UEFA Nations League 2022/23 Predictions > Jun 1st - 14th

[StevieDay1983]

The 2022/23 UEFA Nations League kicks off at the start of June and we have a packed schedule to work through. Take a look at the odds for these games above and then give us your predictions for these matches below! 

[ALEXXXXXXXX]

Poland  @1.80

Over 2.25 @1.98

Analysis:

Poland

Poland have one of the best attackers in the league. The last time Poland played against Wales was in 2009 where both team could not score but Poland have a better team now and they have not lost an international game in nine matches including the World Cup.

 

Wales

Wales national team have scored in each of the last five international fixtures back to back. Wales did not manage to win a match in two of their last three matches played in all competitions, so it is quite possible that they will not win this match.

[StevieDay1983]

Poland vs Wales

The 2022/23 UEFA Nations League kicks off on Wednesday night with League A Group 4 action between Poland and Wales in a 5pm BST kick-off from the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw. I'm not going to lie, this is a very inconveniently maiden game at this level of this competition for the away game who have arguably their biggest game in 64 years this coming weekend.

Poland are gearing up for their 2022 World Cup campaign at the end of this year and they begin this Nations League edition with a game that could not have been easier for them. Head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz saw his team qualify for the showpiece tournament in Qatar via the play-offs after receiving a bye versus Russia in the semi-finals and then defeating Sweden 2-0 at home in the final. That result made it just 1 loss from the last 9 matches for the Eagles and the team have won 6 of those games. It is expected that Poland will field a strong line-up for this game wanting to begin their campaign on a positive note with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, and Piotr Zielinski all in line to play. The team have every reason to be confident having only lost 1 of their last 5 home matches.

Wales will certainly have most of their attention on the 2022 World Cup qualification play-off against Scotland or Ukraine on Sunday night. Interim head coach Robert Page has already stated it would be madness to risk key players in this game with that match on the horizon so we can assume he'll likely rest the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Joe Allen for this game. I would actually anticipate him to field a completely second string team meaning players such as Chris Gunter, Oliver Denham, Dylan Levitt, and Rubin Colwill potentially being given starts. The Dragons remain unbeaten in their last 9 matches with their recent form going under the radar. Page fielded a second string team for the most recent game which was a 1-1 draw with Czech Republic at home. This will certainly be a tougher test.

It is ominous for Wales that Poland are undefeated in the last 7 meetings between these two nations and have won 5 of those encounters. Wales have never earned a win away against Poland in their history. Both teams have scored in 5 of the last 6 matches Wales have been involved in so even if they don't look likely to win this one they still possess the attacking threat to cause Poland problems.

Poland to Win @ 1.73 with QuinnBet

Anytime Scorer: Robert Lewandowski @ 1.90 with Bet365

[harry_rag]

RP tip Bednarek 1st e/w at 40s, obviously a speculative one. Got a fiver freebie with the clock ticking to use it so gone for him anytime at 18/1.

[StevieDay1983]

Northern Ireland vs Greece

The UEFA Nations League action continues for this first round of games on Thursday night when Northern Ireland play Greece in this League C Group 2 encounter that is scheduled to kick-off at 7:45pm BST from Windsor Park in Belfast. These two have been drawn in a group with Cyprus and Kosovo with a potential qualification route to the 2024 European Championship up for grabs.

Northern Ireland have started to show signs of improvement under head coach Ian Baraclough. The stand out results over the past year or so have been 0-0 home draws against both Switzerland and Italy. The latter of those two results effectively costing the reigning European champions their spot at this winter's 2022 World Cup tournament. Unfortunately, consistency still evades the Green and White Army. It may well be just 1 loss from their last 4 games but that defeat was their most recent match and it was a 1-0 home defeat to Hungary. That loss was also a first defeat in 5 matches at home. The team are playing in League C in this edition of the Nations League after relegation from League B last time around so there is certainly an expectation on them to compete for top spot.

Greece were crowned European champions against all the odds 18 years ago but that memorable triumph will seem a lifetime ago. A familiar name in Gus Poyet is the national team head coach and there are glimpses that progress is being made. The team finished 3rd in their 2022 World Cup qualification group behind Spain and Sweden but they have only managed 1 win from their last 5 games. Form before this recent run had been impressive with just 1 loss from the previous 14 matches with noteworthy results against teams such as Belgium, Norway, and Sweden. This is definitely a Greek side that have a positive performance and result in them. It's also fascinating to see Sheffield United defender George Baldock is now a part of their squad. I didn't know that!

The fact only 2 goals have been scored across the last 5 home games played by Northern Ireland and Greece have seen less than 2.5 goals scored in each of their last 5 away matches suggests there's only one likely outcome here. A low-scoring game. I'm not sure either team is in the best of form right now and I don't think either would be overly disappointed in a draw to start their Nations League campaign.

