Czechia vs Republic of Ireland Predictions

• The Republic of Ireland have won their last three games
• The Irish generated 6.2 xG across those three matches, with Troy Parrott scoring five times
• However, the visitors have conceded in 15 of their last 19 internationals
• Czechia scored 18 goals in their qualifying pool, while they netted in nine of their 10 games last year

Repeat performance from Parrott

The Republic of Ireland’s World Cup hopes looked remote after taking only one point from their first three qualifiers last year. However, an incredible turnaround saw them close the qualifying campaign with three victories, including an incredible 3-2 victory in Hungary in November’s group finale.

The Irish turnaround was due to improved play in the final third, as they generated 6.2 Expected Goals across those three victories, netting six times. Troy Parrott scored all five Irish goals in the November break, and the AZ Alkmaar man now has 29 strikes for club and country this term. He’s scored four goals in his last three games for the Dutch side, and he can benefit from Ireland’s improved chance creation.

However, the Irish conceded in each of their four competitive away trips in 2025. The visitors have kept only four clean sheets across their last 19 internationals, with three of those shutouts coming at home, and the other in a visit to Luxembourg.

Czechia finished second behind Croatia in Group L, scoring 18 goals from 19.2 xG across eight matches. They scored in nine of their 10 internationals in 2025, and that’s a record they can continue against this Irish defence.

However, the hosts’ clean sheets against San Marino and Gibraltar in November are nothing like the task which faces them on Thursday, as long as the Irish continue to look sharp in the final third. Both sides look capable of getting on the scoresheet, while Ireland’s win in a de facto playoff for second at Hungary suggests they can progress in Prague.