Northern Ireland vs Belarus Betting Tips & Predictions

It’s been a fairytale two years for all those involved in Northern Ireland’s national football set up. They have ended their 30 year wait for a major international finals appearance and will play in their first ever European Championships in June.

They didn’t scrape through the qualifying campaign either. Northern Ireland won Group F of qualifying with a return of 21 points from ten matches. Albeit it was probably the easiest of the groups to be involved in, but it’s still incredible that they topped the group and are now the lowest seeded team to ever win a qualifying group.

Northern Ireland won’t have it easy in France though. They are in a group with Germany, Poland, and Ukraine and are strong favourites to finish bottom of the pile after the three matches. That won’t stop the minnows enjoying their time though, and now they will just want to keep their unbeaten streak going before their group opener against Poland.

They come into this game unbeaten in ten matches and with five wins to their name during this period. At home they have won five and drawn three of their last eight games.

Belarus were never really going to challenge for qualification into France, but they did manage back to back victories and a draw in their final three qualifying games as they beat Luxembourg and Slovakiaand then drew with Macedonia. They have since played out a double of goalless draws in friendlies.

The visitors are setting out to be difficult to beat, but they do struggle up front. They have only managed three goals in their five unbeaten matches and are goalless in each of their last three outings.

This lack of goalscoring threat could make it difficult for the visitors. Northern Ireland have only failed to score in one of their last ten home matches and their defence has kept four clean sheets in their last eight on home turf. Northern Ireland should be able to get the win on Friday, and I’m backing a home win at 21/20 along with a 2-0 correct score prediction at 15/2.