After a disappointing 2023, in which they lost seven of their 10 international matches and failed to qualify for Euro 2024, Northern Ireland have taken positives from their opening four games this year.

A 1-1 friendly draw with Romania and a narrow 1-0 win away to Scotland in March were followed by a 5-1 friendly defeat at the hands of Euro 2024 champions Spain, but they returned to winning ways in their last outing against European minnows Andorra on 11 June.

Indeed, two goals from Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley secured a 2-0 home win over Andorra - one of five victories in 14 matches for coach Michael O'Neil since being reappointed in December 2022.

Northern Ireland, ranked 74th in the world by FIFA, will be hoping to improve on their last outing in the Nations League, when they took just five points from six games to finish third in League C Group 2 behind Kosovo and group winners Greece.

The Green and Whites may have won just one of their 16 Nations League matches, but they have beaten Thursday's opponents Luxembourg in their last two meetings, including a 3-1 friendly win away in March 2022.

Like Northern Ireland, Luxembourg failed to qualify for Euro 2024 after losing to Georgia in the play-off semi-finals, but they did manage to collect a record 17 points from 10 group matches, winning five of them.

Ranked 84th in the world by FIFA, Luxembourg have progressed as a nation in recent years, but there is still a considerable gap between them and the stronger European nations. Indeed, the Lions lost twice to Portugal by a combined score of 15-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying.

Since then, Luxembourg have started the 2024 campaign with three defeats in four matches, losing 2-0 to Greece and 3-0 to both France and Belgium in their last two friendlies, while their only win in that run was a 2-1 home win over Kazakhstan.

Under the stewardship of Luc Holtz since 2010, Luxembourg came agonisingly close to securing promotion from League C of the 2022-23 Nations League, finishing second and just two points behind group winners Turkey despite winning three and drawing two of their six matches.

The Lions are now looking to make a strong start to their new Nations League campaign and will be hoping to get off to a flying start against a Northern Ireland side they have only beaten once before - a 3-2 home win in 2014 World Cup qualifying.

Northern Ireland possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Ballard, McNair, Brown; Bradley, McCann, S. Charles, Lewis; McCausland; D. Charles, Magennis

Luxembourg possible starting lineup:

Moris; Jans, Dzogovic, Chanot, Mahmutovic, Veiga; Martins Pereira, Bareiro, Olesen; Sinani, Rodrigues

Prediction:Northern Ireland 1-1 Luxembourg

Northern Ireland VS Luxembourg stream and TV listing

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