2022-23 UEFA Nations League: Northern Ireland vs Greece

Northern Ireland welcome Greece to Windsor Park in their opening Group C2 clash in 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.

Depending on the result of Cyprus’s match against Kosovo, victory would see Northern Ireland or Greece go top of their group.

 

Team News

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Northern Ireland have no fresh injury concerns to report as Jonny Evans looks to start as he continues to chase game time, following an injury-hit season at Leicester.

The following six players meanwhile are looking for their first senior international caps; Josh Clarke, Shea Charles, Brodie Spencer, Caolan Boyd-Munce, Charlie McCann and Conor McMenamin.

Greece have no fresh injury concerns to report with Premier League stars – Dimitri Giannoulis, Kostas Tsimikas, George Baldock and Christos Tzolis all named in the squad.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Northern Ireland’s first UEFA Nations League meeting against Greece.
• Northern Ireland have won three of six previous competitive meetings against Greece in all competitions (W3, L3).
• Greece have won just one of three previous visits to Northern Ireland across all competitions (W1, L2).
• Just one of Northern Ireland’s four goals in 2020-21 UEFA Nations League campaign was scored before half-time, courtesy of Paddy McNair in sixth minute in a 5-1 home defeat to Norway.
• Greece kept clean sheets in two of their last three away matches in UEFA Nations League.

 

Prediction

Following a narrow loss at home to Hungary in an international friendly in March, Northern Ireland will certainly be looking for a more polished end product because they did play well on the attack, whilst a small defensive dip in focus simply proved costly.

Greece meanwhile suffered a pair of contrastable 1-0 results in March against Romania and Montenegro yet are capable of strong performances, especially when facing opposition roughly equal in quality so I expect them to try and make this as difficult as they can given their solid defensive away record.

I however am expecting a home win if Northern Ireland can tidy up their their end product but Greece certainly should prove a tough opposition defensively to beat.

Prediction: Northern Ireland 1-0 Greece

Result: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece