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Northern Ireland vs Switzerland Prediction & Betting tips
After completing the group stage of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next year, the play-off games of the eight best runners-up will now take place. In these playoffs, the last four European representatives for the World Cup are searched in a return match. We take a look at the game between Northern Ireland and Switzerland. The match will be played at the Windsor Park Stadium in Belfast. The kick-off is on Thursday at 19:45. The second leg will take place three days later, on Sunday, in Switzerland.
Northern Ireland :
The Northern Irish played in the group stage of season C together with the German selection. They finished behind the sovereign first of the table Germany and ahead of the competitors from the Czech Republic and Norway the second place in the table. In the table second in the table they could qualify as the sixth for the playoffs. In the group stage, the men brought the island 19 points in a record of six wins, one draw and three defeats. Northern Ireland was for a long time the toughest pursuer of the Germans in the fight for group victory. Only through defeats in the last two qualifiers against Germany (1: 3) and in Norway (0: 1), you lost the chance to first place in the table. Until then, Northern Ireland was brilliant in the race and had lost only the first leg in Germany with 0: 2. Thanks to their home form, coach Michael O’Neill’s team was often able to shine. The first four qualifiers at the local Windsor Park Stadium in Belfast were won. So they defeated San Marino (4-0), Azerbaijan (4-0), Norway (2-0) and Czech Republic (2-0), without even conceding a goal. Northern Ireland’s top scorers in qualifying were Charlton Athletic’s Josh Magennis and Heart of Midlothian FC’s Kyle Lafferty, with three goals scored each. The team are not plagued by major injury concerns, so Coach O`Neill can make the most of it.
Switzerland:
The Swiss have played a very strong group stage and were about to qualify as a group first directly for the World Cup in Russia. Until the last decisive game in Portugal, they led Group B and a point in Portugal would have been enough to qualify directly. Initiated by an own goal by Johan Djourou, they defeated the Portuguese 2-0. As a result, the Confederates slipped behind the competitors in second place.
Despite all this, it was a strong performance that Switzerland delivered in the group stage, even though Hungary, Latvia, Andorra and the Faroe Islands certainly were not high caliber contenders in the group. With 23 goals scored the offensive was very accurate. In the table second in the table, the Swiss took first place and qualified confidently for the playoff games. In the duel against the Northern Irish, they are certainly a favorite, and it would be a mistake to underestimate the opponent. The Nati is peppered with many well-known players who are also known from the Bundesliga. So the goalkeepers Bürki and Sommer, as well as the field players Mehmedi, Embolo, Zuber and Fernandes are in the squad, all of which are currently under contract with Bundesliga clubs. Coach Vladimir Petkovic will only miss Valon Behrami. Top scorer is Haris Seferovic with four goals scored.
Northern Ireland vs Switzerland head to head matches
18.08.04 FI Switzerland Northern Ireland 0 : 0
13.11.64 WC Switzerland Northern Ireland 2 : 1
14.10.64 WC Northern Ireland Switzerland 1 : 0