Ireland are back in Nations League action on Thursday as they take on Finland in Helsinki with both teams looking for their first points of the campaign.
Finland v Ireland best bets
- Sammie Szmodics to score – 12/5 at Betano
- Ireland to win and both teams to score – 13/2 at Betano
Finland v Ireland odds
Find the latest match odds for Finland v Ireland on Betano. Odds are subject to change.
Finland v Ireland predictions
Ireland make the trip to Helsinki on Thursday night as marginal favourites for victory and to pick up their first points of the new Nations League campaign despite having falling to defeat in both of their opening games last month, both at home.
Heimir Hallgrimson’s tenure in charge of the Boys in Green didn’t get off to the most ideal of starts, suffering back to back 2-0 defeats at home against England and Greece in Dublin, which leaves the nation in need of a win against a Finland side also stranded without a point.
The defeats mean Ireland have now lost their last three matches without so much as scoring, and make the trip to the Finnish capital having won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
Finland, like Ireland, fell to defeat in each of their first two games of the new Nations League campaign, but have the advantage of three of their final four matches of the league phase being at home, of which the opposite is true for Ireland.
Markku Kanerva, who is approaching eight years in charge of his national team, is winless in his last four matches and has just one win in six but has led his nation to victory in each of their last two home games.
Only goal difference separates the two sides heading into Thursday night’s match, and despite being underdogs with the bookies, Finland will back themselves for victory in front of their home fans against a seemingly vulnerable Ireland side.
Ireland’s quality should shine through they will come up against a tough test against a fired up Finland side. Hallgrimsson is expected to pick up his first win as Ireland manager and a 2-1 away win seems a sensible scoreline to predict.
Finland v Ireland betting tips
Sammie Szmodics has started both games for Ireland under the management of Hallgrimsson, who appears to be a fan of last season’s top scorer in the Championship.
The 29-year-old scored in his first start for Ipswich since his summer move from Blackburn at the Etihad, and has bagged four goals in all competitions this season and will be eager to impress for his country in a bid to get back into the starting fold for his Premier League side.
The match will likely be an intriguing with both sides desperate not fall to three defeats out of three and stare relegation in the face, but Ireland have clearly the stronger squad and with the manager’s ideas embedded further into the players, the visitors should edge to victory in Helsinki on Thurdsay.
- Sammie Szmodics to score – 12/5 at Betano
- Ireland to win and both teams to score – 13/2 at Betano
How to watch Finland v Ireland
- Location: Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
- Date and time: Thursday 10th October 2024, 7:45pm
- TV Channel: TBC
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