Draw @ 3.05 with Unibet

Total Goals Scored Over 1.5 @ 1.71 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Armenia vs Republic of Ireland

The UEFA Nations League action continues on Saturday with the games getting under away with a relatively early kick-off between Armenia and Republic of Ireland in League B Group 1 in a 2pm BST start from the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan. These two teams also have Ukraine and Scotland in their group but with those two nations involved in the 2022 World Cup play-offs the winners of this game have a chance to get an early win and take a 3-point lead at the top of the table.

Armenia have done well to reach this league having finished top of their 2020/21 UEFA Nations League group in League C last time around which included North Macedonia, Georgia, and Estonia. Spaniard Joaquin Caparros is the man currently in charge of the national team but he'll be looking for a quick turnaround in results after his side lost their last game 9-0 away to Norway back in March. That defeat meant it is just 1 win from their last 11 matches. However, home form remains quite solid for a team of Armenia's ilk with the side only losing 2 of their last 9 home matches. Conceding goals does seem to be a big problem in recent games though with the Mountaineers conceding 18 goals in their last 4 games. They even kept a clean sheet in one of those matches!

Republic of Ireland face a tricky task by heading to Eastern Europe for this opening game of their Nations League campaign. The Boys in Green have started to show signs of improvement under head coach Stephen Kenny. There had been some dark times since the former Dundalk gaffer had been appointed but the patience of the FAI has been rewarded with the national team now undefeated in their last 8 matches including taking points against the likes of Belgium, Portugal, and Serbia. It was a strange 2022 World Cup qualification campaign for the Irish that saw them suffer some poor performances and results early on including losing at home to Luxembourg but there is certainly a more positive feeling amongst the fans now.

This might not be a classic game. The temperature is set to sore into the mid-30s (degrees Celsius!) and that will have a huge impact on proceedings with neither team having played much football in recent weeks. Both teams scoring hasn't happened in 4 of the last 5 Armenia matches and 9 of the previous 13 Republic of Ireland games. I'm expecting a similar story here and I'm swaying between a dour draw or a narrow away win. Given their recent form under Kenny, I think the Irish could grind out a win.

Republic of Ireland to Win @ 1.85 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.67 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Hungary vs England

The second UEFA Nations League game I'm going to preview for the Saturday matches is the 5pm BST kick-off between Hungary and England in League A Group 3 match from the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The other two nations drawn in this group are Italy and Germany so picking up a win in this match will be vital for both teams if they want to look to finish top of the group.

Hungary will be delighted to be competing in League A after finishing top of their 2020/21 UEFA Nations League group in League B which included Russia, Serbia, and Turkey. Head coach Marco Rossi continues to lead the national team well but the national organisation have come under fire for failing to deal with racism seriously. UEFA had ordered Hungary to play this game behind closed doors but the Hungarian Football Federation have taken advantage of a UEFA regulation that means children can go to a game accompanied by an adult so 30,000 will still be in attendance on Saturday. Which is a complete mickey take if we're being honest. Anyway, it's just 1 loss from the last 5 games for Hungary including holding England to a 1-1 draw away. They have only won 2 of their last 8 games at home though and have lost 3 of their last 5 home games without even scoring.

England come into this game looking for a bit of revenge. Not only had Hungary taken points off the Three Lions during the 2022 World Cup qualification home game but in the reverse fixture it was a game dogged by racism issues. Gareth Southgate's men are unbeaten over 90 minutes in their last 22 matches ever since a 2-0 loss away to Belgium back in November 2020. Harry Kane could be a worthy pick for anytime scorer with the Tottenham front man on 49 goals and only 4 goals behind Wayne Rooney's goal scoring record for the English national team. Given the fact that England have scored 20 goals across their last 4 matches it suggests that we could see goals here with the team brimming with confidence and attacking power.

It's perhaps unsurprising to read that Hungary have failed to beat England in their last 15 encounters. The last time Hungary sealed a victory over England was back in the 1962 World Cup and I think we can all agree that the Hungary team of that era was on a completely different level to this one. I fully expect Hungary to make life difficult for England in this game but I fear that ultimately their resistance will be broken and England should come out of this as solid winners.

England HT/FT @ 2.26 with SBK

England to Win to Nil @ 2.10 with Betfair

[StevieDay1983]

Cyprus vs Northern Ireland

It's another day and another UEFA Nations League fixture. All the attention may be on the 2022 World Cup qualification play-off between Wales and Ukraine but there's another big game on Sunday afternoon as Cyprus play Northern Ireland in their League C Group 2 game in a 5pm BST kick-off from the AEK Arena in Larnaca. Both teams suffered defeats in their opening group games so anything less than a win would leave them in trouble already.

Cyprus are a nation that continue to punch above their weight. Head coach Nikos Kostenoglou hasn't exactly overseen a golden era of the national team with the team losing 10 of their 15 matches since he took over back in February, 2021. The 2-0 loss at home to Kosovo last Thursday will have been a disappointing result to take off the back of Cyprus picking up back-to-back clean sheets in their relegation play-out tie with Estonia that saw them draw 0-0 away and winning 2-0 at home from the last edition of the Nations League that had been re-scheduled. The team's recent games have hardly been littered with goals with 5 of their last 7 home games witnessing less than 2.5 goals being scored.

