Ireland vs Greece prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League B betting tips on match 2024-09-09 18:45.
[p]While Ireland will be disappointed to have lost 2-0 against England in their UEFA Nations League (UNL) opener, they’ll be acutely aware they won’t be playing that calibre of opponent every week. New boss Heimir HallgrĂmsson claimed his side were “second best” against the Three Lions, but he’ll hope that Ireland can be more competitive against a Greece side ranked 50 places lower than England. [/p]
[p]History would suggest that may not be the case though, as Ireland have never beaten Greece in five attempts (D1, L4), failing to score in four of those games. That includes a 2-0 defeat on this ground a little under a year ago in Euro 2024 qualifying, and a repeat outcome can’t be ruled out for an Ireland side who have drawn a scoring blank in seven of their nine UNL home games. [/p]
[p]It’s Greece who actually top UNL Group B2 after the first matchday courtesy of their 3-0 win against Finland. It was the perfect way for Ivan Jovanović to start his tenure, and he could make history here as no Greece manager since the late Kostas Polychroniou has won his opening two games in charge, and in an eerie twist of fate, his first game in charge came exactly 30 years to the day before Jovanović’s debut![/p]
[p]Polychroniou had to wait over a month between games, but Jovanović gets the chance to make his mark just three days later when he takes his side to Aviva Stadium in Dublin looking to win a fifth UNL away game from their last six such outings (L1). And it may be one goal that decides whether the Greece boss makes history, as their last three UNL away games (W2, L1) have ended 1-0.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Tough-tackling Ireland midfielder Jayson Molumby is becoming familiar with the referee’s notebook, receiving a yellow card in his last four appearances for club or country. He’ll be trying to shackle midfield opponent Anastasios Bakasetas here, who opened the scoring in one of the Euro 2024 qualifying H2Hs – his last four international goals have served as Greece’s first on the day, while he netted before half-time in Greece’s last three UNL away wins.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just two of Greece’s last 12 internationals saw both teams score. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]