Russia vs. Cyprus (Thursday, 5.00pm)
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Russia can move a giant step closer to sealing automatic entry to World Cup 2022 when they take on Group H's bottom side Cyprus in their penultimate qualifying match.
Valeri Karpin's side are already assured of a top-two finish, but they will be looking to hold off Croatia to finish top as only one side is guaranteed a place at Qatar 2022.
We say: Russia 3-0 Cyprus
Russia know that a win here may need them requiring just a draw away at Croatia to confirm automatic entry for Qatar 2022 in Sunday's final round of fixtures.
For that to happen the hosts need to slightly improve their goal difference. While they do not tend to score more than twice in a game, we can see that changing here.
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Azerbaijan vs. Luxembourg (Thursday, 5.00pm)
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Two sides with very little to play for lock horns in World Cup 2022 Qualifying Group A on Thursday night, as Azerbaijan play host to Luxembourg.
Both teams have already seen their fleeting hopes of qualification dashed and will simply want to bow out with their heads held high after doomed campaigns.
We say: Azerbaijan 0-1 Luxembourg
Neither side will feel the need to bust a gut for an inconsequential three points here, and young players on both ends will hope to make the most of any potential opportunities granted to them.
The visitors boast that little bit more quality in attack with Sebastien Thill and Rodrigues, though, so we are backing Luxembourg to cement their third-placed spot with a narrow triumph.
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Armenia vs. N. Macedonia (Thursday, 5.00pm)
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Two nations battling it out for second place in Group J will lock horns on Thursday, when Armenia welcome North Macedonia to the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.
Both sides, who have never qualified for the World Cup in their history, are level on 12 points after eight group matches, one point behind Romania in second place with just two games left to play.
We say: Armenia 1-1 North Macedonia
Both Armenia and North Macedonia know that a victory in this encounter will boost their hopes of reaching their first-ever World Cup tournament, especially if Romania were also to drop points against Iceland.
A goalless draw was played out in the reverse fixture between these two nations in September, and with little to separate them this time around, the spoils could be shared once again on Thursday.
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Georgia vs. Sweden (Thursday, 5.00pm)
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Sweden will aim to cement their position at the top of the rankings in World Cup 2022 Qualifying Group B when they take on Georgia on Thursday night.
The Scandinavian powerhouses marched to a 2-0 success over Greece last time out, while their hosts are only playing for pride after an early elimination.
We say: Georgia 0-2 Sweden
With Sweden unlikely to name a full-strength XI as Andersson eyes the crunch match with Spain, Georgia may sense an opportunity to post back-to-back wins here.
However, Sagnol's side have been swept aside on home soil so far, and Sweden possess the necessary squad depth to march to a comfortable win and hold their place at the summit.
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Malta vs. Croatia (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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Croatia's hopes of automatically qualifying for the 2022 World Cup will go down to the wire this week, starting with Thursday's trip to Malta.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up are currently second to Russia in Group H, but they still have to host the leaders in the final round of matches.
We say: Malta 0-4 Croatia
Should the unthinkable happen and Croatia fail to beat lowly Malta, top spot may well be out of the question before the final-day visit of Russia.
Dalic's side will therefore be well motivated on Thursday, and we can see this being a pretty emphatic away win in Ta' Qali.
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Slovakia vs. Slovenia (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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Slovakia and Slovenia face off in UEFA qualifying Group H on Thursday evening with both sides' World Cup 2022 dreams already over.
With Russia and Cyprus battling for top spot, the best Slovakia and Slovenia can hope for over their remaining two fixtures is third place.
We say: Slovakia 1-1 Slovenia
There is nothing between these sides over the previous eight rounds of fixtures and recent meetings between the sides have tended to be close.
After playing out a 1-1 draw two months ago, we can see this latest encounter finishing the same way in Trnava.
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Rep. Ireland vs. Portugal (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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Portugal will aim to reclaim top spot in World Cup 2022 Qualifying Group A when they travel to Dublin to face the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night.
There is nothing but pride on the line for the hosts, though, with Stephen Kenny's men already eliminated and anticipating the end of their doomed qualification campaign.
We say: Republic of Ireland 1-3 Portugal
Ireland have developed a more resilient nature in recent weeks and have witnessed Robinson score international goals for fun, so we would not put it past the hosts to breach their visitors' defence.
However, Portugal have far more on the line this week and have not suffered defeat in any World Cup qualification match since September 2016, so we can only back Santos's side to run out comfortable winners.
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> How Portugal could line up against Ireland
Germany vs. Liechtenstein (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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Four-time world champions Germany welcome European minnows Liechtenstein to the Volkswagen Arena for their penultimate game in World Cup qualification on Thursday.
Die Mannschaft have already booked their place in Qatar next year, while the visitors – who are rooted to the foot of Group J – have been eliminated.
We say: Germany 4-0 Liechtenstein
It is fair to say that Hansi Flick's preparations for Thursday's game have been disrupted; however, the Germans still have a plethora of talent among their squad and they should have no problems in securing a comfortable victory.
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> How Germany could line up against Liechtenstein
Romania vs. Iceland (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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Romania will edge closer to securing a playoff spot for World Cup 2022 if they can beat Iceland in Bucharest in their Group J encounter on Thursday.
The Wolves have won five of their last seven matches across all competitions on home soil, while the visitors will be looking to extend their unbeaten away run to three games.
We say: Romania 2-1 Iceland
Both sides head into Thursday's encounter off the back of victories in their last qualification match; however, Romania will be the favourites to claim all three points on home soil.
Despite the absence of Mitrita and Keseru, the hosts should have enough firepower to claim a slender victory, which would end Iceland's hopes of qualifying.
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Greece vs. Spain (Thursday, 7.45pm)
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Spain will endeavour to keep the pressure on Sweden when they travel to face Greece in World Cup 2022 Qualifying Group B on Thursday night.
Luis Enrique's side most recently saw off Kosovo 2-0 to cement their second-placed position, while the hosts went down 2-0 to Sweden to leave their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
We say: Greece 0-1 Spain
Spain hardly have their first-choice XI available as injuries continue to deplete Enrique's ranks, but the visiting boss is at least working with arguably his best options in defence.
The hosts also have their own selection concerns due to suspension, and while Greece's home form is nothing to be sniffed at, we expect them to just fall short as La Roja eke out a crucial win.
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> How Spain could line up against Greece
Matt Law