Northern Ireland will be keen to bounce back from the frustrating 1-0 home defeat against Greece in their opening group game. The pressure has cranked up on head coach Ian Baraclough again with the Green and White Army now losing back-to-back games and making it 4 defeats in their last 6 matches. That means it is just 3 wins from the gaffer's 17 competitive matches in charge. It's also a concern that Northern Ireland haven't even managed to score in 3 of their last 4 games. Only 2 of the last 9 games that Northern Ireland have played in have seen over 2.5 goals scored. Away form is also an issue that plagues this national team with the squad only winning 1 of their previous 9 competitive away matches.

This should be a standard win for Northern Ireland but Cyprus can be a tricky place to come if a team isn't at their best. Estonia, Slovenia, and Luxembourg have all suffered defeat here over the past couple of years. Are Northern Ireland performing all that much better than any of those nations right now? I still don't think Baraclough is the right man for the Northern Irish team and so long as he's in charge they will continue to struggle. Given the shocks we've seen already this Nations League I think it's worth a punt on a Cyprus draw no bet. Feel free to opt for the shorter priced double chance if you're not feeling as pessimistic about Northern Ireland as I am!

Cyprus Draw No Bet @ 3.05 with Unibet

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.54 with Boylesports

 

[StevieDay1983]

Germany vs England

The UEFA Nations League window enters another day with another game to preview. This time it's a classic encounter between League A Group 3 rivals Germany and England in a 7:45pm BST kick-off from the Allianz Arena in Munich. This is the setting for the away team's historic 5-1 humbling of the hosts back in 2001 but that was over 20 years ago and a lot has changed since then.

Germany come into this game in fine form having gone unbeaten in 10 games under new head coach Hansi Flick since he took over the reigns from departing gaffer and serial finger-sniffer Joachim Low. It has been two 1-1 draws on the bounce though but they've come on the road against the tricky opponents of Netherlands and Italy so those aren't poor results. Both teams have also scored in 3 of the last 4 matches that Germany have been involved in. The team have also won 4 home matches in a row scoring 19 goals in the process. It's interesting to see Flick trying to bring through a number of younger players into a German squad that is packed with experience. The likes of Nico Schlotterbeck, Anton Stach, Jamal Musiala, and Karim Adeyemi could all become key players over the next few years.

England suffered a shock 1-0 loss away to Hungary in their opening Nations League game and it was a stark warning to Gareth Southgate's team that they can't afford to take any game for granted ahead of a World Cup where the pundits are already claiming they should steam roller a group containing USA, Iran, and Wales. The Three Lions now face the daunting double header of Germany away followed by Italy at home just 4 days later. Southgate is already managing expectations by claiming the team are treating these matches more like friendlies. So there is a chance that players such as Nick Pope, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Conor Gallagher, and Tammy Abraham could get game time here as Southgate works out what players fit into his system best. There will no doubt be pressure on England to remain in League A though and after losing to Hungary in their last game they know that they need to win a game sooner rather than later or risk dropping into League B.

I think the fact England have lost 3 of their last 4 Nations League matches sums up the attitude that the team has towards these games. Glorified friendlies and nothing more. A long tiring domestic season clearly caught up with the English players out in Hungary and this game won't be any easier. Germany have looked resilient and I can see both teams fielding severely altered sides but it seems like England could be on the wrong end of a poor result if they use this game to experiment.

Germany to Win @ 2.25 with Unibet

BTTS @ 1.85 with SBK

[888888]

i took Germany too , they had so many opportunities I can't believe those bums didn't manage to go 2-0 and that they then conceded that stupid penalty

[StevieDay1983]

14 hours ago, 888888 said:

i took Germany too , they had so many opportunities I can't believe those bums didn't manage to go 2-0 and that they then conceded that stupid penalty

Yeah, it really should've been done and dusted before the pen.

[StevieDay1983]

Scotland vs Armenia

It's a chance at redemption... well, partial redemption, for Scotland as they take on Armenia in a 7:45pm BST kick-off in the UEFA Nations League on Wednesday night from Hampden Park in Glasgow. It's now been a week since Ukraine broke Scottish hearts with the 3-1 play-off semi-final win at the same venue but can the home team hit back with a victory of their own in this League B Group 1 fixture?

Scotland will undoubtedly still be licking their wounds as their wait to reach a first World Cup since 1998 goes on. Head coach Steve Clarke will want his team to try and bounce back here with a win that could help lift them into League A and boost their 2024 European Championship play-off guarantee hopes. The Tartan Army are now without a win in their last 3 matches but before last week's loss to Ukraine had gone unbeaten in their previous 9 games. It's also interesting to see that 5 of the last 6 home wins Scotland have picked up have come with them keeping a clean sheet.

