Northern Ireland vs Belarus Preview: Team News & Prediction

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It is a hotly contested battle for promotion from League C and this is a huge contest to up to League B as Belarus take on Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast. 

Kick-off date/time: Friday 15th November, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – FOX Sports

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms

Northern Ireland Preview: CONTINUING THE IMPROVEMENT

Since the re-appointment of former Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill, Northern Ireland have been much-improved and they are hunting promotion to League B after a strong start to the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign.

The Green and White Army come into this one on the back of an impressive 5-0 demolition of Bulgaria in their most recent outing last month thanks to an own goal from Dimitar Mitov and Josh Magennis as well as a hat-trick from Isaac Price. 

Belarus Preview: BELARUSIAN FRUSTRATIONS

Coached by Carlos Alos, the Belarusian national football team are currently ranked 97th in the world according to FIFA. ‘The White Wings’ have overperformed expectations to be in a promotion push from League C of the UEFA Nations League.

The eastern Europeans have won one and drawn three of their opening four matches of this season so far. They come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw against Luxembourg at the neutral venue of the ZTE Arena in Hungary. 

Northern Ireland Team News: FRESH

Only Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard remains out for Northern Ireland ahead of this week with Michael O’Neill allowed to name a strong side for this one.

PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Pierce; Hume, McNair, Brown; Bradley, Price, S. Charles, Saville, Lewis; D. Charles, Marshall

UNAVAILABLE: Hazard (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: 

Belarus Team News: FULLY FIT

Belarus have a fully fit and available squad for this week’s trip to Belfast with no injury concerns or suspension issues so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Lapoukhov; Volkov, Palitsevich, Zabelin; Kavalyov, Yablonski, Ebong, Pyachenin; Antilevski, Korzun; Shikavka

UNAVAILABLE: 

QUESTIONABLE: 

Northern Ireland vs Belarus Prediction

Northern Ireland have been getting results with improved performances but their last outing showed a new side to them in which they were able to simply run through their opposition with some genuinely slick and impressive attacking play. Belarus are likely to go to Belfast looking for a point and a low-scoring Northern Ireland win remains likely but boosting the odds with a clean sheet bet also appears good value. 

Northern Ireland vs Belarus Tip: NORTHERN IRELAND TO WIN TO NIL