Sweden vs. Czech Republic 3/24/22 UEFA World Cup Qualifications Playoffs Soccer Pick, Predictions, and Odds

Sweden is hosting Czech Republic at Friends Arena in the semifinals of the UEFA World Cup qualifications playoffs. Sweden got lucky in these additional qualifications, they are playing at home, and they are pretty much healthy. Czech Republic Is a solid team, they have some outstanding players, but they will be without Schick in this game.

Sweden would have qualified straight to the World Cup, but they have lost their last 2 games in the qualifications, and they ended up behind Spain in their group. Offensively, Sweden was solid, not great, but solid. Defensively, Sweden was great with only 6 conceded goals in 8 games. The roster for these playoffs is good for Sweden, and they also have Ibrahimovic who has gotten back from injury a couple of weeks ago. With 4 scored goals in 8 games, Isak is the leading goalscorer for Sweden, while Ibrahimovic added 2 assists. Sweden also has quite a bit of depth, they are solid in the midfield and the defense, but they are also pretty stacked in the attacking end. As I’ve mentioned, Sweden got lucky because they are playing at home, but they also got lucky because Czech Republic will be without a couple of great players.

With 14 points, Czech Republic has ended in 3^rd place in the group stage, but as one of the best third-placed teams, they have qualified for these playoffs. Soucek is the leading goalscorer for Czech Republic with 3 goals, while Schick has added 2 goals and 3 assists. The bad news for Czech Republic I mentioned is that they will be without Schick and Coufal, but they have also had some issues with their plane, and they still haven’t traveled to Sweden. Defensively, Cezch’s have been decent with 9 conceded goals in 8 games, but they could have done better. Without two of their best players, and with the defense they have, Czech Republic will have a hard game here, and in addition to all of that, they are playing on the road in a single leg game. Czechs got lucky to get here, but I think this is the end of the road for them.

Czech Republic was in better form during the last international break, but that was a while ago. Sweden is the better team here, they are healthy, and they are playing at home. I’m siding with Sweden.