Ireland v Belgium Bet Builder Tips
Both Teams to Score
Over 9.5 Corners
Ireland to Commit 12 or More Fouls
Chiedozie Ogbene to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
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Saturday 5pm: Ireland v Belgium
Friendly match at the Aviva Stadium
TV: Virgin Media Two, Premier Sports & Viaplay
Both Teams to Score
What a difference two years make. Ireland last met Belgium in an international friendly this time two years ago and the mood in the country could not have been different. Granted, Stephen Kenny’s side had just failed to qualify for the World Cup, but they had shown good progress in credible draws against both Portugal and Serbia during qualifying.
The subsequent 2-2 draw with Belgium was seen as a mark of that progress. This time around, Ireland are a mess, losing six of their eight Euro qualifiers and seeming to be rejected by every candidate for the vacant manager’s job.
They are massive underdogs in Saturday’s friendly, but Belgium are likely to field an experimental team, considering they face England next week. Ireland have almost no hope of keeping Belgium out, but they may just grab one of their own and for Both Teams To Score.
Over 9.5 Corners
Despite losing 75% of their qualifying games, Ireland were largely competitive, at least on the face of it. The Boys in Green enjoyed relatively similar possession as their opponents and won 31 corners in their six games against France, Greece, and the Netherlands at a rate of over five per game.
It is difficult to know what kind of style John O’Shea will implement in his first game as a senior manager, but there is every chance that they will play on the front foot to give the home crowd something to cheer about.
Ireland also had a tendency to concede corners at the other end, famously conceding six in the opening seven minutes against Greece last June. There should be at least ten corners at the Aviva.
Ireland to Commit 12 or More Fouls
Ireland may have been on their best behaviour in terms of cards, but they did commit a fair amount of fouls. The Boys in Green conceded a total of 87 fouls in eight group games at a rate of almost exactly 11 per game.
They even managed eight in a friendly against New Zealand last November and are likely to commit significantly more fouls against a much better outfit in Belgium. Ireland will be without the ball for large parts of Saturday’s game and could easily commit a dozen fouls or more.
Chiedozie Ogbene to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
Chiedozie Ogbene scored Ireland’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Belgium two years ago and the Luton Town player is arguably Ireland’s best chance of finding the net on Saturday. He is certainly the most in-form player in the squad, scoring three Premier League goals in his last ten appearances.
He averages over a shot per game in the league this season and averaged almost two shots per game in Ireland’s disastrous qualifying campaign last year. Ogbene is decent value to find the target at least once on Saturday.
Ireland v Belgium Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score
Over 9.5 Corners
Ireland to Commit 12 or More Fouls
Chiedozie Ogbene to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
- A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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