Belarus vs Northern Ireland prediction and betting tips on October 12, 2024
Game Prediction
On October 12, 2024, Belarus and Northern Ireland will face off in the 3rd round of the UEFA Nations League. Both sides still have a chance to win their group, but only if they secure a positive result in this head-to-head clash.
Key Stats and Trends for Belarus vs Northern Ireland
- Belarus scored for the first time in six matches in the previous round and immediately secured a victory.
- Northern Ireland has won two of their last three matches.
- Belarus wins the first half in just 11% of their matches, while Northern Ireland leads at halftime in 40% of theirs.
Match Preview: Belarus vs Northern Ireland
Belarus, known as the "White Wings," has never been a top-rated football nation. However, last year's qualification campaign was relatively successful for them, with 12 points from 10 matches and a 4th-place finish. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's "Green and White Army" is once again under the leadership of Michael O'Neill, who previously guided them to Euro 2016, where they reached the playoffs. This time, however, Northern Ireland managed only 9 points in qualification, 6 of which came from victories over San Marino.
Belarus is currently coached by Carlos Alos, and they struggled for much of 2024. They failed to score against Bulgaria in the first Nations League round, resulting in a goalless draw. However, in their next game against Luxembourg, substitute Gromyko secured an unexpected victory. Northern Ireland also defeated Luxembourg 2-0 back in February but narrowly lost to Bulgaria in Plovdiv.
O'Neill's side is missing some key players, including veteran Jonny Evans, who has retired, and injured duo Thompson and Spencer. Belarus, on the other hand, has a nearly full-strength squad, though notable absentees include Lisakovich, Skavysh, Gordeychuk, and Laptev.
Possible Starting Lineups
Belarus (possible lineup): Lapoukhau – Zabelin, Martynovich, Volkov – Pechenin, Ebong, Selyava, Karpovich – Antilevski, Shikavka, Bahar
Northern Ireland (possible lineup): Peacock-Farrell – Brown, McNair, Ballard – Lewis, Saville, Charles, Hume – Bradley, Price, Charles
Head to Head: Belarus vs Northern Ireland
All three previous meetings between these sides – including a friendly in 2016 and Euro 2020 qualifiers – were won by the "Green and White Army."
Free Prediction for Belarus vs Northern Ireland
The visitors are seen as the clear favorites. However, Belarus seems to be in a form that could finally help them avoid defeat against this opponent (odds – 1.95).