Bulgaria and Ireland set for UEFA Nations League stalemate
Bulgaria vs Ireland - 03/09/2020
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Bulgaria and Ireland will kick off their UEFA Nations League 2020-21 campaigns on Thursday night. The two national teams are in Nations League B Group 4 and are seeking promotion to League A.
The duo finds themselves in a very strong group that features Wales and Finland. Group 4 is wide open with teams and a surprise winner such as Finland could come out of the group and reach League A with the “big boys” of UEFA national team football.
Ireland head into the game under the leadership of new manager Stephen Kenny. The Ireland manager has a long history coaching Irish club teams and now makes the step up to senior Ireland boss.
His first game in charge, Ireland’s first since November, will be a difficult game. Bulgaria are the 59th ranked team in the world according FIFA. Ireland, on the other hand, are 34th in the world of international football.
Ireland and Bulgaria have met 10 times in their histories. The Irish have posted a 3W-4D-3L record against Bulgaria dating back to 1977. The two teams last met each other in September 2019 as Ireland scored a 3-1 win in an international friendly.
The Irish were a very defensive side under former boss Mick McCarthy. It is likely that Kenny will focus on opening up the team’s attack. However, he may not have the players to really put in strong attacking performances on a consistent basis.
Kenny is likely to use a 4-2-3-1 formation and deploy some of the young talent he used when coach Ireland’s U21 squad.
Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy is not fit to start the game and should be replaced by Jayson Molumby in the starting XI. Exciting Norwich City striker Adam Idah is also expected to play from the start.
On Tuesday, Ireland’s Football Association (FAI) confirmed all players in the squad had tested negative for COVID-19. Bulgaria were not as lucky on the COVID-19 front.
Cagliari forward Kiril Despodov tested positive for the virus according to his club team. He is not in the squad for this round of UEFA Nations League B Group 4 games. Despodov has 12 caps and is an exciting young forward.
What Bulgaria may lack in quality on Thursday night should be nullified by Ireland playing a first match under Kenny’s leadership. He could bring some exciting things to Ireland, but it may take more than just a week.
Kenny’s first game in charge should see Ireland remain defensive and cancel out Bulgaria’s chances. Expect a low scoring game with under 2.5 goals as these teams end in a draw.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UNL
424711
X
0 - 0
2.05
19°
3.15
4.05
3.15
2.05
1
-1
-1
1 - 1(0 - 0)
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