It’s the inaugural night of the UEFA Nations League, with Wales hosting the Republic of Ireland at 7.45pm on Sky Sports Main Event.

The new competition – designed to generate an interest in international football that tends to be lacking with friendlies – will play a variety of different roles ahead Euro 2020, from deciding the seeding of the qualifiers to providing another route to the play-offs. And Thursday’s the very first night!



Drawn together in Group 4 of League B – god the Nations League is complicated – alongside Denmark, Wales and Ireland must be chomping at the bit after a quiet summer. And with only one promotion spot available to make the jump to League A – again, there are a lot of parts to this tournament – they’ll both want to get off to the best start possible this evening.

Martin O’Neill’s Ireland aren’t exactly going into the game in the best health. The country is dealing with a long list of absentees, including James McClean, Robbie Brady, James McCarthy, Shane Long, Sean Maguire, Scott Hogan and Alan Browne.

Most of the Irish squad’s Premier League talent is located in defence, the highest profile name being captain Seamus Coleman, who plays his wares at Everton. That leaves them with a decidedly lower league front line, with 34-year old Ipswich forward Jonathan Walters their best shot at a Super Mega PGM of 12-16.

There are a few bigger names in the Welsh squad. Obviously Gareth Bale is the focus, with the Real Madrid ace at a Super Mega PGM of 39-46, with Burnley’s Sam Vokes at 19-23 and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey at 13-17.

The 2 countries were actually paired together during 2018 World Cup qualifying, with a 0-0 draw in Dublin and an Irish victory in Cardiff. That latter result ended Welsh hopes of reaching Russia and sent O’Neill’s lads to the play-offs, one that ended in a humiliating 5-1 loss to Nations League groupmate Denmark.

As for Thursday’s fixture, it looks like the Welsh might get their revenge, with Spreadex offering a Wales/Ireland Goal Supremacy spread of 0.5-0.7 alongside a Total Goals spread of 1.95-2.15.