TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 21 - 23 March

NATIONS LEAGUE QUARTERS HEADLINE TOP INTERNATIONAL ACTION

The world’s top leagues are on a short break as the soccer spotlight switches to international football and TAB customers can look forward to great action laced with opportunities to win piles of cash through this long weekend. There are World Cup qualifiers in all FIFA regions, the two-legged quarter-finals of Nations League on Thursday and Sunday, and a bunch of carryover and cash-boosted TAB soccer pools that will all deliver inflated payouts!

CASH-BOOSTED POOLS GALORE AND PLENTY OF BANKER BETS

The pick of the TAB soccer pools are Friday night’s R200,000-added Soccer 10, Saturday’s carryover Any 13 Xtra plus a R17-million guaranteed pool for Soccer 13 if there’s only one all-13-correct entry, and a glorious final act of three added pools on Sunday.

Nations League in Europe has been expanded in its fourth edition to include a quarter-final stage and promotion-relegation playoffs. The top two finishers in the four A-level groups clash in the quarters this Thursday night - reigning champions Spain look to get past the Netherlands in defense of their trophy, while Croatia, runners-up in the last Nations League, take on France. The other quarter-final ties see Italy against Germany and Denmark taking on Portugal.

Spain, who are also reigning European champions, will be fancied to get past the Dutch, although tomorrow’s first leg in Rotterdam tomorrow could prove a closely-fought affair.

Ronald Koeman’s team have some fitness concerns over Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona midfielder who is a key cog for them, but Spain have also had to reshuffle their squad in the wake of injuries suffered in league action last weekend.

France are away in Split tonight for the first leg of their tie against Croatia and again this is likely to be closely fought, but the return game on Sunday at the Stade de France should go the home team’s way with a minimum of fuss.

Germany and Italy have never failed to produce testing encounters over the decades including a World Cup final! The first leg of their clash is at the San Siro in Milan and the return on Sunday in Dortmund. Four of the last six meetings between the footballing giants have ended in draws with Germany winning the other two. Italy last beat the Germans in their EURO-2012 semi-final in Poland.

Portugal will have Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad again as they take on Denmark. The 40-year-old striker has phenomenal career stats with a world record 217 caps and 135 goals to his credit. He may be past his best, but should still play a significant role in a match you have to expect Portugal to win.

Best bets for the weekend include wins by Spain, Germany, Portugal and France in both legs of their quarter-finals, as well as England to win at home against Albania in their first game under Thomas Tuchel and Egypt to beat Ethiopia away.

MATCH PREVIEWS OF TWO R200,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS

Fri 21 March - S10 V3

M1 Burgos CF vs Almeria: TAB will kick off this public-holiday Soccer10 with a R200,000 bonus add-in, which guarantees a bumper pool. Don’t miss out on a great chance to win big! Burgos are on a three-game winning streak in Spain’s Segunda Division, while Almeria have failed to win nine of their last 10 games in all competitions. Almeria won the last meeting between the teams 2-0 last October and are seventh with 50 points, eight more than 11th-placed Burgos.

M2 Andorra vs Latvia: Andorra have lost seven of their last nine games in all competitions and Latvia are winless in their last four UEFA Nations League fixtures. The last meeting between the two was a 1-1 draw three years ago.

M3 England vs Albania: England are on a three-game winning streak in UEFA Nations League fixtures and now play their first game under new boss Thomas Tuchel. It’s a World Cup qualifier against Albania, who have lost five of their last nine games in all competitions. England won their last meeting with Albania 5-0 in a UEFA World Cup qualifier four years ago and have won all six of their clashes over the past 36 years.

M4 Malta vs Finland: Malta have three wins and a draw from their last four games, while Finland are on a six-game losing streak in UEFA Nations League. The teams last met seven years ago with Finland winning 5-0 at home. In their previous six meetings over 35 years Finland have won five times with one draw.

M5 Northern Ireland vs Switzerland: Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their last four UEFA Nations League matches, while Switzerland are winless in their last seven. In the last seven meetings over 61 years, Northern Ireland have won once and Switzerland three times with three draws.

