Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
9th October 1945hrs
Football – International – 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Pick Home Win HT/FT
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: Evens odds taken 1604 GMT, Friday 8 October
Switzerland take on Northern Ireland at the Stade de Geneve in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Saturday evening. UEFA Euro 2020 winners Italy are six points clear at the top and are fancied to win the group, but the race for second place is well and truly up for grabs as only three points separates the Swiss, Norn Iron and Bulgaria. This is a massive week for Northern Ireland, who travel to Geneva and Sofia. Check out the latest betting odds and predictions.
Table of Contents
Switzerland Preview – Will the Swiss strike back with a vital victory?
Switzerland are unbeaten after four qualifiers, winning two and drawing two. The Italians are six points above the Swiss, though Murat Yakin’s men have played two games fewer than the European champions.
In game one back in March, Switzerland cruised to a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in Sofia. The Swiss then edged past Lithuania to make it two wins out of two. However, they have drawn their subsequent two, drawing 0-0 with Italy at home and 0-0 with Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Switzerland will be desperate to make the most of their two games in hand on the Italians. The pair will lock horns in a mouth-watering game in Rome next month. Before then, however, the Swiss will be eyeing up maximum points for their October qualifiers.
Northern Ireland Preview – Can Norn Iron stretch unbeaten run?
Ian Baraclough’s Northern Ireland have given themselves a qualifying lifeline after taking five points from their last three qualifiers. Norn Iron started their campaign back in March with a 2-0 defeat to Italy in Parma. Northern Ireland drew 0-0 with the Bulgarians at Windsor Park on matchday two.
Baraclough’s boys had a successful September, starting with a much-needed 4-1 win over Lithuania in Vilnius. Daniel Ballard, Conor Washington, Shayne Lavery and Paddy McNair were the scorers at the LFF Stadium. Northern Ireland then held Switzerland to a goalless draw in Belfast.
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A positive result in Geneva on Saturday would keep them in the mix as we enter the latter stages of this qualifying campaign. However, defeat will be a disaster, as the Swiss would open up a six-point gap.
Switzerland vs Northern Ireland Betting Advice
Switzerland huffed and puffed at Windsor Park last month but could not break through Northern Ireland’s well-drilled defence. The Swiss had over 75% possession but only had three shots on target.
Three of the past four meetings have ended 0-0. In 2018 World Cup qualifying, before a goalless draw in Basel, Switzerland picked up a 1-0 win in the Northern Ireland capital thanks to a Ricardo Rodriguez penalty.
Key Facts – Switzerland vs Northern Ireland Betting Tip
- Switzerland are unbeaten in four qualifiers (two wins, two draws)
- Northern Ireland are undefeated in three in Group C, winning one and drawing two
- The Swiss have conceded just one goal in qualifying
Northern Ireland held firm to snatch a point in the meeting in Belfast a month back, but we fancy the Swiss to be too strong on home soil this Saturday. You can get evens for the home side to be winning at half time and full time.
Switzerland have shipped just one goal in Group C up until now. Put some money on Yakin’s troops to win to nil on Saturday at the decent price of 5/6.
The best betting odds for Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
Switzerland to win: 3/10 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at Bet365
Northern Ireland to win: 10/1 at Bet365