Armenia shocked a lot of people with their 1-0 home win over Republic of Ireland in their opening group game on the weekend. A single goal from Eduard Spertsyan with 16 minutes left was enough to put the Mountaineers top of the group for at least a little while. Head coach Joaquin Caparros knows that even a draw here will leave his team looking strong to at least stay in this league for the next edition of the competition which could also be key in helping them earn a play-off spot for the 2024 European Championship. Unfortunately, Armenia's away form isn't the best. The team have failed to win any of their last 7 away matches and have failed to even score in 4 of their previous 5 away games. Armenia have also now conceded 11 goals away from home since they last scored a goal on the road.

I think it's clear that Armenia enjoyed the benefits of home advantage and a suffocating climate to pick up the win versus Republic of Ireland in their first group game. They won't have such a beneficial scenario here. Scotland will be a wounded animal too so I'm expecting a big performance from them. As always, we can't expect a goal fest from this Clarke-led Scottish side but I'd be very surprised if they didn't grab a convincing win.

Scotland HT/FT @ 2.06 with SBK

Scotland to Win to Nil @ 1.95 with Boylesports

[StevieDay1983]

Republic of Ireland vs Ukraine

The Ukraine tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland goes on this week with Republic of Ireland hosting Ukraine in their next UEFA Nations League group game on Wednesday night at 7:45pm BST from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It's been a mixed bag for the travelling team who defeated Scotland but lost to Wales in the 2022 World Cup qualification play-offs. Can they hit back to winning ways against a host team looking to bounce back from a loss themselves?

Republic of Ireland suffered a demoralising 1-0 loss away to group minnows Armenia in their opening game of this edition of the Nations League. It's a gut punch to the leadership of head coach Stephen Kenny who had seen his team unbeaten in the previous 8 matches before that loss. The Boys in Green will now look to build on their impressive recent home form of 6 matches without defeat to get back to a winning way. Despite home form being decent right now, it's a surprise to read that Republic of Ireland are yet to even score a goal at home in the history of the Nations League so far.

Ukraine are in the midst of both a physical and psychological test. Head coach Oleksandr Petrakov is likely to make changes as his team plays a third game in the space of a week with a number of fixtures left to come over the next week or so. The Blue and Yellow may well be devastated after the 1-0 loss to Wales in the 2022 World Cup play-offs on Sunday but there's no time to dwell. The players can hit back immediately with a win here that would help them boost their hopes of earning promotion to League A and potentially guaranteeing a play-off spot for the 2024 European Championship if they do well in this competition. The defence is still a concern for Ukraine with the team failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 5 matches.

I've not come across such a tricky game to call as this one in such a long time. There are so many influencing factors that could sway the performances one way or another. I think we'll see both teams change personnel for this game and I think we'll see a number of fringe players out to prove a point. Ukraine struggled to break Wales down when Wales didn't get sucked into pressing the Ukrainian possession on Sunday. I have a feeling Republic of Ireland could do the same. Republic of Ireland just lack a potent scorer though so will their counter attacks bear any fruit? I'm going to have to sit on the fence and back a draw here.

Draw @ 3.17 with VBet

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.58 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Wales vs Netherlands

OK, I'm going to warn any non-Welsh punters now, don't expect a lot from Wales in this game against the Netherlands which is scheduled to take place at 7:45pm BST on Wednesday night from the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff for this UEFA Nations League game. Don't get me wrong, it's a privilege to see the nation compete in League A Group 4 of this competition but I'm fairly sure most of the fans and players are still necking pints at Elevens and Clwb Ifor Bach after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on Sunday.

Wales will be in a head spin right about now. The Dragons secured their spot at the World Cup later this year with a narrow 1-0 win over Ukraine on Sunday and it ended an absence of 64 years from the global showpiece tournament. Head coach Robert Page deserves all the credit in the world for leading the team to that success and it was nice to see the unsung heroes of Wayne Hennessey, Ben Davies, and Neco Williams earning the plaudits rather than the usual claims of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Joe Allen dragging us through. It's now 18 games at home without loss for the Welsh team. The team might've kept a clean sheet against Ukraine but they have conceded in 4 of their last 5 home matches.

Netherlands are looking a lot like their old selves under the experienced head of Louis Van Gaal. The Dutchman remains unbeaten in his 10 games in charge of the national team in what is his third stint in the top job of the Oranje. It's a run of results that saw them ease through qualification for the World Cup and he's also put together a squad that is a nice blend of youth and experience. Everyone knows the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, and Memphis Depay but the youngsters such as Jurrien Timber, Tyrell Malacia, and Noa Lang are also being given opportunities to impress. The Dutch eased to a 4-1 win away to Belgium in their opening group game so that will have sent a warning to Wales about what's to come. The attacking threat of Netherlands is clear when you see they have already scored 4 goals or more in 50% of the games Van Gaal has managed so far.

