Switzerland v Northern Ireland betting tips: Withdrawals hit visitors
Published:
Switzerland v Northern Ireland betting tips and odds
Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup rest on Saturday’s clash with Switzerland who are 1/3 to win in Geneva.
Ian Baraclough’s side are three points behind the second-placed Swiss and effectively fighting for the runners-up spot in Group C which is led by Italy.
Goals have been in short supply in recent meetings between these teams, so let’s look at some of the markets in our Switzerland v Northern Ireland betting tips.
Match Odds
In the four matches involving these nations this century just one goal has been scored, a controversial penalty in a World Cup play-off in Belfast four years ago which effectively secured Switzerland’s place in Russia.
Another draw is priced at 7/2 and a fourth goalless contest in five can be backed at 15/2, but Switzerland proved they have a quality side at Euro 2020 where they beat world champions France on penalties in the last 16 having scored twice in the final 10 minutes to take the game to extra time.
They drew 1-1 with Spain after 120 minutes in the quarter-finals and held Italy to a goalless draw last month, so the hosts to win to nil looks a possibility at 3/4 bearing in mind Northern Ireland have lost six players from the original 26-man squad through illness or injury.
Switzerland can still qualify automatically for Qatar as they are just six points behind Italy who have played two games more, so everything is likely to hinge on next month’s clash in Rome as long as they take care of business on Saturday.
Goals have been a problem for the Swiss, who have scored just four in as many games, including a lacklustre 1-0 victory over Lithuania.
The hosts can be backed at 11/8 to win and under 2.5 goals or in the correct score market we go 1-0 or 2-0 at 15/4 and 4/1 respectively for Saturday’s Switzerland v Northern Ireland betting tips.
The visitors have failed to score in three of their four matches, including a goalless draw with Bulgaria, and are 1/2 to fire blanks again, but both teams to find the net is a hefty 17/10, while Draw HT/Switzerland FT is 12/5.
Talking Tactics
Baraclough opted for a 5-3-2 against the Swiss last month but Shayne Lavery is out and joins Corry Evans, Trevor Carson, Michael Smith, Ali McCann and Gavin Whyte on the sidelines.
Northern Ireland senior men's squad update
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) October 4, 2021
On the plus side, Stuart Dallas and Josh Magennis return, while Paddy McNair is back from suspension, but Jonny Evans has yet to join up with the squad before the team travels on Thursday.
Haris Seferovic started the goalless draw at Windsor Park but the Swiss striker, who stunned France at the Euros, is still working his way back to fitness, although Xherdan Shaqiri is a regular starter with Lyon and should be in Switzerland’s XI.
Goalscorer Odds
Breel Embolo returned from injury last month and scored his first goal of the season in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 3-1 win at Wolfsburg over the weekend.
Embolo opened the scoring against Wales at the Euro 2020 finals and is 7/2 to break the deadlock, the same price as Celtic attacker Albian Ajeti in our Switzerland v Northern Ireland betting tips.
Shaqiri is 9/2 to draw first blood and 15/8 to get on the scoresheet, while set-piece specialist Ricardo Rodriguez is 9/1 and 7/2 in the two markets.
Magennis and Conor Washington are 11/1 and 12/1 respectively to bag the opener from the Northern Ireland contingent, with Dallas 11/1 to find the net.
Match Info
Where: Stade de Geneve, Geneva
When: 19:45, Saturday 9th October
How to watch: Sky Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