M6 Romania vs Bosnia-Herzegovina: Romania are on a six-match winning streak in UEFA Nations Leagues, while Bosnia-Herzegovina are winless in their last 10 games in all competitions. Romania won the last meeting between the teams 4-1 three years ago, their fourth win in the last six meetings.

M7 Cuba vs Trinidad and Tobago: Cuba have been unable to win in seven of their last 10 games, while Trinidad are winless in their last three. In the last six meetings, Cuba have won once and Trinidad three times with two draws.

M8 Ecuador vs Venezuela: Ecuador are unbeaten in five CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, while Venezuela are winless in their last eight across all competitions. Ecuador are third in the qualifying table with 19 points, seven more than Venezuela.

M9 Ethiopia vs Egypt: Ethiopia have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions, while Egypt are winless in their last four games. Egypt won the last meeting between the teams 1-0 two years ago. Egypt currently head the CAF World Cup qualifying table with 10 points, seven more than fifth-placed Ethiopia after four games.

M10 Uruguay vs Argentina: Uruguay are unbeaten in their last three CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers and Argentina have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions. Uruguay won their last clash against Argentina 2-0 two years ago, but Argentina currently lead in the CONMEBOL World Cup list of qualifiers with 25 points, five ahead of second-placed Uruguay.

Suggested R108 perm: 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 3 x 2,3 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 3 x 1.

Sun 23 March – S10 V1

M1 Hungary vs Turkey: The best Soccer 10 of the long weekend and TAB is adding R200,000 to the pot to add to the excitement. Hungary have been unable to win in seven of their last nine games, while Turkey have won five of their last nine. Turkey are currently second in their UEFA Nations League group, six points ahead of Hungary after six games.

M2 Scotland vs Greece: Scotland have won their last two games, beating Poland 2-1 away in a Nations League fixture last time. Greece won away against Finland 2-0 last time, their sixth victory in their last seven matches. Greece are currently second in their Nations League group with 15 points, eight more than Scotland in third.

M3 Serbia vs Austria: Serbia are winless in their last three Nations League fixtures and Austria are unbeaten in their last four. In the last five meetings between the two, Serbia have won three times to Austria’s twice. Austria are second in their Nations League group with 11 points, five ahead of third-placed Serbia.

M4 Slovenia vs Slovakia: Slovenia have been unable to win in eight of their last 10 games in all competitions, whereas Slovakia have won four of their last six games in Nations League. Slovakia are second in their Nations League group with 13 points, five ahead of Slovenia.

M5 Belgium vs Ukraine: Belgium are winless in their last five Nations League fixtures, while Ukraine are unbeaten in their last four. The teams drew 0-0 in EURO 2024 last year. Ukraine are second in their Nations League group with eight points to third -placed Belgium’s four.

M6 France vs Croatia: Second leg of a Nations League quarter-final. France are unbeaten in their last five Nations League fixtures, while Croatia are winless in their last three. France won their last match 3-1 against Italy, while Croatia drew 1-1 with Portugal.

M7 Germany vs Italy: Nations League second-leg quarter-final. Germany are unbeaten in their last six Nations League fixtures, while Italy have won four of their last six. Germany won the last meeting between the two 5-2 three years ago.

M8 Portugal vs Denmark: Nations League second-leg quarter-final. Portugal are unbeaten in their last six Nations League games, while Denmark are winless in their last four. Portugal finished six points ahead of Denmark in their Nations League group.

M9 Republic of Ireland vs Bulgaria: Ireland have lost six of their last nine games, whereas Bulgaria have avoided defeat in nine of their last 10. The teams last met in a 0-0 draw five years ago. Bulgaria are second in their Nations League group with nine points, three ahead of Ireland.

M10 Spain vs Netherlands: Defending Nations League champions Spain are unbeaten in their last 10 games, while Netherlands have avoided defeat in seven of their last nine. Spain finished first in their Nations League group with 16 points, eight more than Netherlands.

Suggested R36 perm: 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 3 x 1,2 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1.