UEFA Nations League Preview: Finland -v- Republic of Ireland

Ireland and Finland line out in their September 2020 Covid-19 behind-closed-doors clash at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland and Finland line out in their September 2020 Covid-19 behind-closed-doors clash at the Aviva Stadium Credit: Macdara Ferris (ETPhotos)

FINLAND      

The home side come into Thursday’s match (kick-off 7.45pm Irish time) just like the visitors with two defeats from their two UEFA Nations League games to date – Finland lost to Greece and England in their September double header.

The Finns do come into the game having won the two most recent matches between the sides, winning 1-0 home and away in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League (the previous five matches ended without a Finnish victory – losing three and drawing two).

Fredrik Jensen scored the goals in both of Finland’s wins in the UEFA Nations League against the Republic of Ireland in 2020, while each of his last three goals for his nation have come in Helsinki.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson is looking for his first win in charge of the Boys in Green having lost at home to both Greece and England in the opening two games of this UEFA Nations League campaign. Ireland are also without a win in their last eight Nations League away games.

He has admitted he has done a spot of shaking things up as Matt Doherty can testify with his omission from the squad.

"I wouldn’t say a losing streak, but if you are in a downward spiral it’s good to do something different in a different country, a different environment, shake things up,” said Hallgrímsson at the pre-match press conference.

"The players are staying together much more and are closer, that’s a good team-building thing, to travel and stay somewhere else. 

"We have just been continuing trying to implement the principles we'd like to have in play, showing them the good stuff from our last camp and the bad things as well, just trying to learn from the last camp and then on to this one.



"I feel better this camp but that's mainly what we have been doing – we had maybe five meetings, we are doing more talking than training."

With Seamus Coleman’s continuing absence due to injury, Hallgrímsson has handed the skipper’s armband to Nathan Collins once again after the Brentford defender captained the side in last month’s loss to Greece.

“Obviously, it’s a huge moment for me and my family. I probably didn’t take in the moment as much as I should have (against Greece), but that’s just the way I am,” said Collins.

“My family did, I think they were crying in the stand, honestly, it means a lot to me and my family. I think in this camp, it’s nearly easy being a captain of this team as there are so many leaders.

"It's been very a very positive week, we've had a lot of meetings, we've had to, it's part and parcel of international football.

"I think the work we have done on the pitch has been very productive, we're looking forward to go now and we have a good feeling this week."



Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Macedonia)

MATCH STATS

Ireland have failed to score in their three matches, their longest streak since seven straight goalless games between September and November 2020.

The Boys in Green have failed to score in 12 of their 18 UEFA Nations League matches.

PREDICTION

1-1

About Extratime Team

The in-house extratime.com team of writers View Full Profile