Things On The Up For Northern Ireland
There have been some positives for Northern Ireland in their games so far in 2024. The Green and White Army kicked off with an encouraging 1-1 draw against Romania in March before beating Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park. After that, they were brought back down to earth in a 5-1 loss against Spain, but they got back to winning ways by beating Andorra 2-0.
O’Neill Has The Know How
Michael O’Neill has done a terrific job for Northern Irish football over the last decade. At the Euros in 2016, he got into the knockout rounds and seems to know what it takes to get to the major tournaments. Unfortunately, Northern Ireland haven’t had the players in the last few years to challenge, but they’ve not had some up-and-coming young players for the future.
New Talent
O’Neill has been able to pick the likes of Connor Bradley and Shea Charles, who have a lot of potential. However, it just doesn’t stop there. They’ve got some useful experience with the likes of Johnny Evans and Paddy McNair, who can pass on their knowledge to the younger players.
Lacklustre Luxembourg
Meanwhile, Luxembourg had a good Nations League campaign last time around, and they nearly secured promotion to go up to the next tier. Despite their recent good show, their form has dipped in 2024, having lost three of their last four games.
A Psychological Edge
Coming into this game, Northern Ireland should be full of optimism, as they’ve got the better of Luxembourg in their last two meetings. The two teams last met in 2022, where Northern Ireland won 3-1. The only thing for Northern Ireland is that Jamal Lewis will be unavailable for this game as he is finalising his move to Brazilian club São Paulo.
Beware Of Record Breaking Rodrigues
Luxembourg will be able to field their strongest side. They can call on the likes of Leandro Barriero, Mathias Olsen, and Christopher Perriera, who form their midfield. Furthermore, their record goal scorer Gerson Rodrigues is available, and he is always a threat. He’s currently 11/4 to score anytime with Rhino.
Overall, I think Northern Ireland will get the job done in this game. They’ve built up some good positivity in 2024 which can carry them through. Therefore, the odds against at 11/8 is not to be sniffed at.
Northern Ireland v Luxembourg Selection
Northern Ireland To Win (11/8)
