Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland predictions: O'Neill's men can make a winning start
Steve Palmer
These countries met twice in last year's Nations League
It was 2-2 when they played in Luxembourg in November
Recommended bet: Northern Ireland to win
Northern Ireland start out on a road they hope leads to the 2026 World Cup finals with a game against Luxembourg in UEFA qualifying Group A which takes place in Luxembourg City.
With Germany and Slovakia also in the four-nation group, Michael O'Neill's men know they need to be winning a tie like this to be in any conversation regarding a top-two finish.
The latest Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Bailey Peacock-Farrell may well start in goal for Northern Ireland, with Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard both injured.
Defenders Dan Ballard, Brodie Spencer and Ciaran Brown were already absent and QPR winger Paul Smyth has also been ruled out, but Conor Bradley is available despite a recent hamstring issue.
Gerson Rodrigues, Luxembourg's all-time record scorer, has been dropped, leaving Daniel Sinani to lead the attack, while new head coach Jeff Strasser also has the fit-again Yvandro Borges Sanches to call upon.
Spartak Moscow midfielder Christopher Martins has been recalled by Strasser, but teenage Metz striker Brian Madjo has pulled out of the squad, while goalkeeper Anthony Moris returns to the fold.
The stats
Luxembourg have won one of their last 12 internationals, failing to score in eight of those, while Northern Ireland have lost only two of their last eight internationals.
West Brom midfielder Isaac Price has scored seven goals in his last seven international appearances for Northern Ireland.
Eight of Luxembourg's last 10 matches have produced two goals or less.
The latest Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Northern Ireland are in far better form than Luxembourg and in far less disarray and that has to offer them a great chance to kick off their World Cup qualification campaign with three points in their Group A opener.
These two teams met twice last year in the Nations League, with the hosts winning 2-0 at Windsor Park in September before throwing away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at the Stade de Luxembourg two months later.
Indeed, O'Neill's men won that group with 11 points – including a stunning 5-0 win over Bulgaria – to finish eight points ahead of Luxembourg.
That is a pretty accurate assessment of where these nations are right now – in fact Luxembourg are arguably even weaker going into former captain Strasser's first game as new head coach.
Strasser inherits a group minus record scorer Gerson Rodrigues and talented teen striker Brian Madjo, who can play for either England or Cameroon and probably fancies the latter as a long-term goal.
Luxembourg do not score goals anyway – they have failed to find the net in six of their last 10 internationals – so losing two decent frontmen is clearly a blow.
Northern Ireland are being rebuilt around a bunch of exciting youngsters such as Bradley, Trai Hume, Justin Devenny and Price and this is a golden opportunity for them to land a blow in what looks like a head-to-head with Slovakia for second place in a group which Germany should win.
