Northern Ireland vs San Marino Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Northern Ireland returned from France as heroes in the summer. They had defied the odds to even get to Euro 2016, topping their group ahead of Romania, Hungary, Finland, Faroe Islands, and Greece. A run of good friendly results meant that they went into the tournament in the best form of any of the teams there.

A narrow 1-0 defeat to Poland in their opening group game ended a magnificent 12 match unbeaten streak, but a 2-0 win against Ukraine gave them hope. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany rounded off the group stages and saw Northern Ireland qualify as one of the best 3rd placed sides, setting up a knockout match with fellow home nation Wales. They didn’t have enough to fend off Wales though, losing 1-0 and being sent home.

This is still by far their most successful period ever, and they followed their excellent summer spell with a hard fought goalless draw at Czech Republic in the first of their World Cup qualifiers. This could prove a crucial result in 18 months when qualification comes to an end, as Czech Republic are favourites for the runners up spot.

Germany are all but guaranteed the top spot and automatic qualification, but Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, and Norway will all be hoping they can claim 2nd place in a fairly open group. A point away in that match could make the difference if Northern Ireland can win at home.

San Marino are a team that everyone else relishes playing. They’re the 3rd worst team in the competition according to FIFA rankings, and their last three qualification campaigns have seen them collect a total of one point in 30 matches. Last time out they scored one goal and conceded 36 in their ten matches, which is at least an improvement on their one goal scored and 54 conceded from their previous campaign.

San Marino kicked their World Cup qualifiers off with a rather respectable 1-0 defeat at home to Azerbaijan. However, their previous match was a 10-0 hammering at Croatia, and they are without a win in 14 matches and have lost 12 of them. That victory came in a hybrid friendly against Bellaria Igea as well, whilst their draws have come against San Marino Calcio and Estonia. They have never won a competitive match.

San Marino have conceded 48 goals in their last 13 matches, and away from home things are even worse. They have lost 35 matches in a row away from home and haven’t picked up a competitive point on the road since a 2004 draw with Latvia. They have conceded 49 goals in their last ten away days.

This is more a case of how many will Northern Ireland win by. 19 of San Marino’s last 24 away matches have seen them lose by at least a four goal margin, and whilst Northern Ireland aren’t the best side going forward, they shouldn’t have any difficulties breaking them down. I think odds of 8/11 for a Northern Ireland -3 Handicap Win are good value for money, and that’s what I’m backing along with a 5-0 correct score prediction at 11/2.