Our tipster fancies two giants to seal Norway’s qualification.
The last international break of 2025 kicks off with some crucial World Cup qualifiers on Thursday night as the path to North America next summer hits crunch time.
Alongside Ireland’s battle with Portugal, France still have work to do as they host Ukraine in Paris, and Erling Haaland’s Norway take on Estonia.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s matches, Paddy Power News football tipster Feargal Brennan has four value picks that add up to a belting Bet Builder.
5pm: Armenia v Hungary
Under 3.5 goals
5pm: Norway v Estonia
Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals
Alexander Sorloth to score
7:45pm: France v Ukraine
France to win & both teams to score: Yes
Kylian Mbappe to score
A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Armenia v Hungary
WHEN: Thursday 13th of November, 17:00
WHERE: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan.
Under 3.5 goals
Ireland fans will be tuning in for this one as a warm up to the main event at the Aviva Stadium and events in Yerevan could impact Ireland’s slim qualification hopes.
Armenia are not out of the playoff race, with three points from four games, coming solely from that September win over Ireland, before the Boys in Green got their revenge back in Dublin last month.
With Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side are just above them on four points, and Hungary on five, so there’s still plenty to play for on Thursday.
After being dismantled 5-0 by Portugal in their opener, Armenia have not conceded more than two goals in a game, with Evan Ferguson scoring just once in both games against them, and Hungary edging out a 2-0 home win in October.
All three of those clashes ended with under 3.5 goals scored and it could be a tense watch for the Irish and the Hungarians.
Norway v Estonia
WHEN: Thursday 13th of November, 17:00
WHERE: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo.
Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals
No one can stop Erling Haaland right now as the Manchester City forward continues to post absurd numbers this season.
His goal in the 3-0 weekend win over Liverpool brings him to 14 scored in the Premier League so far in 2025/26, plus five in the Champions League.
That wild form has also stretched to Norway, as the Scandinavians bid for a first World Cup since 1998, and they lead Italy by three points in Group I.
Victory over Estonia in Oslo is expected, and will effectively guarantee an automatic spot at the World Cup, as they have a 16-goal advantage over the Italians ahead of their meeting in Milan on Sunday.
Most of that goal gap has been built by Haaland, as the top scorer in UEFA qualifying with 12, and Norway [on 29] have comfortably outscored every other European nation at this stage.
The question focuses more on how many will Haaland score in Oslo, after netting in all six qualifiers to date, and bagging eight in their last two wins over Moldova and Israel.
Alexander Sorloth to score
With Haaland clattering in goals left, right and centre, it’s easy to forget Norway have another excellent striker in their ranks.
Atletico Madrid forward Alexander Sorloth has 24 goals in 61 games for Norway and scored in three of their first four qualifiers – when partnered up with Haaland.
He incredibly did not manage to score in the 11-1 September mauling of Moldova or the 5-0 hammering of Israel last month, but he will be looking to join the Haaland goal party.
France v Ukraine
WHEN: Thursday 13th of November, 19:45
WHERE: Parc des Princes, Paris.
France to win & both teams to score: Yes
And finally to France, where the 2018 champions are making heavy lifting of securing qualification.
10 points from four games is a decent tally, and they lead Group D, but Didier Deschamps’ team are not at their free-flowing best.
They beat Ukraine 2-0 in Poland back in September, but Iceland have made them sweat since then, with a 2-1 home win in Paris and a 2-2 draw up in Reykjavík.
Les Blues are not expected to stumble at the finish line, but they need to sharpen up for next summer, starting in defence.
Two clean sheets from four qualifiers is not the type of resilience Deschamps is famous for, and Ukraine average two goals scored per qualifier.
Kylian Mbappe to score
Kylian Mbappe is one of the few players in world football hitting similar levels of ruthlessness to Haaland this season with 13 La Liga goals and 18 overall.
The Real Madrid star scored in each of France’s first three qualifiers, including the 2-0 victory over Ukraine, before missing the draw in Iceland through injury.
He remains absolutely vital to Deschamps’ hopes of another world crown and France’s all-time goal record is also in his sights after surpassing Thierry Henry.
Only the scandalously handsome Olivier Giroud [on 54] stands between Mbappe [51] and another accolade with the potential for a change at the top before the end of 2025.
Thursday’s World Cup Qualifier tips
5pm: Armenia v Hungary
Under 3.5 goals
5pm: Norway v Estonia
Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals
Alexander Sorloth to score
7:45pm: France v Ukraine
France to win & both teams to score: Yes
Kylian Mbappe to score
A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
Tap here for PP.com’s latest football odds
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
