Northern Ireland v Norway Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 Qualifiers 26th March – Kick Off 6.45pm
It has been a solid qualifying campaign from Northern Ireland so far in a bid to reach Russia 2018. The Irish have collected seven points from their four games and sit in second place in Group C behind runaway leaders Germany. So this is an important game on home soil for them against Norway because Azerbaijan are sat level on points with the Irish in a competitive race for second. Can the Irish make the most of the home advantage against a Norway side who have already lost three of their four qualification matches?
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Northern Ireland v Norway Betting Tips
This will be a big game for the Irish who are sat in second place in Group C behind Germany. No-one is likely to catch the Germans at the end of the day for the top spot, so that leaves a competitive battle for the second spot. Ireland hold that but only on goal difference at the moment over Azerbaijan. But this is where this could be a big weekend for Northern Ireland because Azerbaijan are likely going to lose against Germany. So that opens a big door for the Irish who have already beaten Azerbaijan and San Marino at home in the qualifying group. The Irish won both of those by a 4-0 scoreline. It would be a major surprise if they returned that scoreline again, but there is an appeal at 5/2 with Coral on Northern Ireland to win to nil. That is because the Irish have earned a clean sheet in three of their four qualification games so far. The Irish have posted a W2 D1 L1 record in the group, the loss coming out on the road in Germany. Kyle Lafferty is 11/5 favourite in the anytime goalscorer market and the Irish are now unbeaten in seven home qualifiers (W5 D2) so will be fancied in this one at Windsor Park.
Norway are in a bit of a mess at the moment surprisingly. They have lost their last four competitive away games and have suffered defeats out at Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic in the group. So they look a long way from trying to challenge from second place and the only joy that they have taken was in a 4-1 win over San Marino. The fact that they conceded in that though will be bothersome. Four of Norway’s five qualification goals so far came in that win over the minnows. Norway though do hold a W5 L2 head to head record against Northern Ireland but there have only been two competitive games between them, which was in the Euro 1976 qualifiers. In those meetings, both of them recorded respective home wins. Norway are in poor current form of W1 L5 in their last six played and even though they have scored at least two goals in each of their last five games against Northern Ireland, they are going to have a tough game on their hands on Sunday, as the Irish have won 8 of their last 11 home fixtures.
Northern Ireland v Norway Betting Odds
Northern Ireland 13/10, Draw 21/10, Norway 23/10
Northern Ireland v Norway Predictions
Northern Ireland home win: The Irish have to be some value in this one, just in the match outright. Norway are all over the place at the moment and that away defeat against Azerbaijan says a lot about where they are at. They are conceding goals and the Irish, even if it just by a 1-0 result at Coral, can land the victory in this one and boost their chances of claiming that second place.
