On Saturday evening, Belarus and Northern Ireland will meet in a UEFA Nations League clash at ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they aim for a top-two finish in League C, Group 3, with only a point separating them in the standings. The match will be held behind closed doors due to UEFA restrictions.
Match Preview
Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s side started their Nations League campaign on a positive note with a 2-0 victory over Luxembourg, courtesy of early goals from Paddy McNair and Dan Ballard. However, they faced a setback with a 1-0 loss to Bulgaria shortly after, putting a halt to what had been a promising run. Northern Ireland has shown signs of improvement after a disappointing 2023, which saw them win just three out of ten fixtures.
Despite the mixed results, they remain in contention for a top-two finish, trailing joint-leaders Belarus and Bulgaria by just one point. Improving upon last season’s performance, where they finished third in their group, is crucial for O’Neill, as a higher finish would secure a promotion playoff.
Belarus: The White Wings have a chance to secure a significant result against Northern Ireland after previously losing all three encounters between the two teams. Under the guidance of Spanish head coach Carlos Alos, Belarus has started the current Nations League campaign on a positive note, picking up four points without conceding a goal. They managed a goalless draw against Bulgaria before defeating Luxembourg 1-0 thanks to a goal from substitute Valeri Gromyko.
Belarus’s focus this season is to improve upon their dismal performance in the last Nations League, where they failed to secure a single victory. Currently positioned at the top of the group, they are keen to maintain momentum and move closer to securing promotion.
Team News
Northern Ireland: The hosts will be without key goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell due to injury, with Christy Pym called up as cover. Dan Ballard is also sidelined, and veteran Jonny Evans has retired from international duty. However, O’Neill has bolstered his attacking options with the return of Jamie Reid after a health issue. Josh Magennis is the most experienced forward available, but he is yet to find the back of the net this season.
Belarus: Head coach Carlos Alos has called up several players from Dinamo Minsk, including goalkeeper Fyodor Lapoukhov, who is expected to start. The front line will likely feature Dmitri Antilevski and Yevgeni Shikavka, although Ivan Bakhar is out due to injury. Veteran defender Alyaksandr Martynovich will anchor the backline in a three-man defense.
Predicted Lineups
Belarus (3-5-2):
- Lapoukhov; Volkov, Martynovich, Zabelin; Karpovich, Yablonsky, Ebong, Pyachenin; Gromyko, Shikavka, Antilevski
Northern Ireland (4-2-3-1):
- Southwood; Hume, McNair, Toal, Brown, Lewis; Bradley, Saville, S. Charles, Price; D. Charles
Prediction
Given the struggle of Northern Ireland to score goals and Belarus’s solid defensive record thus far in the tournament, a goalless draw could be on the cards. While neither side would be entirely satisfied with a point, it would keep both teams in contention for promotion.
Predicted Score: Belarus 0-0 Northern Ireland.