I have very dark memories of Wales games with Netherlands down the years. The stand out being a 7-1 loss away to the Clockwork Orange back on 9th November, 1996. We had Neville Southall in goal that day so the score-line probably could and should have been worse. We have lost each of the 8 meetings with Netherlands down the years. We have conceded 8 goals in the 3 home matches we have played them. I don't think they'll beat us by that many here but I would be pleasantly surprised if we got anything from this game. I'm not even sure we'll score despite the both teams to score stats favouring the outcome.

Netherlands HT/FT @ 2.34 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.92 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Kosovo vs Northern Ireland

It's League C that takes centre stage for our previews of the latest UEFA Nations League matches coming up with Kosovo hosting Northern Ireland in this Group 2 fixture at 7:45pm BST on Thursday night from the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina. The home team will be looking for a win to put the pressure on group leaders Greece against a visiting side who haven't even managed to score a goal in the competition yet.

Kosovo have experienced a mixed bag of results so far in the Nations League. Head coach Alain Giresse has seen his team win 2-0 away to Cyprus in their opening group game before losing 1-0 at home to Greece in their second match. The Dardanians have suffered just 1 defeat in their last 5 matches but home form hasn't been overly convincing as of late with the team losing 4 of their previous 5 home games including failing to even score in 3 of those matches. Less than 3.5 goals have been scored in 13 of the last 14 matches Kosovo have played in. If you're looking for an anytime scorer bet then striker Vedat Muriqi has bagged 18 goals in 40 caps for his nations already. An impressive record for a player of a "smaller" nation.

Northern Ireland will be keen to get their Nations League campaign kickstarted here. Head coach Ian Baraclough could find his position under severe pressure if they fail to win here with the team already losing 1-0 at home to Greece and then drawing 0-0 away to Cyprus. Defeat here would leave the Green and White Army potentially rock bottom of the group and facing a real threat of humiliation with relegation to League D. It's no win and not even any goals scored in the last 3 matches for Northern Ireland so something needs to change. The national team haven't won in 12 matches in the Nations League and that now means Baraclough himself has only seen the team win 3 of their 18 matches under his leadership. Fewer than 3.5 goals have been scored in 9 of the last 10 games the team have played.

I just feel it's a grim time to be a Northern Ireland supporter. It reminds me a lot of the state Wales were in during the late 1990s and early 2000s. You look at their pool of players and it's not great so how much of the problem is down to Baraclough and how much is on the Northern Irish Football Association? Kosovo aren't a very strong nation themselves having only been acknowledged by UEFA and FIFA in 2016 but their form is better than Northern Ireland's right now. I think a low-scoring draw seems likely but I wouldn't be surprised to see the home team sneak a win here.

Kosovo to Win @ 2.20 with Unibet

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.54 with Boylesports

[StevieDay1983]

Republic of Ireland vs Scotland

The pressure is all on Republic of Ireland in this UEFA Nations League clash with Scotland in League B Group 1 which is scheduled to kick-off at 5pm BST on Saturday afternoon from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Defeat would leave the Irish languishing at the foot of the group at the halfway stage having played two of their three home games but a win could propel them right back into the mix for promotion to League A.

Republic of Ireland don't appear to enjoy the Nations League much at all. Head coach Stephen Kenny knows his team have failed to win all of their 12 previous matches in this competition and they've lost back-to-back matches in this edition already after the embarrassing 1-0 loss away to Armenia was followed up by a 1-0 defeat at home to Ukraine. Those results leave the Boys in Green at the bottom of the group and staring at the possibility of relegation to League C if they don't pick up a win soon. These two defeats in a row have damaged the positive mood an 8-game unbeaten run had created around the team. The prospect of playing Ukraine away in Lodz in Poland on the weekend means things don't get any easier so an emphasis on winning this one can't be under-stated.

Scotland hit back in professional fashion after their 3-1 loss in the 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Ukraine at home with a 2-0 win at home against Armenia. Head coach Steve Clarke will have been delighted to see his team avoid suffering a hangover from World Cup elimination but it was also a game he would've expected his team to win. This is a completely different challenge on the road against a fellow home nation. The Tartan Army are now unbeaten in their last 4 away international matches and a win here would all but put them in a two-horse battle with Ukraine to take that top spot and earn promotion to League A. It is just 1 loss from their last 10 matches and they have kept 6 clean sheets during that run as well.

These games between the home nations are always tight affairs with pride and bragging rights over a rival nation at stake. You'd have to say that Scotland are better placed right now but Republic of Ireland were showing signs of progress before the last two games. The loss to Ukraine was Republic of Ireland's first home defeat in 8 games so they are a tricky side to face on their own patch. I can actually see these two teams playing out with a low-scoring draw as Nations League fatigue begins to set in.

Draw @ 3.10 with Boylesports

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.54 with Boylesports

[StevieDay1983]

England vs Italy

It's a massive game in League A of the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening at 7:45pm BST as we see a replay of the 2020 European Championship final when England host Italy at Molineux. It was the away side who prevailed victorious when the two nations met in the European showpiece event but neither side has been at their best recently so it'll be fascinating to see how this one plays out.

