Finland vs Ireland prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League B betting tips on match 2024-10-09 18:45.
[p]The UEFA Nations League (UNL) returns to Helsinki for a clash between two nations in Finland and Ireland who are yet to pick up a point or even score a goal. In charge since 2016, Markku Kanerva will equal his joint-worst losing run in charge of Finland should he endure a third straight loss, although a perfect personal H2H record against Ireland (W2) may inspire confidence, winning both games 1-0. [/p]
[p]Beginning their UNL journey in League C, Finland have since gained promotion and maintained League B status ever since. Whilst they’ve opened with two losses via multi-goal margins this term, home form will be key if they’re to at the very least maintain their second-tier status as both of their defeats in this edition came on the road and the Finns remain unbeaten in all but one of their UNL home matches since the tournament’s inception (W6, D2, L1). [/p]
[p]Making up this clash of Nordic managers is Ireland’s Icelandic boss Heimir HallgrĂmsson, who has also made a grim start to his time in charge, losing twice via a 2-0 scoreline. Both of those defeats came at home, so this first away trip of his tenure will likely be pivotal in their quest to avoid a first-ever relegation into the UNL’s third tier as they reach the halfway stage. [/p]
[p]HallgrĂmsson has never won the first away game of any of his four prior appointments (D2, L2), and should he wish to avoid an extension of that trend, he will need to write a small piece of Irish history as the nation have never won an away game in this competition (D3, L5), failing to even register a goal in half of those trips. They did at least take the lead in their last two such games, before capitulating to claim just a single point.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Finland’s Joel Pohjanpalo broke the deadlock against Northern Ireland in a recent home clash and may start here after netting twice in four games for Venezia since the last break. Troy Parrott has been busy since the last break too, scoring six goals and becoming the first Irishman to net a hat-trick in the Eredivisie, surely strengthening his claims for an Ireland start. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Finland have led at half-time in five of their last six home internationals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]