Tom McGarry’s selections for Ireland’s penultimate Nations League match include a win for the Boys in Green with a Premier League striker finding the net.
Nations League second-tier survival will be on the minds of the Republic of Ireland and Finland as they prepare to do battle in their key Group B2 clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday.
Sectional basement boys Finland are pointless after four games and have reached a must-win situation because anything other than maximum points would condemn them to automatic relegation with a game to spare.
Ireland are three points better off thanks to last month’s come-from-behind 2-1 success over the Finns in Helsinki.
The Boys in Green still have a mathematical chance of finishing second but their main aim will be to nail down third place and ensure, at the very least, that they move forward to the relegation play-offs.
Best bets
Ireland to win and over 1.5 goals
5/4
Sammie Szmodics to score any time
21/10
Both teams to score
5/4
Flawed Finns set for Dublin disappointment
Finland have not kept any clean sheets in 2024 and their suspect defence could be exposed by Ireland, who look solid favourites to win their Dublin encounter.
Nations League B2 has been tough going for the Finns, who have suffered four successive defeats, conceding at least twice on each occasion.
Finland head coach Markku Kanerva has been in the role since 2016 and has presided over some fantastic moments, including qualification for Euro 2020.
But his team have looked out of their depth in the Nations League’s second tier and they are below full strength for the trip to Dublin, with key midfielder Fredrik Jensen (groin) among the absentees.
Ireland are also missing a group of players, including captain Seamus Coleman, but they have greater depth and look well stocked in attack, with Premier League duo Evan Ferguson and Sammie Szmodics among the options for head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson to consider.
The appointment of Hallgrimsson was an interesting move from a nation desperate to see an end to their recent period of decline.
But last month’s 2-1 triumph away to Finland gave a glimpse of a brighter future and there is every chance of another positive outcome in the return match.
Szmodics can steal the limelight
Szmodics made his international debut earlier this year at the age of 28 and has now played eight matches for Ireland without getting on the scoresheet.
However, the Ipswich player has clever movement and an eye for goal and has looked a threat in the Nations League, posting five shots in four games.
Szmodics will be full of confidence after netting in Ipswich’s 2-1 weekend win at Tottenham and he looks an overpriced 21/10 wager to find the net against Finland.
Goals could flow in high-stakes encounter
Finland’s sequence of games without a clean sheet is set to be extended but there is a reasonable chance of them bagging a consolation goal.
Kanerva’s side have lost six of eight fixtures this year but they netted on four of those occasions, so it could make sense to back both teams to score at 6/5.
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