Northern Ireland vs USA
Northern Ireland are back in action on Sunday when they take on USA in a friendly fixture at Windsor Park in Belfast.
International Friendly: Northern Ireland vs USA is a chance for head coach Ian Baraclough to prepare the hosts for their second World Cup qualifier, and it’s an opportunity for his players to test themselves against some of the top young stars in the European leagues.
USA are 23 places higher than Northern Ireland in the FIFA World Rankings, in 22nd place to 45th, and they have an impressive collection of creative players to call on.
Gregg Berhalter’s Stars and Stripes don’t have a competitive fixture until June, while Northern Ireland have their next Group C World Cup qualifier when they host Bulgaria on Wednesday.
Talking Points
Irish have plenty to take from Italy defeat
Ian Baracough’s Northern Ireland began their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign with a defeat to Italy. It was no surprise as the Azzurri started the game unbeaten in 22 under Roberto Mancini and have never beaten at home in a World Cup qualifier; and the way they set about the Irish in the first half it looked like being a long night for the Green and Whites. But, 2-0 down at the break and seemingly down and out, Baraclough’s boys fought hard to draw the second half, and they were unlucky not to claw a goal back when Paddy McNair missed a glorious chance late in the game.
Captain Steven Davis made his 125th cap in the loss and he dictated play as the Irish worked their way back into the game. His international tally equaled the British record set by England goalkeeper Peter Shilton who congratulated Davis on his achievement, generously noting that to reach that figure as a midfield player was an amazing feat.
Northern Ireland are likely to start with first choice keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell again. The young Burnley stopper was arguably at fault for Italy’s second, beaten at his near post by Ciro Immobile, and he may want to sharpen up before the visit of Bulgaria. Jonny Evans will marshal the defence, Davis the midfield, and up front their may be a debut for Accrington Stanley youngster Dion Charles.
USA’s Premier quality
The Irish faced some of Europe’s biggest names when they met the Azzurri and they will come up against some more superb players when the Stars and Stripes come to town. Skipper Christian Pulisic made his name at Borussia Dortmund as an attacking midfielder making 81 appearances and scoring ten goals before he switched to Chelsea in the Premier League.
The USA skipper is his second season at Chelsea who, under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, have been in fine form, climbing into the top four of the Premier League and reaching the last eight of the Champions League having clinically dispatched La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid. Pulisic is a key component of Tuchel’s team and, still only 22 years old, he is the USA’s go to man, scoring 14 goals in 35 appearances.
USA Keeper Zack Steffen is understudy to Ederson, Manchester City’s Number One, and he’s already deputized in league and cup games for the quadruple chasing Sky Blues. While BVB are nurturing another number ten, with 18 year old Giovanni Reyna following in Pulisic’s footsteps and already impressing at the Signal Iduna Stadium.
Meanwhile, over in La Liga, Sergino Dest is making waves at Barcelona and he scored his first international goal to set the Stars and Stripes on their way to a 4-1 victory over Jamaica on Thursday.
History
Both these nations have some history to be proud of. Northern Ireland reached the quarter finals of the World Cup in 1958 and the Round of 16 at Euro 2016.
The USA haven’t really been seen as a top football nation, certainly in Europe, until relatively recently; but they actually reached the semi-finals of the inaugural World Cup way back in 1930.
Who says the United States has no history!
We don’t have any Northern Ireland vs USA results to work on as this is the first ever meeting between the two sides, but when it comes to recent form the visitors are in better shape, unbeaten in eight and scoring 23 goals in the last four outings.
Meanwhile, the Green and Whites are winless in six, but they have five lost narrowly, all by a single goal until Italy scored that 2-0 win.
Betting Tip
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Northern Ireland vs USA | 1X2 Draw @ 3.06 |
| March 29, 00:05 (GMT+8) |
The Northern Ireland vs USA betting odds, here at SBOTOP, are pitching the talented Americans marginally odds-on at a price of 1.95, while Northern Ireland are at 3.69 to end their winless streak.
2-3 goals are at low odds of 1.79 and the most likely score-line is 0-1 at odds of 5.22. 1-1 is available at a slightly higher price of 5.41, and I saw enough in Ireland’s second half performance against Italy to believe they can hold this talented USA team to a draw.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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