NORTHERN IRELAND'S World Cup dream looks over and it's difficult seeing them overcome a 1-0 home defeat when they head to Switzerland tonight.
An awful penalty decision gave the Swiss victory in Belfast but having said that the visitors looked the better side and in qualifying won all their home games including a defeat of Euro champs Portugal. No European country has lost the first leg of a play-off at home then qualified.
To run salt into the wounds Corry Evans was booked for not handling the ball and Stuart Dallas is also doubtful and that's a double blow to a squad that lacks depth.
The Swiss are no bigger than 1-10 at 10Bet to qualify and I can see them winning in Bern at a best 4-7 with William Hill.
Michael O'Neill's men will have to go for goals and that's fairly alien to a team whose usual policy is not to concede.
That could leave them open and the Swiss have quality players such as Haris Seferovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka who can take advantage. Take Seferovic to score first at 9-2 with bet365 – he was the Swiss leading marksman with four in the group stage.
The Irish will look to talisman Kyle Lafferty to strike and the Hearts man is 10-1 with bet365 to break the deadlock.
Croatia got the job done against Greece in the first leg with a surprisingly easy 4-1 win. Greece, like the Irish, are usually better defensively but will have no options but to go on all-out attack.
This could lead to plenty of goals and I'll be on over 2.5 goals at 28-25 with Marathonbet.
Recommended Bets
- Switzerland (5pm)
- Greece v Croatia over 2.5 goals (7.45pm)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Stand Up for the Ulster Men beaten by FIFA and their appointment of a referee of high re-known. I can’t wait to see how he preforms in the WORLD CUP FINALS – OH I wonder what the odds are that he won’t be there!