Predictions 05 – 09.09.2024
Portugal vs Croatia | Nations League
05/09/2024 19:45
Prediction: 2-0
Portugal, after winning the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League in 2019, are once again aiming for glory as they begin their campaign at home against Croatia. This Group 1, League A encounter, which also includes Scotland and Poland, will take place at the iconic Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Thursday, 5 September 2024, at 20:45. Playing on home gives the Portuguese a slight advantage, and they are considered the favorites heading into the match.
Roberto Martinez remains at the helm of the Portuguese side, and the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo will once again lead the team. However, they will be without another veteran, Pepe, who has retired from international football. Portugal’s last major tournament, Euro 2024, ended in disappointment as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by France in a penalty shootout.
Croatia, led by Zlatko Dalić, are still under the guidance of the talented Luka Modrić, despite the team’s exit in the group stage of Euro 2024. The Croatians were runners-up in the last Nations League, losing to Spain on penalties in the final, and they will be hoping to make a strong start to this campaign.
The head-to-head between these teams has been competitive, with both sides scoring in their last four encounters, whether in friendlies or official competitions. This match promises to be an exciting clash of two highly skilled teams, with plenty of attacking talent on display.
Serbia vs Spain | Nations League
05/09/2024 19:45
Prediction: 1-2
Serbia will kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday, 5 September at 20:45, as they host reigning European champions Spain. The Serbian side finds itself in a challenging period, as evidenced by their disappointing performance at the recent European Championship. To make matters worse, they will be without two key players: Sergej Milinković-Savić, who was left out for tactical reasons, and Dušan Vlahović, who opted to stay back to regain his fitness. These absences place the home team as the underdogs against Spain, who are aiming to build on their well-earned Euro 2024 victory and make a strong statement in the Nations League.
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente will be without striker Álvaro Morata, but he has a talented squad at his disposal. Key players such as Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo will be expected to lead the charge. The group also features Denmark and Switzerland, with the top two teams advancing to the playoffs. Spain appears to be clear favorites for first place, while Serbia will face stiff competition for the second spot.
- Spain has won their last eight matches in all competitions.
- The only previous meeting between the two teams saw Spain win 2-0.
- Spain has scored at least two goals and conceded at least one in each of their last four matches.
- Serbia has only won two of their last nine games.
- Five of Serbia’s last eight matches have seen over 1.5 goals scored.
Argentina vs Chile | WC Qualifiers – South America
06/09/2024 01:00
Prediction: 3-0
Argentina has reached a level of confidence and maturity that allows them to remain unfazed even when faced with setbacks. While they occasionally experience dips in form, the Albiceleste have developed a remarkable ability to bounce back and quickly put those moments behind them. This resilience contrasts sharply with their past, where Messi and his teammates would often falter at the first sign of trouble, exposing a lack of mental toughness. However, their recent triumphs in the World Cup and Copa America have cemented the group’s belief in their abilities, though they continue to avoid the overconfidence that can come with success. These traits have carried over into their World Cup qualifying campaign, where they’ve consistently demonstrated their strength.
Chile, on the other hand, finds themselves in a completely different psychological state. The team is stuck in a troubling downward spiral, struggling to regain the form that once made them a competitive force.
France vs Italy | Nations League
06/09/2024 19:45
Prediction: 2-1
Italy begins a new chapter under Luciano Spalletti after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, and they face an immediate uphill battle in their UEFA Nations League opener against France. Didier Deschamps’ French side enters as the clear favorites, especially considering their recent form and Italy’s struggles.
France, after the heartbreak of losing the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina and bowing out in the Euro 2024 semifinals to eventual champions Spain, will be looking to regain their dominant form. Meanwhile, Italy comes into this match after a lackluster showing at the Euros, where they barely made it out of the group stage and were eventually knocked out by Switzerland. The Italian team has been criticized for lacking cohesion, desire, and fighting spirit.
With both teams favoring low-scoring games recently, this encounter could be a tight affair, but France’s home advantage and superior form make them the stronger side heading into this match.
Brazil vs Ecuador | WC Qualifiers – South America
07/09/2024 02:00
Prediction: 3-0
Brazil has certainly underperformed in the early stages of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Although it’s still early in the competition, six matches have already been played, and the Seleção have raised more doubts than delivered positive results. The recent Copa América, where Brazil failed to shine, has only increased concerns, particularly around defensive vulnerabilities.
However, the Brazilians must now “settle” for the experienced Italian manager, despite some of his controversial decisions, such as the exclusion of players like Bremer. But tactical decisions aside, Brazil’s upcoming match against Ecuador, in Curitiba, represents a crucial turning point for their qualification campaign.
This fixture is crucial for Brazil to get their qualification campaign back on track and regain confidence, as they cannot afford further slip-ups.
Ireland vs England | Nations League
07/09/2024 17:00
Prediction: 0-1
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League marks the beginning of a new chapter for both Ireland and England as they step into the competition under the guidance of newly appointed managers. For Ireland, Heimir Hallgrímsson, the Icelandic coach who famously helped his homeland eliminate England from Euro 2016, takes the reins. His task is to breathe new life into a team that has seen its international success dwindle in recent years, with most of their victories coming against lower-ranked teams like Malta, Gibraltar, and Armenia. Ireland’s history against England is not much brighter, as they haven’t beaten their British neighbors in seven encounters, although six of those were draws.
On the other side, England is also embarking on a fresh journey following Gareth Southgate’s departure after their second consecutive loss in the European Championships final this past summer. Stepping into the role is Lee Carsley, the former U21 coach who faces an interesting debut against the country he represented 40 times as a player. Interestingly, Carsley was in discussions with the Irish FA before Hallgrímsson’s appointment.
England enters this campaign with the sting of relegation from League A, following a winless run in the 2022/23 Nations League. Now competing in League B, they are determined to secure an immediate return to the top tier, with high expectations bolstered by their superior FIFA ranking, which places them significantly ahead of their Group B2 rivals. Ranked 4th globally, the Three Lions will be looking to dominate their group and aim for a return to the finals, building on the success they last tasted in 2019.
Germany vs Hungary | Nations League
07/09/2024 19:45
Prediction: 3-0
Germany and Hungary find themselves facing off once again as they begin their UEFA Nations League Group A3 campaign. The two teams last met during Euro 2024, where Germany secured a 2-0 win to advance into the knockout stage, while Hungary experienced a disappointing group-stage exit. However, that was Germany’s first win in four meetings with Hungary, highlighting how close these encounters have been historically.
Germany’s recent record has been underwhelming, with only three wins from 16 matches, and they finished behind Hungary in their previous UNL cycle. This opener will mark a fresh chapter for Germany under Julian Nagelsmann, as the national team undergoes a period of transition, following the retirement of stalwarts like Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, and Ilkay Gündogan. They’ll be keen to improve their performance in this competition, especially after finishing third in their group last time.
Hungary, led by Marco Rossi, comes into this match looking to build on a strong recent history in the UNL. Despite suffering three losses in their last five games, they had previously gone unbeaten in 14 matches, a remarkable feat. Rossi’s decision to refresh his squad with players like Balázs Tóth and several potential debutants suggests he is preparing for the future while maintaining a competitive edge.
Hungary’s steady rise in the Nations League has been impressive since the competition’s launch in 2018. They’ve achieved successive promotions and established themselves in League A. In their last campaign, they achieved standout victories, including a stunning 4-0 triumph over England at Wembley and a 1-0 win against Germany in Leipzig. These results prove that Hungary is more than capable of pulling off another upset, and Germany will need to be at their best to avoid being caught off guard.
