The final countdown to UEFA Euro 2024 has officially begun as we approach a string of highly anticipated international friendlies. Some of the nations that are playing this week are heading for the big tournament and others aren’t, but either way, it’s important for all of them to try and build some momentum. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the impending clash between Slovakia and San Marino.
Slovakia Form GuideSlovakia haven’t exactly blown many teams away on the big stage, but they’re pretty consistent when it comes to raising an eyebrow with qualification. The last decade or so has been their best run for that and although they seem to be moving something of a transition period, they have the ability to spring a surprise - even though their inconsistency has harmed them time and time again.
Group J proved to be quite competitive outside of Portugal winning all 10 of their group fixtures. Slovakia wound up finishing in 2nd place, five points ahead of Luxembourg who finished in 3rd. With seven wins, one draw and just two defeats, they’ll be left feeling pretty satisfied with their performances.
San Marino Form GuideSan Marino are often looked upon as the ‘second team’ for a lot of international football fans - largely because they aren’t very big, and they aren’t very good. They are taken to the cleaners pretty frequently and yet, despite that, they still maintain a strong spirit. They’re unlikely to qualify in the near future, but who knows, perhaps a surprise could be on the horizon.
Did San Marino lose all 10 of their qualifying games? Yes. Did they only score three goals? Yes. Still, they have the kind of fanbase that means they are always going to be entertaining to watch. Who knows, maybe a victory in a competitive game is coming sooner than we think.
Match PredictionIn a game like this, the whole point is to do everything in your power to make an impact - but at the same time, there are far more important matches that lie ahead. Therefore, while we do think there will be some big moments here and there, our official prediction is over 2.5 goals scored.
