Czech Rebupblic vs Malta Betting Tips & Predictions

After missing out on the World Cup in Brazil two years ago Czech Republic were determined to bounce back and make the finals in France. They did just that with an impressive qualifying campaign which saw them top Group A with 22 points from their ten matches, two more than runners up Iceland.

The group draws for the finals weren’t as favourable to them though, and they’ve ended up being drawn in one of toughest groups of the competitions alongside Spain, Croatia, and Turkey.

The Czechs haven’t looked that impressive since the qualifying campaign ended either. They have lost two and drawn one of their last three friendly matches and don’t have a squad of the same quality as we saw in the early 2000s. Petr Cech is the one player of true quality and consistency in the Czech Republic ranks, as Tomas Rosicky is perennially injured.

They shouldn’t have any trouble against Malta though. The minnows finished bottom of their group in Euro 2016 qualifying after amassing just two points from a possible 30. Their two draws came against Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, and their only won in the last two years came in a friendly at home to Lithuania in June last year.

Malta have lost 13 of their last 17 outings and won just once. However, they have surprisingly held their own at times. Away from home they have lost 11 of their last 12 and won none, but they have only lost by more than a two goal margin twice during this period, and both of those came back in 2013. This includes limiting Italy and Slovakia to one goal and holding their own against Croatia as well. Czech Republic, meanwhile, have only won by more than a two goal margin once in their last 15 home matches.

The hosts are out of form in general and don’t have the same quality they used to, so I don’t think this will be the landslide win that the bookies are expecting. Malta’s issue away from home is scoring rather than their defensive stability, and for a nation of their size their defensive record on the road is actually very impressive. This makes odds of 4/6 for a Malta +3 Handicap Win look excellent value, and I’m also going for a 1-0 win for Czech Republic at 6/1.