8th Nov 2017 | International
Tension Guaranteed In Belfast
The home manager is prioritising a clean sheet over a win and that will make a tight contest almost certain.
Switzerland may have been on the preferred playoff opponent list for Michael O’Neill but his Northern Ireland side still begin as underdogs to progress.
The boss has made his approach clear for the first leg already: “The most important thing is not to concede in the first leg as away goals can prove to be vital.”
Clearly 0-0 is seen as an acceptable result and we should back ‘no goalscorer’ at best odds of 11/2 with Williamhill.
Northern Ireland’s recent success has been built around a good defence. They took 4 points off the Czech Republic in Group C by keeping two clean sheets.
Switzerland won 9 out of 10 qualifiers and would fancy their chances heading home level. A cautious stalemate therefore suits both sides and becomes more likely.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 11:07 8th Nov, 2017 but subject to change