Gibraltar vs Czech Republic prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-03-24 19:45.
[p]Gibraltar return home for their second 2026 World Cup qualification (WCQ) match after the heartbreak of opening the scoring in Montenegro, only to eventually fall to a 3-1 defeat. Interim manager Scott Wiseman is out to steer Gibraltar in a new direction, and he certainly did that against Montenegro, fielding a starting line-up that for the first time since becoming a UEFA member in May 2013 didn’t have a player with the surname Walker, Casciaro or Chipolina in it![/p]
[p]Whilst their 13th minute opener was fortuitous, coming courtesy of a Montenegrin goalkeeping error, it nevertheless went into the record books as Gibraltar’s eighth goal from 21 WCQs, all 21 of which resulted in defeat. Their inaugural meeting with the Czech Republic is another opportunity to beat a current top-100 FIFA ranked nation for the first time since 2018 (1-0 v Armenia in Oct 2018).[/p]
[p]The Czech Republic crawled across the finishing line against #137-ranked Faroe Islands (2-1) in their WCQ opener. Despite now being six games without defeat (W4, D2), they may need to lift their game to compete with either France or Croatia, one of whom will be drawn into Group L alongside them. [/p]
[p]Away victories are going to be crucial to challenging for top spot in the group and earning automatic qualification to their first World Cup finals since 2006, so Ivan Hašek’s side need to begin improving their performances on foreign soil. The Czech Republic have failed to win each of their last eight competitive matches played outside of their native country (D4, L4), but they did encouragingly win their first away game in the last WCQ cycle, beating Estonia 6-2. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Two of Gibraltar’s last four goals were scored by players who typically play in defence, including from Ethan Britto, who delivered their winner at home to San Marino last year. The Czech Republic’s last goal away from home came from Lukáš ÄŚerv, who assisted their first goal against Faroe Islands on Saturday night – that’s his only goal contribution for club or country since January!  [/p]
[p]Hot stat: 12 of the Czech Republic’s last 14 matches saw both teams score. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]