The post-Southgate era begins this weekend as England faces Ireland. Interim manager Lee Carsley will lead the team until a permanent replacement is found. Can he secure a win for the Three Lions? Our Ireland vs England predictions guide previews this contest.
England dropped to the second division of the Nations League after poor performances during the previous Nations League, while Ireland is happy to test their forces on the new level.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | UEFA Nations League 2024-25, League A, Group B2, Matchday 1 |
| ⚽️ Venue: | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |
| 🗓️ Date: | 7 September 2024 |
| ⏰ Time: | 16:00 GMT on Saturday |
Popular betting sites for soccer have offered Ireland odds of 6.50 (11/2) to secure a home win. The Three Lions have odds of 1.50 (1/2) for a victory. Ireland vs England odds for a draw are offered at 4.20 (13/4).
England defeated The Green Army 3:0 in their last encounter. Before that game, their last four fixtures ended in stalemates as Ireland has a special mood when coming on the pitch against their historic rivals.
| Group B2 Teams | Standings | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Finland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greece | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The top team in this group will be promoted to League A for the 2026/27 season. The second-place team will play two games against a third-place team from League A. The winner will join League A for 2026/27, while the loser will remain in League B. The third-place team will play against a runner-up from League C. The winner will join League B for 2026/27, while the loser will be relegated to League C. The fourth-place team in the group will be directly relegated to League C.
A new era begins for Ireland as Heimar Hallgrimsson will take charge of his first match with Ireland. Before him, John O’Shea briefly managed the team with mixed results: one win, one draw, and two losses.
Their only win under O’Shea came against Hungary, but they suffered defeats to Switzerland and Portugal. The Green Army couldn’t qualify for the last Euro 2024 after winning just two of their eight qualifying matches. They will now aim for a stronger showing in the Nations League.
Ireland is without injured Gavin Bazunu and Josh Cullen, while Evan Ferguson’s fitness remains uncertain. Leicester’s Kasey McAteer is set for a debut.
All eyes are on England as they enter the post-Gareth Southgate era, hoping for a fresh start. Southgate led England to two European Championship finals, losing to Italy in 2021 and Spain this summer.
Interim manager Lee Carsley, a former Ireland international, will lead England in two UEFA Nations League matches in September. Carsley, who previously guided England’s U21s to European Championship success, will aim for positive results in these games to extend his stay with the Three Lions.
Due to injuries, England will miss Bellingham, Shaw, and James. Palmer, Watkins, and Foden have withdrawn from the squad.
Here are our Ireland vs England betting predictions:
3 (100%)
0
As both teams embark on new eras under new managers, this match is expected to be tightly contested. Nine of the 17 meetings between these teams have ended in draws. England’s 3-0 win in 2020 ended a streak of six consecutive stalemates. Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has a strong record against the Three Lions. He is known for leading Iceland to a shock win over England at Euro 2016. Given their past head-to-head, England winning by a two-goal margin seems highly unlikely. The best bookies in England have offered this option at odds of 1.72 (3/4).
1 (33%)
(67%) 2
Historically, both teams are known for low-scoring games. Thirteen of their 17 encounters featured fewer than three goals, including seven 1-1 draws. Also, four of Iceland’s last six games have seen fewer than three goals. Additionally, England’s Euro 2024 group-stage matches never saw more than two goals scored. Based on these trends, we anticipate this match to follow suit, with likely under 2.5 goals.
3 (100%)
0
Harry Kane has 66 goals for the Three Lions following his strike against the Netherlands at Euro 2024. Kane was the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season, scoring 36 goals in his debut season for Bayern. His technique and sharpness in the box will be a serious cause of concern for Ireland’s defense. Given his prolific nature, we expect Kane to score in this encounter.
Here are our Ireland vs England betting picks:
Based on their previous meetings, we expect a draw or a narrow victory for England. Use our Ireland vs England betting tips to stake on any betting sites in Ireland.