England find themselves in a rather precarious position in their Nations League group sat bottom with just 1 point from their opening two games so far. Gareth Southgate's men suffered a shock 1-0 loss away to Hungary in their opening game and were considered fortunate by many to grab a point away to Germany in a 1-1 draw thanks to a controversial late penalty. It's now 15 games unbeaten at home over 90 minutes for the Three Lions so they'll be quietly optimistic they can add more points to their tally here. There is still no denying England's ability to score goals with the national team hitting the net in 15 of their last 16 matches played. Striker Harry Kane could be a shout for anytime scorer. The Tottenham front man scored his 50th goal for his country against Germany and is now just three goals short of breaking Wayne Rooney's national team goal scoring record.

Italy haven't really been in the best of form since winning the 2020 European Championship. The Azzurri have only won 4 of their 12 matches played since their success last summer. That poor form has seen them miss out on qualification for the 2022 World Cup but they are top of their Nations League group after picking up a 1-1 draw at home to Germany and a 2-1 win at home versus Hungary. Head coach Roberto Mancini will be keen to see his team avoid defeat here to keep the critics from the door. The watertight defence that the Italians became renowned for down the years has vanished with the team conceding in 8 of their last 9 matches. Both teams have scored in 6 of the last 9 games that Italy have played so at least their matches are offering some entertainment value. Midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini could be an outside bet for anytime scorer with the Roma man scoring in back-to-back matches.

Both teams have scored in every one of the last five meetings between these two nations. The last three encounters have ended in 1-1 draws after 90 minutes of play with England having failed to beat Italy in any of the last four encounters. In fact, England have only managed to win 1 of the last 9 meetings. I'm not sure either team is near their best right now with both sets of players suffering from end of season fatigue. I think a draw swaying towards an England win could be the bet to back but it really depends on what line-ups both head coaches opt for. If England were a better price I'd be tempted but it's the draw for me.

Draw @ 3.65 with VBet

Anytime Scorer: Harry Kane @ 2.60 with Bet365

[StevieDay1983]

Wales vs Belgium

The final game from the UEFA Nations League previews on Saturday night is the 7:45pm BST kick-off between Wales and Belgium from the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff. It's a League A Group 4 encounter that the home side will be keen to take a point from having dropped points due to late goals conceded in both of their two group matches played so far. The away side will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins to keep the pressure on group leaders Netherlands.

Wales may well have secured qualification for the 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Ukraine last Sunday but the Dragons have been brought back down to earth with a bump thanks to this intense Nations League schedule. Head coach Robert Page saw his second string XI narrowly miss out on earning a result out in Poland in a 2-1 loss away before that Ukraine game and they then experienced late drama when Rhys Norrington-Davies saw his injury-time equaliser immediately cancelled out by Wout Weghorst's headed winner seconds later to gift Netherlands a 2-1 win at this venue in midweek. Page has admitted a number of first team players including both keepers of Wayne Hennessey and Danny Ward are injury doubts so we could see another threadbare Wales side again. It is just 1 win in the last 4 matches played for Wales but for three of those games they have fielded severely weakened teams.

Belgium continue to look like a team that could be there or there abouts in the final reckoning in Qatar but they also feel like a team that have a dodgy performance in them and can't quite get the job done when it matters. How much of that is down to head coach Roberto Martinez remains unknown but with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Romelu Lukaku in their squad they really should be looking to win this group. The absence of keeper Thibaut Courtois can be blamed to a degree on their 4-1 loss at home to Netherlands in the Low Countries derby that kickstarted the action in this group but the team hit back resoundingly with their 6-1 hammering of Poland at home. It is 29 wins from the last 39 matches for Belgium so they should be confident coming into this game but they have struggled to beat Wales here down the years.

Both teams have scored in 7 of the last 9 Wales matches and 7 of the previous 8 Belgium games. Both teams have also scored in each of the last three encounters between the two sides. Everyone will obviously remember the epic 3-1 win for Wales over Belgium at the 2016 European Championship but the Welsh have become a bit of a bogey team for Belgium down recent years with Wales only losing 1 of the last 6 meetings. Wales are also unbeaten in their last three home games against Belgium. Unfortunately, I think that could change here with Wales set to play a mix and match line-up again. The absence of both Hennessey and Ward will also be huge. I can see Belgium winning this one.

Belgium to Win @ 1.90 with SBK

BTTS @ 1.85 with VBet

[StevieDay1983]

Northern Ireland vs Cyprus

Apologies for the late preview for the Northern Ireland versus Cyprus game that's set to kick-off at 2pm BST on Sunday afternoon from Windsor Park in Belfast in the UEFA Nations League. I have tested positive for covid so I've been a little slow with the movement today! Could we see Ian Baraclough's last game in charge of the Northern Irish national football team here? Or is this the beginning of a turnaround in fortunes?

