Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Ireland
Match Time & Date:
23/03/2025
20:45
Prediction: 1-0
Bulgaria
Aviva Stadium will host Sunday’s UEFA Nations League game between Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria. The Boys in Green are with one foot in the Nations League B, but they can’t afford any complacency in the return leg. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team, but all Azaz, Johnston, Knight, and Vata should be cautious in the decider after picking up yellow cards in the first leg.
The Bulgarians, on the other hand, aim to get their revenge on Ireland for the 2-1 loss in Plovdiv, but given their difficulties on the road, we are tempted to put our money on Heimir Hallgrimsson’s troops. Even though there are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of the trip to Dublin, goalkeeper Plamen Iliev should be recalled to the starting XI. In their last meeting in Dublin, five years ago, the two teams played out a goalless draw and yet another low-scoring affair is on the horizon.
Highlighted Team (Ireland):
Competing as an independent entity since 1953, Republic of Ireland have struggled to match the world’s best national teams ever since, although they did achieve several respectable results on the road. Their best ever result, the 1990 World Cup quarter-final, was achieved with a big smile from Lady Luck seeing that the Irish reached the last eight without winning a single match.
They have since reached the last 16 stage at the 1994 and 2002 tournaments, while only qualifying for three European Championship finals (1988, 2012, 2016). The Irish were in the top 10 of the FIFA Rankings in 1993 and 1994, but have failed to repeat the success in the next twenty odd years, and it appears they are no closer to bridging the gap behind European powerhouses.
Robbie Keane holds the record for most national team caps and goals at the same time, having bagged 67 in 143 appearances, whereas Niall Quinn, Steve Staunton, Damien Duff, Tony Cascarino and Don Givens are some of the other star players.
Uruguay 
Argentina 
Belgium
Ukraine
France
Croatia 
Germany 
Italy
Portugal 
Denmark 
Spain
Netherlands 
