probably a must win if they are to have a hope of automatic qualification but they cannot afford to be gung-ho as it will play right into Coleman’s proffered counter-attacking style. What will give the visitors confidence is the troubles Cyprus gave Wales when they travelled to Cardiff last October. That remains the only home goal Wales have conceded in this campaign but their approach against Belgium and Bosnia is probably a bit different to the one they will adopt on Sunday. A draw would not be a terrible result for them whatsoever, but will they ever get a better chance to secure their passage? I’m not so sure.

With both team’s desire to win this game I think it will be a more open affair than Wales’ home encounters with Bosnia and Belgium. Both teams to score can be backed at 13/10 with Coral, which looks a touch too big. If, like me, you fancy the home side to win then I also think a Wales win and both teams to score at 4/1 with Betfair is worth a play. The selection is a more straightforward Wales win, and to guarantee participation at Euro 2016.
Bale is a man on a mission and both he and his team-mates proved too good for Israel in Tel-Aviv when these two last met.

Wales 10/11 @ Ladbrokes