Moldova v Czech Republic is a match from the second day of Group E of Euro 2024 qualifying and is played on Monday at 20:45: TV, predictions.
Driven by Sparta Prague’s lockout, the Czech Republic immediately set the tone for qualification by winning the direct clash (3-1) against a disappointing Poland. In the Slavia Prague stadium, it was the ‘cousins’ jewels (Krejci, Cvancara and Kuchta) that gave coach Jaroslav Silhavy a victory of enormous specific weight against a direct competitor for first place.
A clear-cut success that is a breath of fresh air for a coach who had recently been on the hot seat due to the failure to qualify for the World Cup – the Czech Republic were eliminated in the play-off by Sweden – and a disastrous Nations League, which ended with relegation to the B League. Having beaten Poland in the opener, however, means ‘booking’ one of the twenty passes to Euro 2024. If the Czechs do not play any tricks against the weakest selections in the group (Faroe Islands, Moldova and Albania), they can also afford to lose the return match with the Poles by one goal, while still keeping the first place by virtue of the goal difference in the direct matches. Staying full points even after the trip to Moldova is the Czech Republic’s goal. They will most likely have to do without their goal scorer Schick again. The former Roma player has already missed the match against Poland and it is conceivable that 20-year-old Hlozek, his team-mate at Bayer Leverkusen, will be confirmed in the centre of the trident.
Moldova made their debut with a draw
Moldova returned from a draw (1-1) with the Faroe Islands, which enabled Serghei Clescenco’s national team to extend their positive series in official matches
Clescenco, Moldovan selector
Four consecutive useful results, if we consider the three wins in a row in the last Nations League against Andorra, Latvia and Liechtenstein, in which the Moldovan selection never scored less than two goals. However, these victories were of little use as it was Latvia who were promoted to League C due to the better goal difference. The objective in these qualifiers is mainly to avoid bad figures and capitalise on the progress achieved in the Nations League. Clescenco will attempt to reverse the trend in which Moldova have always been defeated in their last 20 matches against national teams occupying the top 100 positions in the Fifa rankings.
The Prediction
There seems to be all the ingredients for a very large victory for the Czech Republic, who appeared inspired and on the ball from the start against Poland. The total goals could be at least three.
The likely line-up for Moldova v Czech Republic
- MOLDOVA (5-4-1): Railean; Revenco, Craciun, Mudrac, Armas, Posmac; Platica, Rata, Caimacov, Damascan; Nicolaescu.
- REPUBLIC CZECH REPUBLIC (3-4-3): Pavlenka; Holes, Brabec, Krejci; Coufal, Kral, Soucek, Cerny; Cvancara, Hlozek, Kuchta.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-4
