Must Win Game at home for Swiss Against Ireland

Switzerland vs Ireland - 15/10/2019

14/10/19 4296

As we approach the closing stages of 2020 European Championship qualification, Group D has three teams who can still finish in the top two places.  Republic of Ireland currently lead the way on 12 points with Denmark in second place on the same number of points but behind on the head-to-head away goals rule.

Switzerland are in third place on 8 points but have a game in hand on the two teams above them. On the 15th October, Republic of Ireland travel to Switzerland in what is a massive match for both teams.  A win for the Swiss would put them in pole position to qualify but a victory for the Republic of Ireland would see them open a 7 point gap over the Swiss.

The hosts come into this game on the back of a 1-0 loss in Denmark on Saturday night.  It was always going to be a difficult game, arguably the toughest in the group but having held on at 0-0 for 84 minutes, Switzerland will be disappointed to have conceded the winning goal.

That was Switzerland’s first defeat in the group and they have won two and drawn two of their other four games.  The wins have come away to Georgia and at home to Gibraltar.  The draws have come at home to Denmark, which ended 3-3 and away to Republic of Ireland which was 1-1.

Trends show Switzerland have lost only one of their last fifteen matches on home soil and that was a friendly against Qatar.  They have seen over 2.5 goals scored in each of their last four competitive home games.

Republic of Ireland were held to a 0-0 draw at Georgia on Saturday evening. It was a match they would have been hoping to win but Georgia is never an easy place to go to and a point was a decent outcome.

The Irish have played six games in the group, winning three and drawing three, making them unbeaten.  The three wins have come away to Gibraltar, at home against Georgia and at home to Gibraltar.  The three draws have come at Denmark, at home to Switzerland and away to Georgia.

In truth, Republic of Ireland are not easy on the eye and have scored only 6 goals in their six group matches, which is not a good record considering they have played Gibraltar twice.  However, they have only conceded 2 goals, which is the best defensive record in the group.

Team news and Switzerland have plenty of players in the top European leagues to call upon for this game.  Yann Sommer, Fabian Schar, Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka should start but Xherdan Shaqiri will not be involved.

Republic of Ireland may hand a start to 19 year old Aaron Connolly but the Brighton forward could be used from the bench.  Seamus Coleman and Shane Duffy are two important players in defence.

The visitors are sure to make this as difficult as possible for the Swiss but they will put Republic of Ireland under plenty of pressure.  We may not see may goals due to the Irish style of play but the match will end in a low scoring draw.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

EuQ

Switzerland Ireland 15/10/2019 20:45

334621

X1-1

1 - 1

2.00

8°

4.20

1.55 4.20 7.50 1 1

FT

2 - 0(1 - 0)

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