Estonia-Azerbaijan is a match valid for the seventh day of Group F of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played on Friday at 6 p.m.: predictions.
There is very little at stake in this match between Estonia and Azerbaijan, which is practically only valid for ranking purposes. The Baltics have brought home one point in five matches, the result of just the draw (1-1) with the Azeris last June, and can no longer finish in the top two: even the math says so.
It would take a sporting miracle for the Caucasian selection, coached now since 2020 by Gianni De Biasi: the former Torino coach has failed to achieve the same results as he did during his previous stint as Albania selector, which he led all the way to the final stage of the 2016 European Championships. Azerbaijan has the same points as Estonia in the standings of Group F, which is dominated by Belgium and Austria for the time being, but in order to keep the flame of hope lit, it must either compulsorily win in Tallinn or hope that the big match of the day, the one between the top of the class, does not end in a draw. We are obviously talking about “science fiction,” since an Azeri comeback, at this point in the competition, is practically impossible, except in mere mathematical calculations.
The roster of these two selections is also very similar in terms of numbers: both Azerbaijan and Estonia barely scored two goals.
An Azerbaijan lineup
But the goal difference, for now, rewards De Biasi’s national team, which, compared to the Estonians, has conceded five fewer goals. After the drubbing in the first two matches against Austria (4-1) and Sweden (5-0), Azerbaijan at least limited the damage, drawing with Estonia but more importantly losing “only” 1-0 to Lukaku’s Belgium. The Red Devils, on the other hand, had no mercy with the Baltics, overwhelmed 5-0 last September. In the last three outings, the representative team coached by Swiss Thomas Haberli has cashed in a whopping 13 goals.
The Prediction
Estonia and Azerbaijan have no more chances to qualify: all they have left is to try to avoid last place. Along the lines of the first leg, we do not expect an overly eventful match given the numbers of the two attacks. The Azeris should be able to put at least a point in their pockets.
The probable lineups of Estonia-Azerbaijan
- ESTONIA (3-4-2-1): Hein; Paskotsi, Tamm, Kuusk; Peetson, Poom, Kait, Pikk; Ojamaa, Vassiljev; Anier.
- AZERBAIGIAN (4-1-4-1): Magomedaliyev; Mammadov, Mustafazada, Kryvotsyuk, Cafarguliyev; Diniyev; Bayramov, Isayev, Mahmudov, Sheydayev; Emreli.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
