World Cup
2025-03-25 - Israel vs Norway
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA World Cup Qualifier
Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Israel
The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has meant Israel have not been allowed to host international football matches and been forced to play on neutral grounds in their 'home' games. Less than 300 people were in attendance as the team got their World Cup Qualifying campaign off to a winning start, but Israel are third favourites in this Group and will need to earn an upset or two in order to at least force themselves into a Play Off spot.
They had to come from behind to beat Estonia 2-1 in Debrecen on Match Day 1 of the World Cup Qualifiers and Israel will be hosting Norway in the same Stadium on Tuesday. Earning another victory on Tuesday would go a long way to pushing Israel towards a top two finish in the section that is rounded off by Estonia, Italy and Moldova, while finishing above the Italians alone is a big ask considering Israel ended up bottom of a Nations League Group involving Italy earlier this season.
Israel did draw with France and narrowly beat Belgium to round out their time in League A of the Nations League and so they are unbeaten in 3 games in all competitions ahead of this World Cup Qualifier. Both France and Italy beat Israel on neutral field in the Nations League, while Romania and Iceland got the better of this team in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, the latter taking place in the Play Off Round.
Norway
The expectation was that Norway could be challenged by Moldova in their opening World Cup Qualifier, but they made easy work of their first opponent in this Group and that will have given the entire squad a boost in confidence. In recent years Norway have not quite been able to put a strong Qualifying campaign together though and this is a big test of their credentials ahead of a home Qualifier against Italy in June.
A 0-5 win at Moldova has given Norway the chance to rest some of their key players and get them ready for this big game. Points on the board early in a campaign can make it very hard to peg teams back, as Norway found in the last Euro Qualifying Group when Scotland made a really fast start and ultimately held on for a place in the Finals. Promotion from League B of the Nations League has given Norway momentum to do the same if they can win on Match Day 2 of the World Cup Qualifiers.
Norway have not only been beaten once in their last 7 games in all competitions, but they have won 5 of their last 6, including the last 3 in a row. Stronger away form will be needed if Norway are going to earn a spot in the World Cup Finals in 2026 and they have won just 3 of their last 8 away competitive fixtures, including once in each of their last two Qualifying campaigns prior to this one.
Head to Head
Israel and Norway have only faced off twice before in international friendly settings and both have a win apiece.
The last time they met one another was in January 1999.
Prediction
Any game being played on a neutral field is going to feel different and that is especially the case for Israel right now with very few people showing a real interest to go and watch them play.
Of course Erling Haaland and Norway will be rocking up for this World Cup Qualifier in Debrecen so there may be more spectators in attendance than there was for Israel's 2-1 win over Estonia on Saturday.
That should help and Norway's price for a win leaps right off the page as soon as you see it- and that is largely for negative reasons than positive ones.
We all know the quality Norway have in their ranks and the 0-5 win at Moldova will mean the big names are largely rested and ready to compete in this vital World Cup Qualifier. However, Norway have struggled for consistency away from home in the last few years, even with Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland in the starting lineup, and they look a very short price to beat Israel.
No one is going to suggest Israel are a top UEFA nation, but they were playing in League A of the Nations League earlier this season and that deserves respect. Further to that, Israel have given teams something to think about in recent losses in neutral settings, and they certainly have enough about them to challenge Norway with both teams expected to be fighting it out for second place in this Qualifying Group behind Italy.
Israel had lost 4 fixtures in a row when 'hosting', but two were against Italy and France and they had actually scored the first goal in the other two against Romania and Iceland. Losing to Iceland in the manner they did in the Euro 2024 Play Off will have really hurt, but Israel continue to give teams a test and they did beat Belgium in the Nations League Group.
Winning might be asking too much for Israel, but they have the capabilities of avoiding a loss.
Backing them with a full goal head-start on the Asian Handicap looks appealing here and that is the approach taken for an important World Cup Qualifier for both Israel and Norway as they look to back up opening wins.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Israel 1-1 Norway
