SM
Finland vs. England: 3 hrs 24 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
GN
Nations League | League C
Sep 27, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
 
NI

Greece
3 - 1
N. Ireland

Pelkas (14'), Masouras (55'), Mantalos (80')
Mantalos (16')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lavery (18')
McCann (79'), Flanagan (84')

Preview: Greece vs. Northern Ireland - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Greece vs. Northern Ireland - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Nations League clash between Greece and Northern Ireland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Northern Ireland are sweating on their status in League C Group 2 ahead of their trip to Greece in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.

The hosts have already secured promotion to League B after winning their first four matches of the current campaign.


Match preview

Indeed, after falling short of promotion from League C in each of the last two Nations League campaigns, Greece will feel that they are finally set to compete at a level more befitting of their talent and pedigree on the European stage.

The Euro 2004 winners set out with a point to prove this time around, winning each of their opening four games without conceding a single goal before losing 1-0 in nearby Cyprus on Saturday.

Gus Poyet's side dominated the proceedings with 71% possession, but they struggled to turn long periods on the ball into meaningful chances as Marinos Tzionis's 18th-minute strike proved to be the difference on the day.

Northern Ireland's victory over Kosovo meant that the defeat came without a cost, though, as their six-point lead over the Kosovans is unassailable with only one match remaining.

Ian Baraclough's side's first win of the current Nations League campaign came in the most dramatic of circumstances, with Josh Magennis scoring an injury-time winner to turn the game on its head.

Vedat Muriqi looked to have kept Kosovo's hopes of topping the group alive by breaking the deadlock in the 58th minute, but Gavin Whyte equalised 25 minutes later before Magennis's late effort kept Northern Ireland's destiny in their own hands ahead of their trip to Greece on Tuesday.

However, Cyprus' win over Greece means that the Green and White Army remain level on points with the Cypriots and one point behind Kosovo going into the final matchday. Given that those two nations face each other on Tuesday, Northern Ireland must match or better Cyprus' result to guarantee their survival.

Having ended a winless run of five matches, they will feel confident of at least avoiding defeat in Athens against a team with very little to play for beyond personal pride.

Greece Nations League form:


Greece form (all competitions):


Northern Ireland Nations League form:


Northern Ireland form (all competitions):



Team News

Greece will welcome Petros Mantalos and Georgios Giakoumakis back to their squad after the duo served a one-match suspension in the defeat to Cyprus.

Dinos Koulierakis will hope to make his international debut at some stage having been an unused substitute in Larnaca.

Northern Ireland, meanwhile, remain without Stuart Dallas due to a knee injury.

Whyte is pushing for a start after scoring a crucial equaliser from the bench against Kosovo, but Baraclough may look to add another defender or midfielder to his starting XI in order to make his team tougher to beat, with Shane Ferguson potentially receiving the nod.

Greece possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Baldock, Mavropanos, Hatzidiakos, Tsimikas; Mantalos, Siopis, Kourbelis; Bakasetas, Giakoumakis, Masouras

Northern Ireland possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Evans, Flanagan, Lewis; Bradley, Davis, Evans, Saville, Ferguson; Magennis


We say: Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

We expect Northern Ireland to dig in and make life very difficult for Greece, who looked like a side going through the motions in their defeat to Cyprus at the weekend.

A point is likely to be enough to see the visitors survive in League C, so Baraclough may set his team up to attempt to avoid defeat first and foremost.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__495388 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:03:33:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:03:33 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Nations League: What is at stake for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland?
Man City midfield target responds to transfer speculation
Preview: Austria vs. Norway - prediction, team news, lineups
'No regrets' - Carsley hints at England changes but defends Greece defeat
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool76011321118
2Manchester CityMan City7520178917
3Arsenal7520156917
4Chelsea7421168814
5Aston Villa7421129314
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton73311310312
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle733187112
8Fulham7322108211
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs7313148610
10Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest724176110
11Brentford73131313010
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham72231011-18
13Bournemouth7223810-28
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd722358-38
15Leicester CityLeicester7133912-36
16Everton7124715-85
17Ipswich TownIpswich7043614-84
18Crystal Palace7034510-53
19Southampton7016415-111
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves7016921-121
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Estevao reveals reason for choosing Chelsea, comments on social media conversation

1

ER

'No regrets' - Carsley hints at England changes but defends Greece defeat

2

'R

Man City midfield target responds to transfer speculation

NEW

3

MC

Preview: Mexico vs. USA - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PM

'Intentions are clear': Haaland 'rejects' move to European giants

5

'A

Iberian therapy: James formulates transfer plan to solve injury crisis?

6

IT

Preview: Scotland vs. Portugal - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PS

Preview: Poland vs. Croatia - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PP

Ronaldo decision, one attacking change: How Portugal could line up against Scotland

9

RD

Ronaldo hits 133rd international goal in Portugal win over Poland

10

RH


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .