Liam Scales trains at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Predicting Ireland’s starting-11 and five facts ahead of Nations League clash with Finland

Ireland will attempt to win a first ever Nations League game away from home when they face Finland in Helsinki on Thursday.

by · Irish Mirror

If Heimir Hallgrímsson was in any doubt, last month’s defeats to England and Greece would have shown him the scale of the task at hand in his new role as Ireland manager.

Now, one month on, the Boys in Green boss has to try to turn things around and bring Ireland’s losing streak to an end.

Having had more time to see his players up close, he must now select a team that he believes is capable of picking up three points against Finland.

READ MORE: Heimir Hallgrimsson could be sacked after Finland and Greece games claims Ireland legend

READ MORE: Three stories that chart the sensational rise of new Ireland captain Nathan Collins

While the choice goalkeeper isn’t in doubt, and Nathan Collins’ role as captain puts him into the first-11, there are plenty of choices to be made.

Here’s our predicted 11, which we believe will come in a 4-2-3-1 shape:

Ireland team v Finland

Caoimhin Kelleher

Festy Ebosele, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales

Josh Cullen, Jayson Molumby,

Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott, Sammie Szmodics

Evan Ferguson

Five facts ahead of Finland v Ireland

  • Evan Ferguson makes an impact as a starter for Ireland. In his six starts to date, he has scored twice and provided one assist. Whether he gets the nod against Finland, however, depends on how sharp he has looked in training this week. He has made a handful of substitute appearances for club and country since a serious ankle injury last April.
  • Ireland had the upper hand on Finland up to four years ago, when the two sides met home and away in the 2020 Nations League. On both of those occasions, Finland secured 1-0 wins, with Fredrik Jensen finding the net each time. Ireland’s record prior to that was three wins and two draws against the Finns.
  • An away win in the Nations League has proved elusive so far for Ireland. It’s three draws and five defeats on the road to date. Those results were against Wales (1-4), Denmark (0-0), Bulgaria (1-1), Finland (0-1), Wales (0-1), Armenia (0-1), Ukraine (1-1) and Scotland (1-2).
  • Robbie Keane, Colin Healy and Graham Barrett scored the goals when Ireland recorded a 3-0 win in Helsinki against Finland, in Ireland’s first game after the 2002 World Cup last-16 exit to Spain on penalties.
  • Ireland have failed to score in 12 of their 18 Nations League matches - and have not managed to find the net in seven of their last 10 games in competitive and friendly action.

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