Jonty’s picks

The Ivory Coast face an important trip to Bamako to play Mali today as they look to keep themselves on course for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia. Ivory Coast are currently top of Group C, but a slip in their last qualifier at home to Gabon, where they lost 2-1, means Mark Wilmots’ side, on seven points, are only a point clear of Morocco, and two clear of Gabon, with two qualifiers left to play for each team. Only the group winners will go to Russia.

Mali are currently propping up the group, with just two points so far, but those points did come from goalless draws in home qualifiers against Gabon and Morocco. Still, I expect the Ivory Coast to get the win that will put them in an excellent position ahead of next months final qualifier at home to Morocco.

Soccer 6 pool - S6 V3 P1 M1:

Italy v FYR Macedonia Easy win for the Azzurri. Italy win = 1 Turkey v Iceland - Improved Iceland to grab a point. Draw = 2 Mali v Ivory Coast - Previewed above. Ivory Coast win = 3 US v Panama - US to get badly-needed win. US win = 1 Mexico v Trinidad and Tobago. Mexico to win easily. Mexico win = 1 Costa Rica v Honduras - Costa Rica to seal World Cup spot.

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Costa Rica win = 1