Azerbaijan vs Northern Ireland
World Cup Qualifiers – Europe (Group C)
Date: Saturday, 10th June 2017
Kick off at 17:00 UK/ 18:00 CET
Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku.
Azerbaijan
There will be some fans in Baku who will have been hoping this was a European Championship Qualifying Group rather than a World Cup Qualifying Group considering how Azerbaijan have started. Instead of two automatic Qualifiers and one Play Off spot, there is only one automatic spot at the World Cup Finals and one Play Off spot on offer in this Group.
With Germany in the section, it is clear the other nations in this Group are fighting for the Play Off spot that is potentially available. Azerbaijan are right in the mix as they are 4th in the Group, but only 3 points behind Northern Ireland in 2nd place in the section. That just underlines how important this game is for Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan opened this Group with back to back wins, but they have not won any of their next 3 games in the Qualifiers and have suffered consecutive losses where they have conceded four goals each time. The side have lost 4 of their last 10 home Qualifiers but in that time Azerbaijan have earned draws with the likes of Russia and Croatia, and also beaten Norway.
Northern Ireland
Getting back to a major international tournament has whetted the appetite for these Northern Irish players and fans, especially after performing well at the Euro 2016 Finals. Most will have accepted that their best way into the World Cup Finals will be by finishing behind Germany and trying to work their way through the Play Offs and Northern Ireland have made a positive start to the Group.
There will be no surprise that Germany have moved 5 points clear in the Group having won all of their Qualifiers, but Northern Ireland are in 2nd place and can take a big move towards finishing there by winning here on Saturday. At the moment Northern Ireland are 2 points clear of the Czech Republic but they also have the advantage of hosting them later in the Group.
Northern Ireland will be trying to concentrate on themselves at the moment and they have some momentum behind them having won 3 of their last 4 games. However they have won 1 of their last 8 away games, but Northern Ireland did win 3 of 5 away Qualifiers in the Euro 2016 Qualifying Group.
Azerbaijan vs Northern Ireland: Head-to-head
Saturday’s contest will be the sixth between the two sides. Azerbaijan won once compared to NI’s two victories, while two games ended as a draw. The hosts scored 3 in their head-to-head meetings, while Northern Ireland scored 4 goals more.
Azerbaijan vs Northern Ireland: Prediction
N. Ireland seems in the solid state at the moment and they have a solid chance to play in Russia next summer. Azerbaijan is probably looking at the last train for staying in the game for the second place, so they might go all in early on.
