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Peter Green - September 2, 2019
Ireland vs Switzerland
EURO Qualification
Date: Thursday, 5 September 2019
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Aviva Stadium (Dublin).
Ireland have completed four rounds in the group stage qualifiers and are currently at the helm of the table with zero defeats. The hosts picked up a comfortable 2-0 win over Gibraltar in their last clash at home and registered twenty-nine attempts at goal in that game, six of which were right on target.
The Irish outfit have three wins and a draw under their belt at the moment and will be confident of taking down the visitors in their matchup this week.
Switzerland have featured in just two games in their respective campaign and have come away with a win and a draw so far. The visitors also went all the way to the semi-finals of the inaugural Nations League and lost out on a third-placed finish to the Three Lions, only on penalties.
Furthermore, it needs mentioning that Switzerland reached the semi-finals of that competition after taking out front runners Belgium by a 5-2 scorecard at home.
Although the Swiss will be without home advantage in this one, they are still no less a tough team to take down, and could well give Ireland a run for their money in Dublin.
Mick Mccarthy’s men have a healthy lead in the group at the moment. However, with two games in hand for Switzerland, the tables look likely to be turned this week. The away side has lost just once in their previous three outings, with the loss coming against none other the eventual Nations League Champions, Portugal.
Moreover, Ireland’s last victory over this opponent in a competitive match came way back in the year of 1985. Since then, the home team have gone on to admit defeat twice and have also been held to a draw on three occasions as well.
Additionally, the hosts have been picking up points off of fairly mediocre teams so far and will have their back pushed against the wall when they lock horns with Switzerland. So, there is certainly reason to believe that the visitors will be able to hand Ireland their first taste of defeat in their clash on Friday.
The home team have not conceded in the opening forty-five minutes in their last three games on home soil. Considering that all of the last five away goals for the visitors have also come post the restart, Switzerland are strong favorites to find the back of the net in the second half.
