Match form loads a moment after the page opens so the main prediction can appear first; recent results are fetched right after.
Ireland are the stronger side on recent results, with three wins and a draw from their last four before the 2-2 with Czechia on 26 March. Those wins came against Hungary, Portugal and Armenia, so the standard of opponent has been respectable as well. For a Home Win pick, that recent ability to turn matches into victories matters more than the total-goals angle.
North Macedonia arrive in much weaker shape for this market. They are winless in five matches, and their last two away games ended in a 7-1 defeat to Wales and a 4-0 defeat to Denmark. Even allowing for the quality of those opponents, that is a poor base for an away upset or even a solid draw case.
Their latest outing against Denmark was especially one-sided: North Macedonia managed only three shots, none on target, while conceding 20 shots and nine on target. Ireland’s own 2-2 draw with Czechia was less convincing than their earlier wins, but they still took something from a tough away playoff and remain four games unbeaten. That contrast supports the home side more than it supports any goals market.
There is also a modest head-to-head lean here, with Ireland unbeaten in the last four meetings between the teams from the database sample. The xG projection points the same way at 1.5 for Ireland against 0.7 for North Macedonia, although the forecast 2-1 score does hint at some risk around Ireland keeping control for the full match rather than coasting.
My prediction is Home Win at 1.65. Ireland have taken three wins from their last five completed competitive matches, North Macedonia are five games without a win, and the visitors have just been beaten 7-1 by Wales and 4-0 by Denmark in their last two away fixtures. Ireland are also unbeaten in the last four recorded meetings with North Macedonia.
