Qatar v Russia Betting Tips

This international friendly sees the two controversial choices to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively, come head to head in Doha.

Qatar are obviously not one of football’s bright lights but they are still trying to make sure they have a team that at least will not cause the host nation embarrassment in 2022. With this in mind the Qatari authorities are attempting to nationalise a lot of foreigners, particularly Brazilians, so that their team is at least capable of something.

This process would have ideally started about 20 years ago but instead it has been started under a decade in advance of their home World Cup. The Qataris are on track to be the worst hosts of a World Cup in all aspects on and off the field.

The Asian qualification process for the preceding World Cup in 2018 got underway just over a year ago and actually got off to an incredibly impressive start for the Middle East nation, winning seven consecutive matches including against the supposed new potential football giant China. However, they then went on a run of four straight losses in all matches. It is no coincidence that most of these came against teams who all have at least a small amount of footballing history in the likes of Iran. Having said that, they still top their qualification group by four points.

The last international break back in early October actually saw Qatar win their first match since March when they beat war-torn Syria 1-0.

Russia, who of course are not a great side by any means, will provide a stern test for Jorge Fossati’s team but at least Qatar can take confidence from previous friendly victories against the likes of Slovenia and Algeria – honestly, any sarcasm aside, those two nations should have battered the Qataris.

In fact, Qatar have an excellent record at home in international friendlies, losing just one match against Turkey in 12 outings since October 2014.

However, they face a Russia team in a similar situation to themselves who are determined to build a side for their home World Cup in just under two years time after their embarrassing performance at Euro 2016.

The Russians have fared pretty well under new manager Stanislav Cherchesov who has wiped the slate clean from the previous pro-CSKA Moscow squads under previous managers. Under Cherchesov, if you are playing well, you will get a call-up.

Unfortunately for Russia, much like Qatar will have to do in a couple of years, they are trying to build a capable squad for their home World Cup in 2018 without the motivation of competitive fixtures. The bonus is that it gives an opportunity to a bigger pool of Russian players who can play without the pressure of qualification.

Russia lost their last match in a mad 4-3 defeat to Costa Rica in Krasnodar – their first loss under Cherchesov. Once again, the manager has made a number of changes from the squad that lost to the Central Americans.

Generally it is the players in form in the Russian Premier League with the likes of Rostov’s Aleksandr Erokhin finally getting the recognition he deserves after failing to get into the squad under previous coaches.

Brazilian but soon-to-be Russian defender Mario Fernandes misses out with injury along with fellow CSKA Moscow players Vasily Berezutsky and Aleksandr Golovin – the latest youth prospect fresh from the stuttering conveyer belt.

Perhaps most interesting has been the invitation of Dynamo Moscow forward Kirill Panchenko. Panchenko is on-loan at second tier Dynamo from city rivals CSKA and has been tearing that division apart. The 27-year-old already has 15 goals to his name this season and we have only just entered November. Last season’s top scorer in the second division, Artyom Delkin, netted 16 times in total which shows just how well Panchenko is doing.

This also demonstrates how Cherchesov is looking towards the World Cup with this latest squad with Panchenko a definite possibility to feature.

With Russia having started well under Cherchesov, I expect a comfortable win against a poor Qatar side. This is more than a friendly for Russia as they need to make sure they are well prepared for 2018 and I doubt the Qataris will be able to cope.

‘Russia to Win’ at a surprisingly good 23/20 is one bet definitely worth being on here, whilst ‘Russia to Win to Nil’ at a more than doubling 11/5 also catches the eye. Although the Costa Rica game says otherwise, the Russians have been pretty tight at the back with two clean sheets in three matches and I expect them to be able to hold out an inept Qatar team.

There is also profit to be made on a simple ‘Qatar to Not Score’ bet at 5/3. The defence is often a strong point of the Russian national side, despite what we saw at Euro 2016, and they should be capable of shutting out a Qatar side who’re likely find it tough to compete here.

See more tips here.