Finland vs Ireland prediction, betting tips and odds: Ireland can win basement battle

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Where to watch Finland vs Ireland

You can watch Finland vs Ireland in the Nations League on RTE2 & Premier Player at 7.45pm on Thursday, October 10th.

Match prediction & best bet

Ireland draw no bet
1pt 5-6 BoyleSports

Recommended

4/5

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Finland vs Ireland odds

Finland 17-10
Ireland 15-8
Draw 2-1

Odds correct at time of publishing

Finland vs Ireland predictions

Ireland have some ground to make up in the Nations League after a pair of 2-0 defeats at home to England and Greece but they look overpriced to defeat Finland at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

Group B2 already has a lop-sided look with Greece and England six points ahead of Finland and Ireland, who appear to be in a straight battle to avoid a fourth-place finish and relegation from the section.

The Finns can take heart from the fact that three of their remaining four fixtures are on home soil, but they look like a team in decline having lost six of their last eight competitive matches.

Markku Kanerva's side sustained a respectable 2-0 loss away to England last month, having reached half-time with the scores level, but they offered little in attack – losing the shot count 22 to two – and will be under pressure to play more positively in their first home game of the campaign.

Kanerva favours a single central striker and is set to choose between veteran Teemu Pukki and Venezia's Joel Pohjanpalo up front.

However, Finland's attacking options appear inferior to Ireland, who have Premier League forwards Evan Ferguson and Sammie Szmodics vying for inclusion.

Brighton's Ferguson is touted for a bright future but he is working his way back after a long-term injury and has made just three brief substitute appearances in the top flight this season.

The 19-year-old might have to be content with another bench-warming role, but probable starters Adam Idah and Szmodics can make enough of an impact to get Ireland the advantage.

Idah left Norwich for Celtic this summer and, after a slow start to the campaign, is finding his feet.

The 23-year-old has netted four times in his last five appearances and his rising confidence could be key to Ireland flooring the Finns and putting their first points on the board.

Key stat

Finland have lost six of their last eight competitive games

Finland vs Ireland team news

Finland
Injured midfielder Kaan Kairinen has withdrawn from the squad.

Ireland
Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) is a long-term absentee and Will Smallbone (thigh) and Seamus Coleman (calf) miss out.

Probable teams

Finland (4-2-3-1): Hradecky; Stahl, Hoskonen, Ivanov, Galvez; Peltola, Schuller; Jensen, Kamara, Antman; Pukki.
Subs: Keskinen, Uronen, Pohjanpalo, Lod, Niskanen, Kallman, Walta.

Ireland (4-4-2): Kelleher; Ebosele, Collins, O'Shea, Brady; Ogbene, Molumby, Cullen, Knight; Szmodics, Idah.
Subs: Ferguson, McAteer, Parrott, Scales, O'Dowda, Omobamidele, Azaz.

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