Slovenia-Northern Ireland is a match valid for the fifth day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group H and is played Thursday at 8:45 p.m.: predictions.
Slovenia’s qualification hopes are still intact in a group, Group H, that after four days remains wide open.
Compounding the unexpected stuttering of the favorite for first place, Denmark, there are currently four selections that can aspire to one of the top two positions, and among them is also the one led by technical commissioner Matjaz Kek, third on 7 points, two less than the leading pair Finland-Kazakhstan. More defiladed is Northern Ireland, capable of beating only the group’s cinderella, San Marino, and subsequently cashing in on three defeats in a row against Finland, Denmark and Kazakhstan. For Michael O’Neill’s Britons, the challenge in Ljubljana could be one of their last chances to get back in the game, including in the fight for third place and thus the playoffs. Slovenia, on the other hand, of defeats has suffered only one, in Finland. Otherwise, Kek and his men stopped Denmark and beat opponents within their reach such as Kazakhstan and San Marino.
Kek can count on starlet Sesko
A round, in short, where the hierarchies are not well defined: the feeling is that anything can still happen and even one more win could make the difference.
Northern Irish celebrate with fans
For Northern Ireland, this match has the flavor of a last resort as far as direct qualification is concerned: the Britons have only once participated in a European championship final, in 2016. Slovenia has even missed the continental event for 23 years: its only appearance was in 2000, when Belgium and the Netherlands organized the European Championship. Kek in goal reunites Oblak, goalkeeper of Atletico Madrid, but more importantly, he can rely on one of Europe’s most talented youngsters, Leipzig’s striker Sesko, who scored two goals against Union Berlin in the last Bundesliga round.
The Prediction
Northern Ireland cannot settle for a draw, which is why it will necessarily have to revise its strategy to try to make the breakthrough. In any case, it will have to reckon with a Slovenia that, compared to a few years ago, can count on good individuals (Sesko above all) and that definitely has something more than the British. Hosts favored in a match of less than four goals overall.
The probable lineups of Slovenia-Northern Ireland
- SLOVENIA (4-4-2): Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko.
- NORTHERN IRELAND (3-5-2): Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Evans, Cathcart; Hume, McCann, Charles, Saville, Thompson; Price, Charles.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
