It’s crunch time for the Boys in Green.
THIS IS IT! The moment Ireland fans have been dreaming of/dreading since Troy Parrott’s Hungary heroics back in November as the Boys in Green head to Czechia for a crunch World Cup playoff semi-final.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side need to secure a Thursday night win in Prague to set up a final showdown in Dublin, against either Denmark or North Macedonia on March 31st, which would be the final step on the road to potentially reaching the 2026 World Cup this summer.
The stakes could not be higher ahead of a nerve-shredding evening as Ireland aim for a first appearance on the world stage since 2002 and PP tipster Andrew Cunneen has dived into the markets to create a super Bet Builder. So, let’s get his Czechia v Ireland tips…
Czechia v Ireland Bet Builder Tips
Ireland to qualify
Under 2.5 goals
Troy Parrott to commit 2+ fouls
Troy Parrott to have 3+ shots
A Bet Builder with these selections pays approximately 16/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
WHEN: Thursday, March 26th, 7:45pm
WHERE: Fortuna Arena, Prague.
TV: RTE2/Amazon Prime Video
Ireland to Qualify
Evan Ferguson being out obviously isn’t a good thing, but I’ve found that a lot of the discourse around the Ireland attacking rotation can dilute focus.
They know Parrott is up top. They know they won’t have a lot of the ball. They know how he’s effective now – and they know full-well that he can deliver.
The path to qualification is clear, and for the first time in a long time, the focus on a result far outweighs the tedious discourse around the best way to achieve it.
And while I’d like this to be in Dublin, the weight of expectation would derail a side whose ability just cannot match the frenzied anticipation. Away from home? It just kinda suits us, and I’m convinced a few stay passes in the first five minutes from the home side will have them shook.
They’ve recalled Vladimir Darida for goodness’ sake – they’re clearly not convinced about their mental strength.
Under 2.5 Goals
Unless Czechia totally capitulate, I don’t see this being a goalfest.
Their two key cogs – Patrik Schick and Pavel Sulc are shaking off injuries to line out for this, so I can’t envisage they’ll have a tonne of free-flowing moves in the early stages either.
Ireland won’t want an open game, either. There’s a tendency to commit to recency bias and suggest that we’re all guns blazing, but it was the win-or-die scenario that prompted that night in Budapest – not a stylistic preference.
If we stay in this, the ground gets tense. That’s the environment you want to play in.
Troy Parrott to Commit 2+ Fouls
The country adores him. He speaks well. He’s a high-class footballer. But I do get the sense that they’ll be putting a lot on him to deliver – and by they, I mean us and himself.
Tomáš Holeš is not a large man by centre half standards, and he’ll be the means through which they’ll play out. Parrott will almost certainly be side-on trying to lure him into channels, but the temptation to leave one in will be huge, especially if Heimir tasks them with imposing their physicality early on.
The best fouls you can make are by centre forwards early in games because they’re never met with bookings. Watch him throw a few sneaky ones while Holes is waiting for the midfielders to move into space for him.
Troy Parrott to Have 3+ Shots
Parriott has scored fourteen times in twenty-three games for AZ. Outside of Sven Mijnans, he’s not getting a tonne of creative support.
Generally speaking, he’s used to having to carve out his own scoring chances.
Ireland cannot commit wide players too far up the pitch early on because Czechia have some of the best headers of a football in Europe in their ranks, so shooting when the opportunity arises is probably the order of the day.
Czechia v Ireland Tips
Ireland to qualify
Under 2.5 goals
Troy Parrott to commit 2+ fouls
Troy Parrott to have 3+ shots
A Bet Builder with these selections pays approximately 16/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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