Switzerland vs Northern Ireland

Switzerland and Northern Ireland are set to square off at the Stade de Genève in a high-stake World Cup qualification Group C meeting.

After racking up back-to-back wins to get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flying start, the hosts have drawn their last two Group C matches. However, with Italy’s attention switched to the UEFA Nations League this month, Switzerland could draw level at the top of the second if they win their two games in hand. An inspiring start to their Group C journey shows they mean business, as they hope to reach their fifth straight World Cup finals. Though the Swiss have kept Northern Ireland at bay across their last four H2Hs, three of those meetings have ended goalless, highlighting the potential for a cagey, low-scoring affair. Topically, the ‘Nati’ have kept a clean sheet in both World Cup qualifying fixtures at home (W1, D1), scoring just once in return.

Meanwhile, barring a 2-0 away defeat to Italy in March, the visitors have avoided defeat in four of their last five World Cup qualifying fixtures (W1, D3), with each of their three draws in that sequence ending goalless. Sitting three points adrift of their hosts, the ‘Norn Iron’ could claim the all-important play-off spot with a victory here, which could be easier said than done. The visitors have never defeated Switzerland away from home (D2, L1), failing to get on the scoresheet in the last two in a row. A 4-1 thumping victory over Lithuania in their most recent World Cup qualifying fixture on the road brought Northern Ireland’s seven-game winless streak away from home in competitive action (D2, L5 – 90 minutes only). However, they have failed to win back-to-back competitive away matches since June 2019.