Finland vs Ireland Preview
Finland will play Ireland in a crucial Nations League Group F clash on Thursday at 7:45 pm. The two sides will meet in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in the Finnish capital. This is a must-win game for both teams who currently remain pointless.
It’s the third match of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s reign in charge of the Irish national team. The Iceland native is already feeling the pressure. A convincing win over Finland would silence some of his doubters. However, Ireland has a poor record away from home.
But this Finnish team isn’t anything special. Ireland will enter this game in the unusual position of being the favourites. There’s plenty on the line for both countries here.
Finland vs Ireland Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Ireland enters this Nation’s League game off the back of defeats to England and Greece. The former was predictable, but the second was a massive disappointment. Heimir Hallgrímsson raised eyebrows when he said he leant on John O’Shea and his coaches for squad selection. Now there are no excuses for the former Jamaica boss.
He has shaken things up a bit with the brave decision to exclude Matt Doherty. Hallgrimsson called up Luton Town’s Mark McGuinness and Ipswich midfielder Jack Taylor for the first time. The latter may walk into the Irish starting lineup with Will Smallbone out. Josh Cullen also returns to the squad in a massive boost.
There is optimism for Ireland because some of their players are in decent form. They have representatives from the Premier League and Champions League this year. Liam Scales and Adam Idah have been impressive for Celtic. Festy Ebosele has also made headlines since his move to Watford from Udinese. There’s an opening for him at right back.
https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1841802882858856452
Meanwhile, Finland also suffered defeats to Greece and England. Markku Kanerva has a very limited squad and they appear to be between generations. They remain dependent on Teemu Pukki for goals. The Minnesota striker is his nation’s all-time top goalscorer with 42 goals in 123 international appearances.
Lukas Hradecky is arguably Finland’s only world-class player. The goalkeeper was a key part of Bayer Leverkusen’s first title win ever. He’s one of the most underrated stoppers in Europe and a big leader for his side. Attacking midfielder Fredrik Jensen is Finland’s main creative force. Hallgrimsson must find a way to nullify his link-up play.
Finland vs Ireland Predictions
Predicted Score: Finland 1 – 1 Ireland
The odds are very close for this Nation’s League game. Our soccer prediction is for a 1-1 draw between Finland and Ireland. We don’t expect that this will be a very entertaining game. It’s likely to be scrappy with few chances.
On paper, Ireland has a stronger team than Finland. They have two excellent Premier League centre-backs, Dara O’Shea and Nathan Collins. Meanwhile, they have top-division forwards Sammy Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene. However, their midfield options are sparse and they have problems at fullback.
Finland has a sprinkling of quality throughout their team. Glen Kamara has been decent for Rennes in Ligue 1 while they have some other solid performers throughout their roster. But neither side is prolific and they’re prone to making mistakes.
Ireland is the most likely to win this game outright because they have slightly more quality. However, it depends if Hallgrimsson can find the right combination in midfield. This was a problem for him in his first two games in charge. Ireland is still going through a transitional period and the best lineup remains a mystery.
If Evan Ferguson were in form, we’d favour Ireland to win this game. The Brighton striker has outstanding potential, but he’s had a challenging 12 months. Szmodics gives plenty of effort, but he may find this game frustrating. It’s also going to be tough for him to get past Hradecky, a top goalkeeper.
We expect at least one of the goals in this game to come from a set piece. Both sides will struggle to break each other down. Robbie Brady is a dead-ball specialist and may get an assist with one of the centre-backs scoring.
Caoimhin Kelleher missed Liverpool’s most recent game with illness. The Cork native should start in this match. Otherwise, we predict that Bristol City’s Max O’Leary may make his debut ahead of Mark Travers.
https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1843331531923984587
Robbie Brady played at left-back in Ireland’s last two games. The Preston defender has provided some iconic moments for his nation. However, many see him as a weak link in the side. He will likely start and he may even captain Ireland against Finland.
