Saturday’s Nations League predictions including Republic of Ireland vs. England

© Imago

Faroe Islands are set to welcome North Macedonia to Torsvollur on Saturday in each side’s first game of their UEFA Nations League C campaign.

The home side are currently 138th in FIFA’s rankings of national teams, and they lost their last game 1-0 against Latvia on June 11, while the visitors are ranked as the 72nd best national team in the world.

We say: Faroe Islands 2-1 North Macedonia

Given North Macedonia’s struggles away from home, it is difficult to see them leaving with any points.

Additionally, while Faroe Islands are in poor form themselves, they have at least proven they are capable of grinding out results in the Nations League and should come into the clash confident of securing a positive outcome.

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© Imago

Georgia and Czech Republic kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaigns with an opening fixture at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on Saturday evening.

Both nations are in action for the first time since competing in the same group at Euro 2024 and will be seeking to gain promotion from League B Group 1 along with Ukraine and Albania.

We say: Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic

Having trailed at half time in each of their last four Nations League matches, Czech Republic will hope to put their stamp on proceedings early doors and quell the attacking threat of Georgia.

Both sides will fancy their chances of success on Saturday, but we can see the spoils being shared on this occasion, as they did at Euro 2024.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

© Imago

Two new managerial reigns commence at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, when Lee Carsley’s England pit their wits against Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.

The two near neighbours clash in League B Group 2, where Finland and Greece are also vying for promotion to the top tier of the continental competition.

We say: Republic of Ireland 0-3 England

Under previous management, Ireland and England loved a stalemate against one another, until the Three Lions broke that streak with a victory they may very well replicate at the Aviva Stadium.

Even with the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Palmer missing, England have enough attacking nous to breach the Ireland backline more than once, and the hosts do not pack much of a punch up front themselves, so it is Carsley’s reign that should get off to the best possible start.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Will any debutants start? How England could line up against Ireland

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In the opening game of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League C campaign, Armenia are set to welcome Latvia at Vazgen Sargsyan anvan Hanrapetakan Marzadasht on Saturday.

The home side beat Kazakhstan 2-1 last time out on June 7, while the visitors managed to overcome Faroe Islands 1-0 on June 11.

We say: Armenia 2-1 Latvia

While neither side have been particularly strong of late, Armenia have at least demonstrated a good ability to find the back of the net in recent matches.

Additionally, Latvia have been poor away from home, and it would not be a surprise if they lost once again.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

© Imago

Moldova return to competitive action after falling just short of Euro 2024 qualification when they welcome Malta to Chisinau in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday.

Malta make the trip to the Stadionul Zimbru out of form and unfancied to compete for promotion out of the bottom tier, and begin with the toughest test they will face in the group.

We say: Moldova 2-0 Malta

Malta struggle in the final third and start off slowly, having scored just one first-half goal in their last 22 outings, and they could find it tough against a Moldova side which should be full of confidence after their results over the past 12 months.

The wheels came off slightly for the hosts after they missed out on Euro 2024, but being back in competitive action should see them raise their game as favourites to win the group.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

© Imago

A new era begins for Germany on Saturday evening, as they welcome familiar foes Hungary to Dusseldorf for their opening UEFA Nations League fixture.

Several stars stepped down following the hosts’ exit from Euro 2024, so a new-look side will start their first League A Group 3 game.

We say: Germany 2-1 Hungary

Germany are yet to win the Nations League – or even progress beyond the group phase – in three previous attempts, but they should be among the favourites to prevail next June.

With an abundance of attacking talent available, Julian Nagelsmann’s men are set to beat a stubborn Hungary side again on Saturday night.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Kimmich captains new-look XI: Predicted Germany lineup vs. Hungary

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Ultimately aiming to win the UEFA Nations League and end their long wait for a trophy, the Netherlands kick off their latest campaign on Saturday, as they host Bosnia-Herzegovina in Eindhoven.

League A Group 3 also features Germany and Hungary, so neither side can afford to fall behind – particularly as finishing third or fourth could result in relegation.

We say: Netherlands 3-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

While the Netherlands came so close to reaching July’s European Championship final, Bosnia came up short in the Euro 2024 playoffs amid a miserable run of results.

Therefore, the Oranje should sweep past their opening Group 3 opponents on home turf, setting them up nicely for next week’s heavyweight contest with Germany.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Depay dropped, Zirkzee to start? Predicted Netherlands lineup vs. Bosnia

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Ukraine and Albania kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaigns with an opening fixture at epet ARENA – a neutral venue in Prague – on Saturday evening.

Both nations are in action for the first time since competing at Euro 2024 and will be seeking to gain promotion from League B Group 1 along with Georgia and Czech Republic.

We say: Ukraine 2-1 Albania

Albania showed over the summer that they are no pushovers and can frustrate the bigger nations on their day, so they have reason to be optimistic heading into Saturday’s clash with Ukraine. Having said that, we feel that the Blue and Yellow will find a way to claim maximum points from a tight contest.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

© Imago

Greece welcome Finland to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Saturday on matchday one of the new UEFA Nations League campaign.

This will be the host’s first-ever match in League B, after finally winning promotion from the third tier in its last iteration in 2022.

We say: Greece 1-1 Finland

Both nations had garnered reputations of being quite defensively-minded in recent years, but Finland’s results so far in 2024 suggest otherwise and Greece are now under new management.

National team attendances have not been fantastic for Greece of late, as less than 200 saw them beat New Zealand last November, so the notorious rapturous atmosphere may not be present to give the hosts an advantage in Jovanovic’s first game in charge.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

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