On Sunday, at 17:00, Wales and Ireland face in the 5th round of the B-4 group, within the League of Nations. An interesting duel, between neighbors, but which has a definite favorite. Although only four matches have been played, Wales is 8 points ahead of its rival! Moreover, Ryan Giggs’ national team is without a goal in the current edition of the competition.
In group B-4, things are pretty clear. Wales has 10 points (goal difference 3-0) and will fight until the last moment with the representative of the Final (9 points), for promotion to League A. Ireland is on the 3rd place (goal average 1-3) and has not yet escaped the emotions of relegation , because Bulgaria is behind it, with only one point (goal difference 1-5). The Irish national team entered a shadow cone after the withdrawal of some valuable players, and Stephen Kenny does not have great solutions available, especially in attack.
Ireland comes after failures with England (0-3) and Finland (0-1), in which they did not issue big claims, and the only positive result this year was a draw with Wales (0-0), in the round match in League of Nations. It was an erased match, in which Brady, Long and McLean failed to endanger Hennessey’s goal, in a game with only three shots on goal and 7 corners. Instead, Wales is in a good moment and has not conceded a goal in 4 of its last 5 games.
In the last friendly match, Wales drew with the US national team, score 0-0, after beating Bulgaria twice, with 1-0, and had drawn white in Dublin. Ireland has lost the last three consecutive away games and has only one victory in the last 10 games: 3-1 with New Zealand, in a friendly game. Statistics recommend a closed game this time too, against Wales, against which the white-greens have a historical advantage: 3 victories in 9 games.
Two other matches were won by the Welsh and no less than 4 matches ended in a draw. Only three times more than two goals have been scored and we do not expect much show now. The stakes are high for the Welsh, who have lost just one of their last 12 games.
Stephen Kenny has the weakest start at the helm of Ireland since Mick Meagan (1969-1971);
James McLean has two goals and five assists in his last 8 official matches;
Ireland have not scored in their last 5 matches and have not scored in the last 11 minutes before the 30th minute;
Wales have conceded no goals in 4 of the last 5 games;
6 of Ireland’s last 7 matches ended with less than three goals scored;
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / NO @ 1,54
