Republic of Ireland host Kosovo at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday 17 November, a 7.45pm (UK time) kick-off in the Nations League, and this final-round meeting doubles as a straight shoot-out for second place in League B, Group 3.
Austria have already sealed top spot and promotion to League A, which leaves the runners-up place and the promotion play-off spot that comes with it to be settled between these two. Kosovo sit a point clear of the Republic of Ireland going into the finale, so Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side know only a win will do, while Franco Foda‘s Kosovo need only avoid defeat. We have worked through the Republic of Ireland vs Kosovo odds for our best bets, two premium picks and a score prediction below.
Premium Tips
Anthony Eadson expects a tense, low-scoring contest with the Republic of Ireland chasing the win they must have, and we have leaned into their goal threat and Kosovo’s blunt attack for our two Premium Tips, taken at the best prices across our featured bookmakers.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Troy Parrott to score anytime | 7/4 (bet365) | Parrott has been the Republic of Ireland’s standout performer in this group, scoring four times including a brace in the 2-2 draw with Austria and a penalty against Israel. He is Hallgrimsson’s go-to man and the bookmakers’ clear favourite to find the net, which matters in a game Ireland simply have to win on home soil. Kosovo have kept things tight all campaign, but with the hosts set to pour men forward in search of the goals they need, Parrott at 7/4 to get on the scoresheet is where we start. |
| Republic of Ireland to win to nil | 9/4 (Sky Bet) | Kosovo arrive in Dublin on a run of three straight draws and have managed just three goals in their five group games, drawing a blank in back-to-back meetings with Israel. Ireland know a clean sheet and a single goal would be enough to leapfrog their visitors, and at home in front of a backing crowd we fancy them to shut out a side short of attacking spark. At 9/4, Republic of Ireland to win to nil gives us a bigger price on a tight home win. |
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How Republic of Ireland go into the game
The Republic of Ireland go into the finale third in the group, a point behind Kosovo, and need to win to pip them to the runners-up spot. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side bounced between the encouraging and the frustrating across the campaign, opening with a 1-0 defeat in Kosovo before a thumping 3-0 win away to Israel in which Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan all scored.
Home form has been a mixed bag, with a 2-2 draw against Austria after leading 2-0 and a 1-1 stalemate with Israel both ending in dropped points. They signed off the previous window with a 1-0 loss away to group winners Austria, so Hallgrimsson’s men will be desperate to finish strongly in Dublin. Parrott remains the man they look to for the goals that can carry them into a promotion play-off.
How Kosovo go into the game
Kosovo hold the advantage going into the last round, sitting second and needing only a draw to secure the runners-up place behind Austria. Franco Foda’s side have proved awkward to break down, with their campaign built on resilience rather than flair, and they have drawn three in a row heading to Dublin.
They opened with a 1-0 home win over the Republic of Ireland, Vedat Muriqi settling it late, before a 3-1 loss in Vienna and draws with Israel, Austria and then Israel again. A 0-0 at home to bottom side Israel last time out summed up their attacking struggles, with just three goals to their name in the group, but their defensive record means they will fancy frustrating the hosts once more.
Muriqi, the captain and talisman now back at Fenerbahce, remains the man most likely to punish Ireland on the break if they commit too many forward.
Republic of Ireland vs Kosovo head-to-head
These nations had never met competitively until this campaign, when Kosovo claimed a 1-0 win in Pristina through Vedat Muriqi’s 83rd-minute strike on 24 September. That first-ever meeting leaves the Republic of Ireland with a score to settle, and with a play-off place on the line in the return, there is plenty riding on just the second competitive clash between the pair.
Republic of Ireland vs Kosovo predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland to win | 11/10 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Ireland must win to finish second and should carry the greater threat at home against a Kosovo side with little to play for going forward. |
| Both teams to score – No | 8/11 (Betway) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Kosovo have drawn blanks in three of their last four and scored only three times all group, so goals at both ends look unlikely. |
| Under 2.5 goals | 8/15 (BoyleSports) | ⭐⭐ | Four of Kosovo’s five group games produced under 2.5 goals, including two goalless draws with Israel. |
| Republic of Ireland 1-0 Kosovo | 5/1 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | A single goal settling a tense, must-win night fits both sides’ recent low-scoring form. |
Republic of Ireland vs Kosovo score prediction
This has the makings of a cagey, nervy occasion, with the Republic of Ireland knowing nothing but victory will do and Kosovo content to sit in and protect a point that would be enough for them. The visitors have been miserly all campaign but offer next to nothing going forward, drawing a blank in three of their last four, while Ireland have a genuine match-winner in Troy Parrott. We expect the hosts to find the breakthrough and keep it tight at the back, with Anthony Eadson backing a narrow 1-0 Republic of Ireland win. Score prediction: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Kosovo.
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