Adrian Mills’ tips for Ireland’s second Nations League game of the international break include a win for Greece after their victory over England.
Greece claimed a stunning win against England at Wembley on Thursday night to shoot clear at the top of Nations League B Group 2 and will be expecting to make it four wins in a row against Republic of Ireland in Piraeus on Sunday.
Greece have been reborn under new coach Ivan Jovanovic and their superb 2-1 defeat of England has put them firmly in the box seat for promotion to League A.
They certainly know how to plot a path past the Irish, having deservedly beaten Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side 2-0 in Dublin just last month.
But the Irish are travelling in confidence after their own thoroughly deserved 2-1 win in Finland on Thursday breathed life into their campaign.
Best bets
Greece win & Over 1.5 Goals
7/5
Anastasios Bakasetas anytime scorer
13/5
Under 8.5 Corners @ 10/11
Confident hosts should claim routine victory
The infrequency of international fixtures means it’s hard to build up much head-to-head steam, yet Greece have certainly got the measure of the Republic of Ireland.
These countries have met three times in the last 16 months, twice in qualifying for Euro 2024 and again last month in the Nations League and the Greeks have won all three times.
Indeed, three-game winning streaks seem to be en vogue with Greece because that is exactly the run new coach Jovanovic is enjoying since he was appointed in August.
Those three wins, all in this competition, mean Greece top the League B Group 2 table and the most recent of those – in England on Thursday – means they should have a real swagger about them when they set foot on the pitch in Piraeus at the weekend.
All of Greece’s last 13 victories over the past two years have been by more than 1-0 scorelines and they went shot for shot with England at Wembley, which is no mean feat.
Greece to win at 3/4 looks obvious; Greece to win and Over 1.5 Goals at 7/5 is riskier for bigger returns, but well worth the chance.
Bakasetas to add goal to his armory
Anastasios Bakasetas led by example at Wembley with an inspirational display in Greece’s win over an abject England.
The Panathinaikos playmaker did everything but score, firing off three shots against a much-vaunted defence.
Bakasetas has found the net a couple of times for Pana in Europe this term and is the highest scorer of any member of this squad with 15 goals to his name. He can add a 16th against Ireland.
Corner a profit by going low
England aside, none of the teams in Nations League B Group 2 are chalking up many corners, and another tense affair should ensure another low count.
Greece have amassed 13 corners at 4.3 per game, Ireland just five at 1.6 per game.
Under 8.5 corners might seem on the low side, certainly compared to a Premier League norm, but the evidence is compelling.
Visit Betway’s football betting page.
