Thursday’s Nations League predictions including England vs. Greece

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North Macedonia will travel to Stadions Skonto in Riga for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League clash against Latvia in League C Group 4.

The hosts began the 2024-25 campaign with a win over the Faroe Islands, while the visitors got the better of Armenia on matchday one.

We say: Latvia 0-2 North Macedonia

North Macedonia are currently sitting 65 places above their hosts in the FIFA World Rankings, and think they will showcase their extra quality to record a fourth consecutive head-to-head win after previously beating Latvia in 2014 and twice in 2019.

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Moldova will attempt to claim a third consecutive victory when they welcome Andorra to Chisinau for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League clash.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be desperate to clinch a positive result after losing each of their last five internationals.

We say: Moldova 2-0 Andorra

Andorra have failed to score in each of their last five matches, and with the visitors struggling to offer an attacking threat, we think the hosts will take advantage of their opponent’s weakness to claim a fifth win in six internationals.

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Clashing on neutral turf at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest, Israel and France resume their UEFA Nations League campaigns on Thursday evening in League A Group 2.

Didier Deschamps’s team collected three points from their opening two contests last month, while their ‘hosts’ sit rock bottom of the section after two defeats in September.

We say: Israel 0-3 France

Adjusting to life without Griezmann pulling the strings in attack may take some time for France – and an Mbappe-less France for this month at least – but they coped just fine against Belgium and should have no problems getting the job done here either.

Israel have a couple of bright talents in the final third, but nothing that should pose serious danger to a sturdy Bleus backline; Deschamps’s men have our vote to win this one comfortably.

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> Who will replace Mbappe, Griezmann? France predicted XI against Israel

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Setting the pace atop League A Group 2 after a superb start in September, Italy will welcome Belgium to Rome for a UEFA Nations League contest on Thursday.

While the Azzurri secured maximum points last month, the Red Devils were castigated by their own captain following another dismal defeat to France.

We say: Italy 2-1 Belgium

All is not well in the Belgian camp, despite a new generation of talent emerging to replace the ‘golden’ old guard. Meanwhile, Italy are starting to re-find their identity following some time in the wilderness after success at Euro 2020.

With fresh legs in midfield and an impressive array of defenders available, the Azzurri should see off their visitors and make it nine points from nine in Group 2.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> Calafiori, Tonali to start? Predicted Italy Nations League lineup vs. Belgium

> De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois replacements: Predicted Belgium lineup vs. Italy

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Aiming to make it three for three under the wing of Lee Carsley, England host Greece at Wembley on Thursday evening in League B Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League.

The midweek encounter is already a top-of-the-table affair, as the visitors lead the way on a marginally superior goal difference thanks to their own stellar September results.

We say: England 2-0 Greece

Even without September hero Ioannidis strutting his stuff in attack, the likes of Pavlidis and Tasos Bakasetas can still carry a significant attacking threat for Greece, but the former European champions have failed to score in seven of their previous nine meetings with England.

We can envisage that becoming eight from 10 at Wembley, as even without a fully-fit Kane, England possess the firepower to prolong Carsley’s 100% start as expense of Jovanovic’s.

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> Star attacker ruled out: How Greece could line up against England

> Kane dropped, Palmer starts: How England could line up against Greece

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Already adrift in League B Group 3, Finland and the Republic of Ireland will both try to get up and running in the UEFA Nations League, when they play their third fixture on Thursday.

Neither side picked up a point in September, so a head-to-head scrap for survival may commence when they meet at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium.

We say: Finland 1-1 Republic of Ireland

While they tend to struggle on the road, Finland have won both of their last two home matches and are now faced by an Irish side bereft of confidence – but the Boys in Green do boast some attacking talent.

Both teams will sense this is one of their best chances to pick up three points, so the game could open up and end in a score draw.

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Both seeking their first win of this season’s UEFA Nations League, Austria and Kazakhstan convene in Linz on Thursday evening.

Trailing three points behind the leading pair in League B Group 3, the two teams will be eager to claim victory and ease fears of relegation.

We say: Austria 3-0 Kazakhstan

Although they have shown signs of improvement, Kazakhstan still occupy 109th place in FIFA’s world rankings and are yet to score a goal at League B level.

After making a lacklustre start in September, Austria should be sufficiently motivated to move through the gears and claim maximum points on Thursday.

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Norway and Slovenia will both want to maintain their unbeaten starts to the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League when they face off in Oslo on Saturday.

The two nations are both sitting level on four points in League B Group 3, leaving them three points clear of Austria and Kazakhstan.

We say: Norway 2-2 Slovenia

Norway and Slovenia both possess significant firepower on their sides, with the likes of Sorloth, Haaland and Sesko all expected to start on Thursday.

With that in mind, we think the contest should produce goals, but we also believe that the two teams may have to settle for a draw in a close-fought encounter.

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In their third game in the group stage of UEFA Nations League C, Faroe Islands are set to host Armenia at Torsvollur on Thursday.

The home side are last in their four-team group with one point from two games, while the visitors are second with three points and lost 2-0 against North Macedonia in their most recent match in the competition on September 10.

We say: Faroe Islands 0-2 Armenia

Considering Armenia have won two of their last three games in all competitions, it would not be surprising if they came into Thursday’s clash confident of rectifying their defeat last time out.

Additionally, Faroe Islands’ offensive record in recent matches has been poor, and it is difficult to see how they would get back into the game were they to concede first.

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Gibraltar will welcome San Marino to Europa Point Stadium on Thursday in their second UEFA Nations League D game of 2024-25.

The hosts are second in their three-team group with one point after they drew 2-2 with Liechtenstein on September 8, while the away team are first with three points after one match following their 1-0 win against the same opponent on September 5.

We say: Gibraltar 2-0 San Marino

Although San Marino will still be revelling in their recent win, their poor record in both friendlies and competitive matches must make them second favourites in Thursday’s clash.

Gibraltar are also unbeaten in their last three, and it would not be surprising if they were able to hold onto a lead this time out.

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