The Nations League fun continues on Friday in the north. Northern Ireland v Belarus is an intriguing matchup, as Michael O’Neill’s side can secure promotion with a win. So, all eyes will be on Windsor Park.
Shane O’Brien is here to guide us through another wild evening of international football action.
Northern Ireland v Belarus Bet Builder tips
Northern Ireland to win
Under 2.5 goals
Isaac Price to score
Over 10 corners
WHEN: Friday, 15th of November, 7:45pm
WHERE: Windsor Park, Belfast
TV: Viaplay on YouTube
Northern Ireland to win
Northern Ireland have made massive progress over the past 12 months following several years in the wilderness.
A 2-0 win over Denmark at the end of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign last November appears to be the catalyst for Michael O’Neill’s side, who were on course to pick up just two wins from ten games in that qualifying campaign before that win over Denmark – with both of those victories coming against San Marino.
In 2022, Northern Ireland narrowly avoided relegation to the bottom tier of the Nations League following a horrendously bad campaign that saw them pick up just five points. Their solitary win came courtesy of a 93rd-minute winner against Kosovo.
However, things are very much looking up for Northern Ireland in this current Nations League campaign.
That win over Denmark was followed by a friendly win over Scotland in March. O’Neill’s side can secure promotion to League B of the Nations League if they win on Friday and Bulgaria fail to beat Luxembourg; such has been their progress.
Their 5-0 demolition of Bulgaria last month marks how far Northern Ireland have come in the past 12 months.
They can secure a crucial victory against a Belarus outfit that has drawn three games and won just once in its four Nations League games.
Under 2.5 goals
Aside from their 5-0 win over Bulgaria, Northern Ireland’s Nations League games haven’t been high-scoring encounters.
That Bulgaria win was the only time that a match involving Northern Ireland has seen three goals or more, with O’Neill’s side failing to score in each of their two away games.
On the other hand, Belarus have been even more conservative, scoring twice in four games and conceding only once.
The return fixture ended in a scoreless draw last month, and it would be hugely surprising if both sides suddenly took off the shackles in what is a pivotal game in the group.
A low-scoring affair appears highly likely.
Isaac Price to score
One thing Northern Ireland undoubtedly lack is an out-and-out goalscorer.
Josh Magennis has scored some important goals in the past but has scored just 12 times in 80 international appearances.
While Dion Charles, who is almost certainly Northern Ireland’s most potent goalscorer at club level, stands on just three goals in 22 appearances, with two coming in the same game against San Marino.
Isaac Price is not potent at club level, scoring just one goal in 51 league appearances for Standard Liege. However, he seems to flourish in a more advanced role in the national set-up and scored a sensational hattrick playing off Charles against Bulgaria in Windsor Park last month.
Charles was heavily involved in each of Price’s two opening goals, and the pair are looking to continue that partnership on Friday.
Price, who opened the scoring in Northern Ireland’s win over Denmark last year, sealed his hattrick with a sensational strike from 25 yards and will go into this clash with Belarus with plenty of momentum.
He is excellent value to find the back of the net again.
Over 10 corners
Northern Ireland average seven corners per game across their four Nations League games so far, winning 17 corners in their two home games to date.
O’Neill’s side won seven corners on their trip to Belarus last month, and it isn’t a leap to assume that they will win a similar number on Friday, considering they are averaging 13 shots per game and five shots on target per game in the Nations League.
Belarus, meanwhile, only won three corners in the reverse fixture against Northern Ireland but are averaging almost five per game in the competition.
They will need to force the issue at some point on Friday, considering they must win to leapfrog O’Neill’s charges.
Northern Ireland v Belarus Bet Builder tips
Northern Ireland to win
Under 2.5 goals
Isaac Price to score
Over 10 corners
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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