Ireland vs Greece prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-12 18:45.
After losing 2-1 to the Netherlands last month, Ireland must seek victory in this European Championships qualifier (ECQ) against Greece to maintain their wafer-thin hopes of reaching Euro 2024. With just a 3-0 victory over Gibraltar to show from their five qualifiers to date (L4), thoughts may already be turning to the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign as they aim to build some momentum with the hope of being competitive when co-hosting Euro 2028!
With some fans perhaps more engaged with Ireland’s ongoing bid for Rugby World Cup glory, the Boys in Green may just slip under the radar after they’ve alternated between wins and defeats across their last six home games (W3, L3). But following that aforementioned home defeat to the Netherlands, that pattern suggests a win for Stephen Kenny’s side might just be on the cards!
Greece are likely to need their already-guaranteed play-off spot to qualify for Euro 2024 given they sit third in Group B (W3, L2) and still have to play France and the Netherlands, making a top-two finish unlikely. Maintaining a hitherto unbeaten record against Ireland (W3, D1) would all but confirm third place and allow them to attack their final two fixtures with little to lose.
A repeat of winning both prior meetings in Dublin by the same 1-0 scoreline courtesy of a goal inside the opening 30 minutes would help and the last time they scored that early on foreign soil, it set them up for their only ECQ away win of this campaign – 3-0 against Gibraltar. Manager Gus Poyet would welcome another early strike to set them on their way as they’ve won just two of their last seven ECQ away fixtures (D1, L4).
Key battle: Centre-back Shane Duffy has more international goals (seven) than anybody else in this Ireland squad apart from Callum Robinson, but could be more busy here keeping Georgios Masouras quiet after he scored twice against Gibraltar and once for Olympiacos last Thursday.
Hot streak: Ireland won the corner count in each of their last six home internationals.