TipResumen

WALES

For the first time as a manager, Ryan Giggs will take charge of Wales in a competitive fixture and he has been downplaying any talk of 'revenge'. Any hopes Wales had of making it through to their first World Cup in fifty years was ended by the Republic of Ireland and the two teams meet in the opening UEFA Nations League game in a three team Group along with Denmark. Giggs is trying to make sure the players are focused on the task at hand rather than worrying about getting one over on Ireland, although the fans will be expectant in a home game. Both teams involved in this fixture will likely believe they have to take at least four points from the other if they are going to finish above Denmark in the Group, and that means there is some pressure on Wales to succeed in a home fixture. Wales have won just 1 of their last 6 fixtures and that came against China, while they have lost half of those games and failed to score in 4 out of 6. The home form let them down in the last set of World Cup Qualifiers and Wales have now won 1 of their last 5 games here. However the defeat to the Republic of Ireland is the only one Wales have suffered in 7 home games. Gareth Bale was a big absentee when these teams last met in that World Cup Qualifier and he has begun this season in fine form for Real Madrid. Paul Dummett is also back in the Wales squad.



REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

This feels like a UEFA Nations League Group in which 'revenge' is going to be a key word in the next couple of months. While Wales will blame Republic of Ireland for their failure to reach the World Cup Finals, the Irish will be looking to get one over on Denmark later in the Group having been dismissed by that opponent in the World Cup Play Off. For now the concentration will be facing and beating Wales as the Republic of Ireland look to win this Group and earn promotion to join the elite of European Football in League A of the Nations League. In recent years Ireland have shown they can compete at European level with a couple of appearances in the European Championships even though it has been sixteen years since they reached the World Cup Finals. Republic of Ireland had not won any of 4 games and had lost 3 in a row before their 2-1 friendly win over the United States last time out. They are actually unbeaten in their last 7 away competitive fixtures, but the Republic of Ireland have lost their last 3 friendlies outside of Ireland. There are some key injuries in the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of this first international break of the season. Robbie Brady, Harry Arter and Shane Long may be the biggest names missing out on this fixture as they all failed to make the Ireland squad thanks to injury and tactical decisions made by management.



HEAD TO HEAD

Republic of Ireland took 4 points from Wales in the last World Cup Qualifiers and the majority of those came in the 0-1 win here. Wales have only won 1 of their last 11 games against the Republic of Ireland and none of the last 8. In that time the Irish have won 6 times including winning half of the last 8 played between these nations.



PREDICTION

This is a fascinating opening day game in the UEFA Nations League and the added motivation of being involved in something of a 'derby' game should mean Wales and Republic of Ireland do produce a competitive game. Gareth Bale missed the World Cup Qualifier between these nations which was won 0-1 by Ireland last year, but I have to think his availability for this Nations League game is why the home team are significant favourites to win the match. Bale is a difference maker and been in fine form for Real Madrid, but I have to respect the organisation Ireland play with which makes them so tough to beat. Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane will know they have every chance of stealing a point if they can keep Bale relatively quiet and the Republic of Ireland have shown they are more than capable of doing that having held Wales goalless in both World Cup Qualifiers played against them last year including one in which Bale started. There are some decent players missing for the Republic of Ireland, but I think they can find a way to get a result here. Backing them with the start on the Asian Handicap looks attractive enough here even with those absences in mind.