Ireland Belgium prediction 2024-03-23

Ireland vs Belgium prediction: WORLD: Friendly International betting tips on match 2024-03-22 17:00.
[p]A number of fresh faces in the Republic of Ireland squad will hope to use this international break as an opportunity to impress interim manager John O’Shea and show they can cut it at international level. O’Shea has given the squad a real shake-up as he prepares to take charge for the first time here against Belgium, handing call-ups to an uncapped trio of Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics, Lyon’s Jake O’Brien and Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz. [/p]

[p]Each could make their debut in this friendly contest, as the Boys in Green prepare for life after previous boss Stephen Kenny, who was sacked following the nation’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024. O’Shea seems unlikely to be his full-time successor, with a permanent replacement expected to be named next month, but he will still be hoping to show his managerial capabilities as Ireland attempt to end a miserable run of six defeats from their last nine outings (W2, D1), with both wins during that time coming against minnows Gibraltar.[/p]

[p]History suggests that run is unlikely to improve any time soon given Belgium are unbeaten in H2Hs since 1966 (W3, D5)! The Red Devils are also on a current 11-game unbeaten run (W8, D3), most recently a 5-0 drubbing of Azerbaijan, meaning Domenico Tedesco remains unbeaten at the helm, having replaced Roberto Martínez following a disappointing group stage elimination at the FIFA 2022 World Cup. [/p]

[p]The manager will be desperate for that form to continue as his side gear up for this summer’s Championships, where Belgium’s new crop will be looking to better the unremarkable quarter-final eliminations by the ‘golden generation’  in the last two editions. And just one international friendly defeat in eight years (W11, D8) indicates this could be an ideal game in which to start building momentum. [/p]

[p]Key battle: Szmodics arrives on the international scene having netted 27 goals for Blackburn this season, almost double his total for the previous two campaigns. Attempting to keep him at bay might be Belgium skipper Jan Vertonghen, who has helped his country keep a clean sheet in six of his last nine appearances (W7, D2).[/p]

[p]Hot stat: Only four of Belgium’s last 13 internationals have seen both teams score.[/p]