Watch out for Mikey Johnston coming off the bench. The West Brom winger returns to the squad and can get fans off their seats. We expect him to cause problems down their right-hand side if Hallgrimsson brings him on late.
Keep an eye on the in-play betting markets. We think a draw is the most likely result, but the odds may become more lucrative if one team snatches an early goal. We’d expect an equaliser, especially if Finland scores first.
Finland vs Ireland Betting Tips
This is probably going to be a tight game because the odds are close on our betting site. However, this is good news for players because it means the potential returns will be more lucrative. Ireland is a slight favourite at 8/5 to win this match outright. A €10 stake would deliver a €16 profit if successful.
Betting on Ireland is always a tricky proposition. They’ve only won two of their past 10 games, including a victory over Gibraltar. They’re currently riding a three-game losing streak. We think they’ll snap that against Finland, but we’re not confident they will do enough to win.
A draw seems like the safest wager at 2/1. Before Gibraltar, Ireland’s most recent away victory was against Malta in 2022. They have more depth than Finland, but they’re still adapting to Hallgrimsson’s system. Plus, anyone betting on the UEFA Nations League should expect upsets from time to time, especially in Group F.
There are question marks around who is in charge of the Irish team. Many fans are concerned about John O’Shea’s influence. The assistant coach only won one of his four games as interim manager. His influence on team selection may give Finland a chance. It’s 19/10 for the Finns to win, with €10 potentially making €19.
Players can also bet on both teams to score at 21/20. This correlates with our predicted score. A 1-0 victory wouldn’t be surprising either. Check the over-under markets for the number of goals in this game. You can bet on under 2.5 goals at 8/17. This would deliver a €4.71 profit from €10. We don’t expect more than two goals in this game regardless of the result.
There are plenty of other soccer bets to choose from. Some players may place a stake in the halftime/full-time result. It’s 3/1 for the teams to remain level in both halves. Another attractive option is for a draw in the first half, with Ireland winning the second at 5/1. This would deliver returns of €50 from €10.
Correct score predictions can also yield big profits. It’s also 5/1 for this game to finish 1-1. You can also get this anytime score at 15/8 with €10 making €18.75. This may be one of the smartest possible wagers for this Nations League match. Meanwhile, it’s 1/1 for Ireland to take a 1-0 lead at any stage. Ireland is prone to defensive mishaps but should have enough firepower to get past the Finnish defence.
The anytime goalscorer option is also worth looking at. Adam Idah is the favourite to score first for Ireland on our online bookmaker at 13/5. However, we think Sammie Szmodics is a better option at 3/1. He has great movement and isn’t afraid to get a shot away. You can also get Finland’s Pukki or Pohjanpalo at 3/1.
Finland Team News and Predicted Lineup
Finland has a full-strength side to choose from. Minnesota’s Teemu Pukki will lead the line alongside Joel Pohjanpalo. Aberdeen’s Topi Keskinen is pushing for a place after scoring two goals in the SPL this season. Jere Uronen provides leadership at the back.
- Predicted Lineup: Lukas Hradecky, Adam Stahl, Arttu Hoskonen, Robert Ivanov, Jere Uronen, Glen Kamara, Rasmus Schuller, Matti Peltola, Fredrik Jensen, Teemu Pukki, and Joel Pohjanpalo.
Ireland Team News and Predicted Lineup
Ireland captain Seamus Coleman is one of the most high-profile absentees. Southampton’s Will Smallbone is also missing. Hallgrimsson opted to leave Matt Doherty out completely. He will start a new-look midfield with Josh Cullen returning. Festy Ebosele can consolidate the right-back position.
- Predicted Lineup: Caoimhin Kelleher, Festy Ebosele, Dara O’Shea, Nathan Collins, Robbie Brady, Josh Cullen, Jayson Molumby, Jack Taylor, Jason Knight, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Sammie Szmodics.
