Ireland vs Greece Prediction: Boys in Green can respond

The Republic of Ireland will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to England in the Uefa Nations League when they welcome Greece to the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday (19:45, YouTube).

Greece were 3-0 winners over Finland in their last outing and will be looking to build on that in Dublin, but they are not the best travellers at the moment. Read on for my Ireland vs Greece prediction, accompanied by match odds and team news.

Ireland vs Greece Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Ireland vs Greece page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Ireland are 9/5, or a 35.7% chance, to take the victory. Greece are 8/5 to collect the three points, giving them an implied probability of 38.5%. The draw is available at 11/5 (31.3%).

Both teams to score can be backed at 1/1 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 11/8. Fotis Ioannidis netted a brace for Greece against Finland last time out, and he is 5/2 to score anytime on Tuesday.

Football Odds

Team News

Ireland defender Seamus Coleman has been sent back to Everton for treatment on an injury he sustained against England on Saturday, and so he is unavailable for this clash. Festy Ebosele has been called up to the squad as a result. Burnley's Josh Cullen is also sidelined.

If Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimmson decides to continue with a system containing three centre-backs, Coleman's club mate Jake O'Brien could come into the starting XI.

Brighton striker Evan Ferguson is likely to be among the substitutes again as he builds himself up to full fitness having only made his first competitive appearance since March against England.

Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic made a bold selection against Finland by playing Ioannadis up front over Vangelis Pavlidis, but it certainly paid off as the former bagged a brace. Former Norwich City man Christos Tzolis could be in line for a promotion from the bench for this clash.

Shot-stopper Odysseas Vlachodimos was given the nod to start in goal at the weekend, despite not having played a minute of domestic football this term, so it is likely that he will keep his spot for the trip to Dublin

Draw @ 11/5 

Ireland were beaten by England just days ago but there were moments in the game where they were able to get into good positions. Composure in the final third has long been a problem for the Boys in Green, and something that the manager is hoping to improve in time.

They will look for an immediate response, especially on home soil, so I think they can avoid defeat, but a victory might be too much of a push. Ireland have won just one of their last seven games and after their recent win over Finland, Greece are a force to be reckoned with.

However, they themselves are not good travellers at the moment, having won just three of their last 10 away fixtures, which could play into Ireland's hands in getting off the mark in the Nations League.

I can see this being a cagey game, in which it won't be pretty for any of the neutrals watching, so I am not expecting a great deal of entertainment here.

Under 2.5 goals @ 8/15

Which leads me nicely onto my next point. Ireland are a good nation to back for when it comes to under 2.5 goals - it has landed in four of their last six competitive matches and I think the trend can continue against Greece.

They will try to nullify the visitors and then look to pick them off on a break, but as I said earlier there is a clear lack of composure and quality for Ireland in the times they do get into the final third.

Greece's troubling away record should also play a factor here, but if there is one place to go and improve it, it's Dublin given Ireland's recent run of form. I think Ireland have enough in their ranks to dig deep and earn a hard-fought draw here, and as such I don't think there will be many goals on offer.

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