Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match
Ireland
Ireland performed well in the 2022/23 Nations League but were out of contention for Euro 2024 long before the qualifiers ended. Competing against future European Championship semi-finalists France and the Netherlands was tough, and they also lost both matches to Greece, who finished third. In June, Ireland tested themselves against Hungary (2:1) and Portugal (0:3). However, that’s all in the past as the team now has a new head coach, 57-year-old Icelander Heimir Hallgrímsson, the mastermind behind Iceland’s Euro 2016 miracle. He knows how to beat England with limited resources.
England
England were left disappointed not only by their Euro final defeat to Spain (1:2) but also by their elimination from League A in the last Nations League campaign. The burden weighing down the English seems to have been lifted (has it?) after parting ways with Gareth Southgate following an eight-year tenure. On August 9, Lee Carsley was appointed as interim head coach, having previously led the youth team. Unlike the senior team, his youth squad defeated Spain (1:0) in the 2023 Euro U-21 final. Naturally, the new coach has called up several players from the U-21 team: Valentino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, and Noni Madueke.
Ireland - England Prediction
In a relatively recent match in 2020, England thrashed Ireland (3:0). Despite the official status of the tournament, the result does not weigh as heavily on the English team now, so we might see more than just a defensive game. The Irish will also try not to sit back, as they need to impress their new coach.
