Euro2020 qualifiers: Switzerland v Ireland betting preview, free tip,TV details

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Switzerland v Ireland in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Mix/Main Event, 7.45pm Tuesday

Best bet

Switzerland -1 on Asian handicap
1pt 21-20 bet365
Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri remains sidelined.

Ireland
David McGoldrick has not travelled but Enda Stevens returns from suspension.

Match preview

Mick McCarthy cannot understand why there is so much doom and gloom surrounding the Ireland football team but he may have more of an idea after his side have visited Switzerland for a huge Euro 2020 qualifier.

The equation is pretty simple for Ireland, who will seal a spot at the finals with a victory away to the Swiss or at home to Denmark next month. Saturday's disappointing goalless stalemate in Georgia means draws may no longer be enough.

And that's the problem given that unbeaten Ireland have scored just six goals in six qualifiers and half of that tally came in the double-header with minnows Gibraltar.

McCarthy has always been able to set a team up to be difficult to beat and the 0-0 stalemate in Denmark and 1-1 draw at home to Switzerland is further evidence of that. However, the mindset should be focused on victories now, despite the fact that Ireland enter this round of matches on top of Group D.

Switzerland are likely to beat Georgia at home and Gibraltar away, which would leave them on at least 14 points, and Denmark host Gib so that virtually puts them on 15 points, making Ireland's current mark of 12 vulnerable.

Head-to-head is the first criteria used should teams finish level on points and Switzerland's 1-1 draw in Dublin puts them in the driving seat against Ireland, who could struggle for an away goal judging by their efforts on Saturday in Tbilisi, where they lost the shot count 14-7.

Teenage forward Aaron Connolly at least looked a threat off the bench and his efforts could earn the Brighton teenager a first international start. It's not an ideal solution, and far from in McCarthy's nature, but other limited options have come up short in this section.

Switzerland, semi-finalists at the Nations League, also reached the World Cup knockout stages and have far more to offer even without key injured playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri.

Only an inspired 90 minutes from Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel kept the Swiss at bay in Copenhagen on Saturday. They also hit the woodwork twice before coming unstuck thanks to a superb assist from Christian Eriksen as Yussuf Poulsen settled matters with the only goal of the game.

Eriksen and Poulsen are playing in this season's Champions League and have the kind of quality that is lacking in this Irish team.

McCarthy's men are fine when it comes to putting men behind the ball but should they have to chase the points at any stage it would leave them hugely vulnerable to swift Swiss counter-attacks.

Switzerland have not lost a competitive home match since 2014 and results over the last couple of qualifying campaigns include victories over Portugal and Belgium by two- and three-goal margins.

Vladimir Petkovic's outfit deserve their tag as short-priced favourites and a better bet could be to take them minus one on the Asian handicap, with stakes refunded if Switzerland win by one goal.