Slovenia vs Finland Match Analysis and Prediction

Slovenia vs Finland Match Analysis & Prediction

Slovenia

14/10/2023 7:00 pm

Finland

by Vincent

7 months ago 0 69

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

With the outcome of Group H still very much in the balance, Slovenia and Finland meet in a crucial Euro 2024 qualifying tie at Stadion Stozice on Saturday.

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The top four nations are separated by just one point heading into this month’s fixtures, and Slovenia sit at the top after six matches.

Aside from losing June’s reverse match to Finland in Helsinki, Slovenia have gone unbeaten through their other five Group H matches so far, including back-to-back victories in September.

As a result, Slovenia occupy one of two automatic qualifying spots for next summer’s European Championship finals in Germany, but they still have plenty of work left to do.

Alongside Finland. both Denmark and Kazakhstan sit within a point of Slovenia, and in a six-team group there are four matches remaining between now and next month’s conlusion.

In addition to a 4-0 thrashing of bottom-placed San Marino, Slovenia’s last encounter also brought a 4-2 victory over Northern Ireland in Ljubljana, with strikers Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko both getting their names on the scoresheet at Stadion Stozice.

Matjaz Kek’s side have not qualified for a Euros since 2000, and their last appearance at any finals came at the World Cup ten years later, so the head coach – who was in charge on the latter occasion – is now aiming to bring the good times back and make his second spell as national boss just as memorable.

While Finland have set foot on the main stage much more recently that Slovenia – making a cameo appearance at the delayed Euro 2020 – that remains the Nordic nation’s only finals appearance to date.

Having had a taste of the big time, Finland are naturally eager for more in 2024, and they set off on the road to Germany in fine style, establishing a two-point lead atop Group H by beating Kazakhstan at the start of September.

The Eagle-Owls had also won 2-0 against Slovenia in June through goals from Joel Pohjanpalo and Oliver Antman, but defeat to Denmark last time out saw them overhauled by their neighbours. They therefore sit third and one point adrift of the top two.

As Markku Kanerva’s side could yet be handed a playoff spot based on their efforts in League B of the most recent UEFA Nations League, not everything rests on their final four group matches.

Nonetheless, picking up points in Ljubljana and from next week’s home game against Kazakhstan could put Finland in pole position ahead of November’s finale.

Slovenia vs. Finland Head to head

In the four previous meetings between these two teams, Slovenia have claimed one victory while Finland have won two, and they have drawn once.

28/04/1999

Slovenia

1

Finland

1

Friendlies
14/08/2013

Finland

2

Slovenia

0

Friendlies
13/01/2017

Slovenia

2

Finland

0

Non-FIFA Friendlies
16/06/2023

Finland

2

Slovenia

0

Euros Qualifiers
14/10/2023

Slovenia

N/A

Finland

N/A

Euros Qualifiers

Slovenia Team News

As his team have built up some momentum in recent months, Kek has named a familiar Slovenia squad for the matches against Finland and Northern Ireland.

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak take the captain’s armband once again. One of his back-ups, Matevz Vidovsek, has withdrawn due to a shoulder injury, but Kek has all his main players available.

Slovenia's Last 5 Matches

26/03/2023

Slovenia

2

San Marino

0

Euros Qualifiers
16/06/2023

Finland

2

Slovenia

0

Euros Qualifiers
19/06/2023

Slovenia

1

Denmark

1

Euros Qualifiers
07/09/2023

Slovenia

4

Northern Ireland

2

Euros Qualifiers
10/09/2023

San Marino

0

Slovenia

4

Euros Qualifiers

Finland Team News

Finland will be captained by an experienced goalkeeper, as Bayer Leverkusen’s Lukas Hradecky is set to earn an 88th senior cap for his nation.

Having netted the winner in Kazakhstan and also scored in June’s reverse fixture, Oliver Antman is Finland’s most notable injury absentee, but Venezia striker Joel Pohjanpalo and 38-goal record scorer Teemu Pukki can still join forces up front.