Israel vs Rep. Of Ireland — Tips & Analysis

Rep. Of Ireland +0.25: Ireland do not get beaten heavily. They have lost by 2 or more goals in only 2 of their last 14 games, and that is the heart of this pick. Israel are not the team to break that pattern. They have won 5, tied 1 and lost 9 of their last 15. They let in more than 2 goals a game and they lost 1-3 in Austria in their opener. Israel have also lost by 2 or more in 7 of their last 15, so they are just as likely to be chasing as leading. Ireland lost 0-1 in Kosovo, but the two away games before that were a 3-2 win in Hungary and a 2-2 tie in Czechia. They score just over a goal a game and they know how to protect a result. This one is played in Debrecen, so there is no real crowd behind Israel. Ireland will sit deep, play direct and try to make it ugly. A 1-1 is the most likely ending, and Ireland avoiding defeat is what this pick needs. The team sheet is the worry. Captain Nathan Collins is out with a calf problem, Evan Ferguson and Josh Cullen are out too, and five more players carry knocks. The build up has been unsettled as well, with the squad only confirming the day before the game that they would play. We still back Ireland to come away unbeaten.