Northern Ireland enter this game knowing that small margins could make the difference between the good and bad for this national team. The Green and White Army are in 3rd place in their League C Group 2 and only avoiding the bottom spot due to a superior goal difference to their opponents for this game. The team are 5 points adrift of 2nd placed Kosovo so a win would go a long way to helping the team claw their way back into contention for a potential 2024 European Championship play-off spot. However, a loss would see them facing relegation to League D heading into their last two games. Less than 2.5 goals have been scored in 9 of the last 10 home matches for Northern Ireland in regulation time. So whatever happens here, don't expect a thriller.

Cyprus come into this match with an opportunity to go 3 points ahead of their opponents with 2 group games to play which would really boost the team morale heading into the next window of matches if they can avoid relegation to League D. Head coach Nikos Kostenoglou has seen his team win just 1 of their last 14 matches so confidence isn't exactly brimming in the Cypriot camp right now. Scoring goals away from home has been a particular issue for the Cyprus team with the side only managing to score 1 goal across their last 10 away matches. They have also lost 13 of their last 14 away games conceding 36 goals during that spell. Problems at both ends of the pitch on their travels means that they really do have a curse to break on the road.

This is a massive opportunity for Northern Ireland to get back to winning ways and give their survival hopes in League C a boost. It'll be an emotionally charged game with Northern Ireland set to pay tribute to former national team manager Billy Bingham who led Northern Ireland to the 1982 and 1986 World Cup tournaments after he sadly passed away. Cyprus possess one of the worst away records in international football right now so you have to say if Baraclough doesn't lead his team to a solid win here then his days are numbered. I think they'll do it but Baraclough is a dead man walking.

Northern Ireland HT/FT @ 2.52 with SBK

Northern Ireland to Win to Nil @ 2.15 with BetVictor

[StevieDay1983]

Armenia vs Scotland

The UEFA Nations League actions enters its final round for this window in what has been an intense schedule. Armenia play Scotland in a 5pm BST kick-off on Tuesday night from the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan. It already looks like this could have a big say in which team stays in League B and which one faces relegation to League C. Who will come out on top here?

Armenia pulled off a shock result with their 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland at home back in the opening game. Head coach Joaquin Caparros will be hoping his team can repeat that feat against Scotland here. Especially after Scotland suffered a demoralising 3-0 loss away to Republic of Ireland on the weekend. The Mountaineers are currently bottom of the group but only by virtue of an inferior goal difference following their back-to-back defeats to Scotland and Ukraine in their previous two group games. It's now 3 losses from their last 4 matches with just 1 goal scored during that period. However, Armenia have won their last two home matches both by 1-0 scores against Montenegro and Republic of Ireland. It's set to be another sweltering day in Yerevan so the conditions are almost identical to the Irish game.

Scotland fans probably don't know whether to laugh or cry at the moment. Failure to reach the 2022 World Cup has been compounded with the national team losing 3-0 away to Republic of Ireland in Dublin on the weekend. Head coach Steve Clarke will be glad his team managed to fit in a business-like 2-0 victory at home to Armenia in between those two disappointments otherwise he'd be panicking about his men suffering from a World Cup play-off hangover. The loss to Republic of Ireland will have hurt Clarke because it was a first away defeat in 5 matches for Scotland. It also bucked a low-scoring trend with under 2.5 goals being scored in 4 of their last 6 away games. You have to wonder what physical and emotional toll the past two weeks have had on these players as they travel to Eastern Europe for this game.

I am concerned for Scotland here. Armenia have shown they are no mugs at home and Scotland have been through the wringer both physically and mentally. This long distance trip is undoubtedly the last thing these bruised and battered players will have wanted after the losses to Ukraine and Republic of Ireland. How does Clarke pick his fatigued players up for this challenge? I think there's a distinct chance Armenia could get something here.

Armenia Double Chance @ 2.50 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.75 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

England vs Hungary

The wide open battle that is League A Group 3 in the UEFA Nations League is the focus of our attention for this next preview as bottom-placed England look to claw their way back into finals qualification contention as they host group underdogs Hungary in a 7:45pm BST kick-off at Molineux on Tuesday night. The difference between winning and losing here could end up also being the difference between staying in the top league for the next edition of this competition or not.

England will have hoped that this competition could have gone slightly better for them with Gareth Southgate's men still without a win in their 3 group matches. The opening game 1-0 loss away to Hungary has been followed up by two bore draws against Germany away and then Italy at home. Any question marks over the performance levels of the Three Lions back-line might well have been answered with two clean sheets during that period but Southgate is still fending off his critics who are claiming his tactics are too conservative given the attacking talent England possess. This is clear to see with the team scoring just 1 goal during those games. It's a strange turn in approach by Southgate who had seen his team free-scoring during 2022 World Cup qualification.

