Ireland-Armenia is the sixth Nations League match of the season on Tuesday at 20:45.
While the last 90 minutes of League B Group 1 will see a thrilling duel for top spot and promotion between Scotland and Ukraine – the match to be played on the neutral pitch in Krakow, Poland, will be decisive – the fight to avoid relegation to League C is also expected to be exciting, with no verdict yet given. Ireland 4 points, Armenia 3: At the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Stephen Kenny’s selection have two out of three results at their disposal to be sure of playing in the lower division in the next Nations League. The Irish failed to pull off another feat in the derby against their Scottish cousins, whom they had surprisingly overwhelmed in the first leg. In Glasgow on Saturday, The Boys in Green were brought down by Steve Clarke’s men despite taking the lead after just 18 minutes through Sheffield United defender John Egan.
Just two positive results were recorded by Ireland: apart from their home success against Scotland, they drew 1-1 with Ukraine. Now they will have to take revenge on Armenia, who scored the only points against them in June. In Yerevan, Spertsyan’s goal a quarter of an hour from the end was decisive. From that moment on, it was dark night for the Caucasians, always defeated in the next four matches. Nightmarish numbers for the selection led by the Spaniard Joaquin Caparros, who since the success against Ireland has conceded a total of 14 goals, scoring only one.
Voskanyan in the match against Ukraine
The Prediction
Ireland should be able to take advantage of Armenia’s crisis to bring home three crucial points. Three points that would mean permanence in the Second Division. At home, by the way, O’Shea and his teammates always have the edge. Their victory is probable: the Armenian defence does not offer the right guarantees at the moment and it would not be a surprise if the Irish scored at least two goals in this direct clash to avoid relegation.
The Ireland-Armenia line-up probables
- IRLAND (3-5-2): Bazunu; Collins, Egan, O’Shea; Doherty, Browne, Molumby, Knight, McClean; Parrott, Obafemi.
- ARMENIA (4-4-2): Yurchenko; Hambardzumyan, Mkoyan, Calisir, Hovhannisyan; Barseghyan, Dashyan, Grigoryan, Bayramyan; Bichakhchyan, Zelarayan.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
