Northern Ireland vs Hungary — Tips & Analysis

Northern Ireland +0: Windsor Park is the whole case here. Northern Ireland have won 4 of their last 5 at home and let in only one goal across those five games. That is a hard night out for any visiting side, and Hungary are not arriving in good shape. They have won just 3 of their last 14 games and let in more than a goal a game. They also lost 1-0 at home to Ukraine in their opener. Now they come to Belfast without Barnabás Varga to lead the line, and Damir Redžić has left the squad with an ankle injury. That hurts, because Hungary barely score as it is, at about a goal a game. Northern Ireland know exactly how to play this. They sit deep, win the loose balls and look for a set piece or a late break, which is how they took the points in Georgia. Their games are low scoring, with 9 of their last 13 finishing on 2 goals or fewer. A 1-0 home win is the likeliest finish, and that is enough for us. The doubts are fair. Northern Ireland lose centre back Dan Ballard to a hamstring injury, so a changed back line has to hold up. Hungary also won the only recent meeting between these two. But the home record is too strong to ignore, and we are with Northern Ireland.