The European Zone 2018 World Cup qualifying returns on Thursday and this weekend and Wales are the sole home nation’s representative playing on Thursday. They face a tough journey to Austria, who they’ve never beaten in their back yard in four attempts between 1953/54 and 2004/05, and the Dragons will be more than happy to leave the Ernst-Happel Stadium with a point, which they are more than capable of achieving based on their form at the Euro’s and qualifying for that tournament last season.

The high profile matches of the night on Thursday bring together Italy and Spain at the Juventus Stadium and the hosts will hope for a repeat of their 2-0 win at the European Championships back in June. Turkey face the Ukraine at the Konya Büyüksehir Torku Arena on Konya and with both teams drawing their respective openers collecting three points will be a big plus tonight and Turkey with home advantage should prevail.

One game of interest on Thursday from a betting perspective is the Republic of Ireland at home to Georgia. I’m confident backing either the Ireland Win and Over 2.5 Goals or Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals Match Double results will return a profit, as Ireland should prove too strong on home soil and both teams have scored and conceded more often than not in recent International matches.