Republic of Ireland v Finland

Ireland's upcoming UEFA Nations League B clash with Finland is a high-stakes match, as both teams are fighting to avoid relegation. The Irish squad is currently in a slightly better position, having previously defeated Finland thanks to Robbie Brady’s late winner, securing a vital three points in the reverse fixture.

Finland, meanwhile, are struggling in a tough group that includes England and Greece and is yet to register a point in this campaign. Their defensive issues have been glaring, with 10 goals conceded and only two scored, underscoring their challenges on both ends of the field.

Although Ireland may not be the most dominant side, they’ve shown resilience at home this year, securing draws against higher-ranked teams like Belgium and Hungary. 

⭐ Republic of Ireland v Finland Best Bets

Despite an inconsistent record in recent years, Ireland’s performances on home turf show they’re capable of delivering when it matters. In their last encounter with Finland, Ireland emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, and a repeat of that success would help them avoid automatic relegation from their Nations League group.

Ireland’s results at home have been encouraging, with competitive performances against strong teams like Belgium and Hungary in 2024. Finland’s defensive struggles have also been pronounced, they’ve lost all four of their Nations League matches, facing over 50 shots in their last three outings alone.

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👕 Republic of Ireland v Finland Predicted XI

🔍 Republic of Ireland v Finland Key Players

🟢 Josh Cullen

Josh Cullen has been Burnley’s midfield dynamo and Ireland’s most active fouler under manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, leading his national team in fouls during the Nations League. Cullen has made six fouls in just 180 minutes of Nations League play, reflecting his commitment to breaking up play and halting opposition attacks.

In the previous match against Finland, he registered two fouls, and in the game against Greece, he racked up four fouls, showcasing his physical approach against Ireland's opponents. Cullen’s tendency to commit fouls has also carried over to his club football at Burnley, where he has committed 16 fouls in his last eight matches, fouling in seven out of those eight games.

His tough-tackling style and defensive responsibilities make him a prime candidate to foul again in this high-stakes encounter with Finland.

🟢 Sammie Szmodics

Ipswich Town’s Sammie Szmodics has yet to score for Ireland, but his club form is promising, with three goals already this season, including one against Tottenham.

For Ireland, Szmodics has managed seven attempts in his last four appearances, hitting the target twice. With Finland’s defence under heavy pressure—having allowed over 50 shots in their last three games and conceding 10 goals in the Nations League—Szmodics will likely have opportunities to test the Finnish keeper.

His recent scoring form and determination to open his international goal account make him a key player to follow in this matchup.

📂 Republic of Ireland v Finland Cheat Sheet

Andy's Bet Club is the best place for Football Betting Predictions. We offer a huge range of Nations League Acca Predictions and Nations League Tips to keep you covered during this week's international break.

Aside from this betting preview, we've also got a Greece v England Betting Preview and Greece v England Bet Builder Predictions in store, as well as France v Israel Betting Tips, Belgium v Italy Predictions, and a Home Nations Acca covering England, Scotland, and Wales' matches this week.

We also offer Both Teams To Score Tips, plus bet builder-focussed picks such as our Anytime Goalscorer Tips, Player Shots On Target Tips, and Fouls Betting Predictions.

💻 Republic of Ireland v Finland Form and Tactics

Statistically, both Ireland and Finland have displayed similar tendencies throughout their Nations League campaign, reflecting their close standings in the group.

Both squads tend to be out-possessed by opponents, averaging fewer than four shots on target per game and taking less than four corners each.

Notably, Finland’s defensive stats are slightly worse: they receive more yellow cards, face more shots, and concede more corners. In contrast, Ireland draw more fouls and have proven to be somewhat more disciplined.

Given the close statistical similarities, fans can expect a closely contested match, with Ireland’s home advantage and slightly superior form possibly tipping the balance in their favour.

🏁 Republic of Ireland v Finland Ref Watch

• Referee: Harm Osmers
• Osmers has distributed 28 cards in his last 4 matches, an average of 7 cards per game.
• He has brandished 26 yellow cards during his last 5 international fixtures, an average of 5.2 per game.
• He has produced 3 red cards in his last 5 international matches.

Football Predictions at Andy's Bet Club

Our guide on How To Use A Cheat Sheet is the perfect way to get involved with our Bet Builder Stats tool, the best freely available data source for bet builder crafting.

We recommend the Best Betting Sites For Accumulators, Top Bet Builder Sites, and the best Free Bet Offers and Weekly Free Bet Clubs, all to ensure you bet smarter when backing our tips with the Best UK Sports Betting Sites.

Expert guides, such as this one, on xG In Football, are also available to help you up your punting game, while we've also put together a list of the best Nations League Free Bet Offers.

* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.