Republic of Ireland vs Israel Predictions

Republic of Ireland vs Israel: Boys in Green seek another statement in Serbia. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

The Republic of Ireland and Israel meet for the second time in eight days on Sunday, with both sides under pressure to collect points in Nations League Group 3.

Three Punchy Stats

• Ireland have scored five goals in their last two Nations League matches. after drawing a blank against Kosovo.
• Troy Parrott has scored nine goals in his last six competitive appearances for Ireland.
• Israel have scored just one goal in three Group 3 fixtures, collecting one point.

This time the setting is the TSC Arena in Serbia, where Ireland arrive with renewed momentum after taking four points from their last two matches. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side followed a convincing 3-0 victory over Israel with an encouraging 2-2 draw against group leaders Austria, while Israel remain winless after three fixtures.

For Ireland, another positive result would maintain their push for at least second place and the potentially valuable reward of a place in pot two for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw. Israel’s concerns are rather more immediate: with only one point collected so far, they are fighting to avoid another Nations League relegation.

Ireland finding an attacking spark

Ireland’s campaign started badly with a 1-0 defeat in Kosovo, a match in which they registered only one shot on target. Their response has been emphatic.

Hallgrimsson’s team produced a superb first half when these sides met in Debrecen, scoring three unanswered goals on their way to a 3-0 victory. Troy Parrott was again central to their success, continuing an outstanding run of form for his country.

Ireland carried that attacking confidence into their meeting with Austria. Parrott struck a fine solo effort before converting a penalty to establish a 2-0 half-time advantage, although Austria’s changes helped the visitors recover and secure a 2-2 draw.

Giving up that lead will have frustrated Ireland, but their performances since the Kosovo defeat have offered plenty of encouragement. They have scored five goals across their last two matches and have demonstrated that they can start games with real intensity.

Parrott has become particularly difficult to ignore. The striker has nine goals in his last six competitive appearances for Ireland, while also scoring twice in limited minutes for new club Real Betis this season.

Jack Moylan provides another threat after scoring four times in his first five international appearances.

Israel need an attacking response

Israel’s biggest problem has been at the other end of the pitch.

Ran Ben Shimon’s side have scored just once in three Group 3 games, with Sayed Abu Farchi providing their only goal during the 3-1 defeat against Austria. They subsequently failed to score against either Ireland or Kosovo.

Thursday’s goalless draw with Kosovo at least delivered Israel’s first point of the campaign, but it did little to ease concerns surrounding their attacking output. They have now lost five of their last seven competitive matches and sit 76th in the FIFA world rankings.

Ben Shimon has several options in attack. Abu Farchi, Tai Baribo and Dor Turgeman are competing for places, while Oscar Gloukh and captain Dor Peretz are expected to provide support.

There is also a change required in goal after Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz withdrew with a groin injury, leaving Omri Glazer or Assaf Tzur to deputise.

Ireland have selection issues of their own. James Abankwah is suspended, Gavin Bazunu will not travel, and Seamus Coleman and captain Nathan Collins were already unavailable. Hallgrimsson may also rotate during a demanding sequence of four games in 11 days.

Even so, Ireland’s recent attacking improvement gives them an encouraging platform. Their 3-0 victory in the first meeting demonstrated the gulf they can create when playing with tempo, while Israel must find an attacking solution after consecutive blanks.

📊 Market Explainer

Main Tip

Match Result Market

Selection: Republic of Ireland to win. Choose the home win, draw or away win after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties are excluded from settlement.

Correct Score Tip

Correct Score Market

Selection: Republic of Ireland vs Israel 2-0. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.

🎯 Pick 1: Republic of Ireland to win @ 11/10

Ireland’s recent Nations League momentum makes them the credible selection here, underlined by an impressive return of five goals across their last two fixtures. Following a poor start against Kosovo, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side have discovered a productive attacking rhythm, led prominently by Troy Parrott. The striker approaches this fixture boasting nine goals in his last six competitive international appearances, providing a reliable focal point that directly supports the main selection.

That recent scoring output contrasts sharply with the struggles currently facing Ran Ben Shimon’s side. Israel arrive in Serbia having registered just one point and a single goal across their opening three Group 3 matches. They failed to find the net against either Ireland or Kosovo, highlighting a persistent difficulty in creating and taking chances. Furthermore, the visitors face disruption in goal, with an injury to Southampton’s Daniel Peretz forcing either Omri Glazer or Assaf Tzur to deputise. When Ireland’s revitalised attack meets an opponent managing a forced goalkeeper change alongside a run of five defeats in seven competitive games, the case for the designated home side strengthens.

There are legitimate defensive absences for Ireland to navigate, with James Abankwah suspended alongside the unavailability of Seamus Coleman and Nathan Collins. Those missing players leave the backline altered. However, Ireland already demonstrated their superiority over Israel by securing a commanding 3-0 victory when the teams met just eight days ago. The contrast between Ireland’s immediate attacking improvement and Israel’s prolonged struggle to score provides a coherent footballing basis for this market outcome.

🎯 Tactical Indicators

• Ireland have scored five goals in their last two Nations League fixtures.
• Israel have managed just one goal across their three Group 3 matches.
• Troy Parrott has scored nine goals in his last six competitive appearances for Ireland.

Risk Factor: Ireland's defensive absences could allow Israel to score or disrupt their attacking flow, risking the selection.

⚔️ Pick 2: Republic of Ireland vs Israel 2-0 @ 17/2

Backing a 2-0 correct score requires Ireland to maintain their recent attacking productivity while simultaneously keeping a clean sheet against a struggling side. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team have already proven capable of scoring multiple times in this exact matchup, having recorded three unanswered goals against Israel just over a week ago in Debrecen. They followed that display by establishing a 2-0 half-time lead against group leaders Austria. With Troy Parrott demonstrating excellent finishing form and Jack Moylan adding four goals in his first five international appearances, Ireland possess the proven scoring combinations required to register at least twice in Serbia.

The other side of this exact scoreline relies on Israel failing to score. The supplied evidence strongly supports that possibility, as Ran Ben Shimon’s team have managed only a single goal across three Nations League fixtures. That solitary strike came via Sayed Abu Farchi in a defeat to Austria, and Israel have subsequently drawn blanks against both Ireland and Kosovo. While they have options in attack such as Tai Baribo and Dor Turgeman, their collective failure to score in consecutive matches highlights a severe lack of cutting edge that makes an Irish clean sheet a realistic proposition.

The primary threat to this specific scoreline stems from Ireland’s own selection issues in defence. Missing James Abankwah, Nathan Collins and Seamus Coleman removes established components of the backline, and a reshuffled defence always carries the risk of conceding a single goal that ruins an exact-score selection. Nevertheless, Israel’s return of just one point from three matches and their established difficulty in front of goal provide sufficient grounds to expect a controlled Irish victory. Connecting Ireland’s recent multi-goal performances with Israel’s attacking bluntness makes a 2-0 outcome a logical proposition.