Giovanni Trapattoni may be stuck in his ways but the Irish have arrived at their first major competition since 2002 thanks in the main to his steely system. Expect them to dig their heels in to resist the likes of Spain and Italy, but some pundits may have gone too far in backing them to emerge from the group.
Trends
- 10 of Ireland’s last 12 internationals have produced Under 2.5 goals
- In their last 10 games, the Irish have only scored more than once vs Estonia, Armenia and Andorra
- In the 2002 World Cup, 3 of Ireland’s 4 games finished 1-1
Club Comparison
Stoke City: Physical in the challenge, prone to direct tactics and hard to break down, Ireland have vociferous support but probably won’t offer much entertainment value!
Any Other Business
After being overrun in midfield in their last pre-tournament friendly Trappattoni hinted he might consider changing the system, which would be a shocking development that could yet render many a stat useless! One to watch.
Best Bet
Exactly two points from the group stage, as they earn a pair of draws against Croatia and Italy. Under 3 points available at 8/11 with BetVictor or Exactly 2-3 points on offer with Bet365 at 2/1.
