A draw is enough for Switzerland to ensure their qualification for the 2018 World Cup on Sunday, November 12. In their return match against the European qualifiers, the team hosts Northern Ireland at St. Jakob-Park, in Basel. The kickoff is scheduled for 15h (Brasília time).
In the first match in Belfast, the Swiss had the help of refereeing and defeated the Irish, 1-0, in charge of a wrongly marked penalty. With this, they will be able to go to the World-wide one if they win or tie. The visitors need a difference of two goals or a minimum margin provided that they sign at least two times to reverse the situation. If they win by 1 to 0 they will cause an extension of 30 minutes and if equality persists the decision will happen through penalties.

Switzerland’s recent performance

Although they won the match due to an error in refereeing, Switzerland were much better in the first clash. He had a great advantage in possession of the ball (63% to 37%), he knew what to do with the ball trying more finals (15 to 6) and was much more efficient in this matter than the rivals. He sent four balls in the right direction while the Irish did not hit a single ball at the target.
There is no doubt that the Swiss will try to repeat the same formula applied in the return game. Having possession of the ball and exchanging passes will not only maintain control of the match but, of course, will prevent the opponent from creating opportunities.
The Swiss have the best campaign between the teams that were second in their groups and have achieved the right to play the replay of the European qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
In key B, who had Portugal as champion, Switzerland took advantage of the advantage of acting against the Portuguese, still hangover of the title of Euro 2016 and without Cristiano Ronaldo in the first round and they were ahead of the standings. With a run of nine wins, he reached the tenth round needing only a draw to stamp his passport to Russia.
However, they did not resist the Portuguese, and as visitors, the Swiss were beaten 2-0 by rivals, who won all eight straight games and equalized in the standings with 27 points (nine wins and one loss). They ended up taking advantage of the goal difference.
The Swiss have a much longer tradition in the world. They disputed their first cup in 1934 and reached the mark of ten participations, including the World Cup of Brazil, of 2014, when they fell in the eighth of end. His best campaign was to reach the quarterfinals, which happened three times.
The Swiss could not count on injured defender Johan Djourou and Valon Behrami with a thigh injury in the first leg. They will undergo a new medical evaluation that will determine if they will be available on Sunday.
For the start of the match, the Swiss national team included: Roman Burki (Borussia Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (FC Augsburg), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Manuel Akanji (Basel), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Leo Lacroix ), Michael Lang (Basel), Stephen Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Ricardo Rodriguez (Milan), Fabian Schar (Deportivo La Coruña), Valon Behrami (Udinese), Blerim Dzemaili (Montreal Impact), Breel Embolo (Schalke), Edimilson Fernandes West Ham), Gelson Fernandes (Eintracht Frankfurt), Fabian Frei (Mainz), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Mario Gavranovic Rijeka), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkusen), Haris Seferovic (Benfica), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach), Steven Zuber (1899 Hoffenheim).

The current form of Northern Ireland
Out of the world since 1990, Northern Ireland had only three appearances in the finals of the tournament. It disputed the World-wide one of Sweden in 1958, the one of Spain in 1982, and the one of Mexico, in 1986.
His qualification for the repechage may be considered as surprising. The draw of the groups for the European qualifiers for the World Cup in Russia was not the most favorable for Northern Ireland. He placed the team in key C, which had Germany, current world champion.
In theory, this meant that the second place and the right to play the repechage was the maximum to be achieved. Practice confirmed this thesis. The Germans won their 10 matches, accumulating 30 points and took first place and the direct spot in the Russian World Cup with the best attack (43 goals) and the weakest defense (four goals).
The North-Irish, however, were able to manage their limitations and scoring when they could, even if by far, escort Germany. They secured second place overtaking traditional teams like Czech Republic and Norway with two rounds of anticipation.
This allowed the team to use the last double round of the qualifying rounds as training for the recap. The results, however, were not the most encouraging. In October, they lost at home to Germany by 3 to 1, and to Norway, by 1 to 0.
For the decisive game is waited the return of the defender Aaron Hughes. He was vetoed from the first match and will undergo further tests to see if he has the physical condition needed to enter the field, although he will hardly be at his best.
For the game of this Sunday Ireland has:
Goalkeepers: Roy Carroll, Michael McGovern, Alan Mannus
Defenders: Aaron Hughes, Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt, Conor McLaughlin, Lee Hodson, Paddy McNair, Daniel Lafferty, Rory McArdle, Tom Flanagan
Stockings: Steven Davis, Niall McGinn, Ollie Norwood, Corry Evans, Shane Ferguson, Stuart Dallas, Paul Paton, Matthew Lund, George Saville, Jordan Jones.
Attackers: Kyle Lafferty, Josh Magennis, Jamie Ward, Conor Washington.

History of the matches between Switzerland and Northern Ireland
The teams had only four meetings before the duel in the repechage for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Switzerland won once, there was a draw and two successes of the Northern Irish.
Of those matches, two were official and worth the qualifiers of the 1966 World Cup, which was played in England. At home, Ireland won 1-0. In Switzerland, the hosts gave the change 2-1.

Northern Ireland will hardly leave for Switzerland even if they have to reverse the handicap. The selection does not have enough technical conditions to try this type of strategy. You should only start for this strategy if you suffer a goal or you do not succeed with the more conservative tactic.
Acting at home, having technical superiority and the advantage of the tie, Switzerland will be able to explore the possible spaces left by the Irish defense. It is the best betting option with a price of 1.53 on Bet365. Draw shows quotation of 3.80 and successful visitor yields 7.00 per invested real.