Luxembourg vs Slovakia prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-15 18:45.
There will be few 2024 European Championship qualifiers (ECQ) as potentially decisive as Luxembourg against Slovakia over the coming days. The two sides began this matchday just two points apart, with the visitors occupying the remaining automatic qualification slot in Group J and the hosts firmly in contention for an inaugural Euros appearance. Following a scoreless draw between these countries in the opening round, this encounter could also help determine who should progress if the pair are neck-and-neck on points after ten games.
Luxembourg certainly won’t want it to come down to goal difference, after letting in 15 goals in two ECQ losses to group-topping Portugal, but they remain undefeated against the rest of the sides in Group J (W3, D2), conceding just twice from those five outings. When taking into account that their 1-1 draw in Iceland on Friday evening was played against a home side that needed to win in difficult conditions, manager Luc Holtz had “no regrets” other than being unable to snatch the three points in stoppage time.
Now it’s Slovakia’s turn to travel to an opposition desperate for victory. They’ll approach this match knowing that they’ve already capitalised on their meetings with minnows Liechtenstein, whereas Luxembourg still have a trip to Vaduz to come, so falling out of the top two with a loss here could place them in a perilous position. And having appeared at the two previous Euro finals, not qualifying for Germany 2024 would be considered an abject failure.
But the squad ought to be confident rather than fearful after becoming the first team of this ECQ cycle to score against Portugal in an agonising 3-2 away loss. Head coach Francesco Calzona hailed “a great second half” during which they outscored the Portuguese in a performance that should serve them well ahead of a second consecutive away trip.
Players to watch: A return to familiar surroundings for Danel Sinani could be just what he needs after he netted in Luxembourg’s two previous home ECQs. Curiously, defender Dávid Hancko has registered Slovakia’s opening goal in each of their last two ECQs.
Hot streak: Luxembourg have kept a first-half clean sheet in each of their last nine victories, five of which were 0-0 at HT.