Wales vs Ireland Women’s Soccer Preview
Wales and Ireland women’s national teams clash on Friday 29th November in the first leg of the Euro 2025 qualification playoff final at 7:15 pm. The Dragons stormed through their league campaign and now face a step up in competition to reach their first-ever Euros tournament.
Ireland had a disappointing campaign in League A, picking up just one win in six and struggling to find the net throughout. Can the Girls in Green pick themselves up at Cardiff City Stadium, or will Wales continue their fine form on the way to Euro 2025?
Wales vs Ireland Women’s Soccer Predictions
Correct score predictions: Wales 1-0 Ireland
Ireland are enjoying a fine run. The Girls in Green have won three in a row with victories over France and Georgia, scoring 12 and conceding just one. They have finally found their form after seven games without a win between February and July. Eileen Gleeson’s team have a score to settle after their disappointing outing the last time they faced Wales. Ireland comes in with a wave of momentum behind them and they will feel in good standing to qualify for Euro 2025.
Wales survived a scare against Slovakia in the first leg to come through the second with a victory. They were on a run of eight games without a win before they met Ireland in February but have turned that form around in 2024. Big wins over Croatia and Kosovo buoyed the Dragons and they enter this match boasting a win over the Girls in Green already this year. This will be a tight game, but our soccer prediction is for Wales to edge out Ireland in the first leg of this qualifier.
Wales hit form at a perfect time as they went eight games without a win between April and December 2023. A win against Ireland sent them on an eight-game streak without a defeat. They will have confidence heading into their second clash with the Girls in Green this year.
The Welsh defence has been the bedrock of their recent fine performances. They have kept clean sheets in three of their previous four games and conceded just one goal. That helped them to end undefeated in their League B qualifying campaign. This game will probably come down to which defence is stronger. Wales had a far stronger league campaign, conceding fewer foals and picking up more points. Their defence can carry them to the win at Cardiff City Stadium.
Ireland are not to be underestimated. Their goalscoring form has been brilliant of late. They dismantled Georgia across two legs in the Euro qualification semi-finals, winning 6-0 in the first meeting and 3-0 in the return leg. Gleeson’s team also netted three against a strong French side, completing a major upset. That is a far cry from their previous run, where they went six games without scoring.
The Irish defence has also looked in excellent shape. They have conceded just one goal in their last three games, keeping clean sheets in two. Gleeson finally has her team playing the way she wants after a shaky start to life at the head of Irish soccer.
Wales vs Ireland Women’s Soccer Betting Tips
Match Result
Ireland are the slight favourites for this game, but we are taking Wales with the home advantage. Both teams have been tough to separate looking at their recent form and online odds. However, Wales boasts a victory over the Girls in Green already this year. They have also had a more impressive campaign up to now. Betting on Wales to win at home is worth 9/5 at Novibet. The Welsh triumph in February sways us towards the home team leaving with the win, but a bet on Ireland is worth 7/5 if you want to take the favourites on the road.
If you are hesitant to back a winner in what will be a game of fine margins, then it might be worth looking at the Draw no bet markets. In the event of a draw, your money will be returned in cash. Wales are priced at 1/1 and Ireland is 8/11.
Both Teams to Score
Both teams have a strong defensive record in recent games. Ireland has conceded two in four and Wales just one. This clash will be won and lost in defence and we cannot see a high-scoring clash. Bet against both teams scoring in the game, which is worth 17/20 with our online bookmaker.
Alternatively, look at the goals markets. Ireland has hit over 2.5 in all of their previous four games and Wales is 2-2 in theirs. However, the Girls in Green have played against weaker opposition. This is a step up from the Georgian team they dismantled in October. We like a bet on under 2.5 goals in the game, worth 4/6 for anyone betting on Euro 2025 qualifying games.
Corners
Placing a wager on the number of corners is a popular market when betting on soccer games. Neither side poses much of a threat aerially and they will probably keep the ball on the ground instead of playing for set pieces. Only one of their previous four combined games has seen over 8.5 corners. We cannot see the wings being exploited enough to allow a number any higher than that. Under 8.5 corners in the game is worth 17/20.
Wales vs Ireland Women’s Soccer Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides have met on three occasions since 2019. They have been relatively low-key affairs, with Ireland winning 1-0 twice and Wales winning 2-0 in their most recent meeting. There have been just two yellow cards in those three games with little fire in the clashes between these teams. However, there is a lot more at stake this time round. Their Euro 2025 League qualifiers have ended and this playoff final will be the most competitive fixture between them in years.
Wales completed their Euro 2025 League B qualifying campaign with 14 points after four wins and two draws. The Dragons played excellently throughout and picked themselves up from a derisory run of results in the months prior. They claimed two huge wins over Croatia and completed a demolition of Kosovo.
The Dragons progressed to the Euro 2025 semi-finals for a meeting with Slovakia. They fell to a 2-1 defeat in the first leg away from home but bounced back at Cardiff City Stadium to earn a dramatic 2-0 win. Veteran midfielder Jessica Fishlock opened the scoring in the 39th minute and a tense 50 minutes followed. The aggregate score remained 2-2, and they entered extra time. Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland struck in the 112th minute to send Wales in front and Rhian Wilkinson’s team saw out the game to reach the playoff final.
Jess Fishlock is the top scorer and appearance holder for her nation. The 37-year-old has netted 46 times in 156 appearances. Kayleigh Barton stars up front for the Dragons. The Charlton Athletic forward has 21 goals in 84 appearances in the red strip.
Wales’ most-capped player and record goalscorer Jess Fishlock says reaching a major tournament with her country would be her "best achievement and biggest accomplishment." ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/JSwL1ATXYh
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 28, 2024
Ireland had a less successful qualifying campaign in League A. Eileen Gleeson’s team lost five games in a row and failed to score in four of them between April and July. They ended on a high with a 3-1 victory over France, but three points were not enough to place them in good standing and they now fall into the playoffs for an opportunity at qualification.
The Girls in Green have dusted themselves off so far, picking up two impressive wins against Georgia in the semi-finals. They wiped the floor with their opponents in the first leg with a 6-0 win away from home. Captain Katie McCabe scored a brace and Kyra Carusa, Jessica Stapleton, Marissa Sheva, and Aoife Mannion finished them off to complete the rout. They followed up with a 3-0 win in the home leg to send them through to the final with a 9-0 aggregate victory.
McCabe is the highest-scoring active player for Ireland. The skipper has 29 goals in 91 appearances for the Girls in Green and stars for Arsenal at club level. Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell, and Denise O’Sullivan bring great experience to the ranks with 332 appearances between them.