Hungary are aiming to earn a shock double over England after beating them on home soil at the start of this group. Head coach Marco Rossi has also seen his team lose 2-1 away to Italy but then hold Germany to a 1-1 draw at home. So, yes, Hungary remain a tricky opponent in their own back yard but they are still struggling to get the positive results on their travels. Hungary have only conceded 3 goals in their 3 group games so far as well so this should be a tightly-contested affair. Rossi has made them a very tough team to beat with their last 4 defeats coming by just a single goal. If they were to somehow win this then they could potentially move top of the group. That being said, if they lose here and Germany also beat Italy then they will sink to the foot of the table. It's that finely balanced in this group.

I'm expecting this to be a slow-paced game with both teams feeling the impact of this gruelling international schedule. England have looked far from their best in these Nations League games so far with end of season fatigue clearly an issue. Hungary are giving it their all but when you look at the opponents they have faced and the travel they have done you have to wonder how much more they have left in the tank? I can see a narrow England win but I'm not expecting this to be pretty.

England to Win & Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 3.15 with Betfair

England to Win to Nil @ 1.85 with BetVictor

[StevieDay1983]

Netherlands vs Wales

It could be a disappointing end to the UEFA Nations League window for one of these teams as Netherlands and Wales go toe-to-toe in this 7:45pm BST kick-off on Tuesday evening from the Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam in League A Group 4. The home team could take a big step towards sealing their place in the finals with a victory as they take on a fatigued away team who have an injury crisis all over the pitch.

Netherlands are looking like a class act under Louis Van Gaal and building some nice momentum heading into the winter World Cup. The Oranje are now unbeaten in 12 matches and top their group with 7 points from their 3 games played so far. A convincing 4-1 win away to Belgium was followed up with a dramatic 2-1 victory away to Wales before a comeback from two goals down earned them a 2-2 draw at home to Poland. Netherlands have scored at least two goals in 7 of their last 8 matches showing the attacking threat this squad boasts. They are also unbeaten in their last 7 home games with 5 wins coming in that run. However, the Dutch have only managed to keep one clean sheet in their last 7 matches and defending set pieces is becoming a clear fragility.

Wales will still be riding high on the back of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup but head coach Robert Page knows there are some serious issues facing his team heading into this crunch encounter. A loss could leave the Welsh potentially at least 4 points adrift at the bottom of the group with 2 games to play meaning that a return to League B is already looking likely. It was always going to be a big ask for this group of players to do the business against Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland in this window with the World Cup play-off being such a priority. The Dragons have suffered 2 losses and a draw in their 3 games so far but arguably deserved more from all three games. That's the brutal reality of this level though. Minor errors get ruthlessly punished and it's been a steep learning curve. Page is anticipating potentially being without half a dozen first team starters with a number of key players such as Kieffer Moore, Gareth Bale, and Joe Allen set to either have no or little involvement.

It's a depressing statistic that Netherlands have won each of their 9 matches against Wales played at international level and the Welsh have only managed to score one goal in 5 visits to the lowlands country down the years. Even that was in a 7-1 loss! I fear this will be a game where the past fortnight catches up with Wales. There's no doubt that the players selected with give everything but a combination of lacking our best quality and suffering from emotional and physical fatigue will see us fall to a 2-3 goal loss.

Netherlands HT/FT @ 2.30 with SpreadEx

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.87 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Ukraine vs Republic of Ireland

The final preview for this window of the UEFA Nations League is the clash between Ukraine and Republic of Ireland in League B Group 1. The game will kick-off at 7:45pm BST on Tuesday night from the Stadion Miejski LKS in Lodz. The game has understandably been moved to Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine in what will undoubtedly be another emotionally-charged affair.

Ukraine are responding to their failure to reach the 2022 World Cup in the best way possible by destroying all opponents in front of them since. Head coach Oleksandr Petrakov has seen his team hit back from the 1-0 loss away to Wales with back-to-back clean sheet wins away to Republic of Ireland and at "home" to Armenia. It's not surprising from what I saw of Ukraine against Wales. They are clearly a well-oiled machine who are very unfortunate to not be competing at the winter show piece event in Qatar. It's now just 1 loss from the last 14 matches for Ukraine and a win here would keep them at least 3 points clear at the top of the table and looking in a great place to go on and seal promotion to League A.

Republic of Ireland come into this game off the back of a 3-0 drubbing of Scotland at home. That win has boosted morale with Stephen Kenny's camp and given the Boys in Green their first ever victory in the Nations League. Unfortunately, big question marks still remain over Irish away form under Kenny. Yes, they have picked up a couple of away victories recently but the only away wins they have managed over the last 4 years have come against nations listed outside the top 90 places in the FIFA world rankings. Republic of Ireland did also lose 1-0 at home to Ukraine just last week so it's going to be a tall order to expect them to reverse that outcome on their travels after such a torrid schedule.

I'm afraid to say that I think the high and celebrations of Saturday's resounding 3-0 win over Scotland will be short-lived for Republic of Ireland here. Ukraine look the far better side and given Ireland haven't really done enough against decent sides on the road under Kenny I'm not swaying towards that form changing. I can see Ukraine sealing another solid victory again here.

Ukraine to Win @ 1.92 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.66 with SBK