Estonia vs Slovakia prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League C betting tips on match 2024-09-04 18:45.
[p]Missing out on Euro 2024 and still yet to qualify for a major competition as an independent nation, Estonia instead spent the summer securing success in the Baltic Cup, lifting that piece of silverware for the fifth time in their history. Accordingly, it was a positive start to life in the hot seat for new boss JĂĽrgen Henn, who stepped up from his role as assistant to oversee their Baltic Cup success.[/p]
[p]Henn must now navigate a campaign in the UEFA Nations League, with Estonia (FIFA rank #123) now in League C having topped Group D2 in the previous edition of the competition. And the new man at the helm can’t do much worse than his predecessor, with Estonia having won just one of 14 matches across their previous two Nations League campaigns at League C level (D5, L8).[/p]
[p]First up in the competition this time around are Slovakia, who were beaten in extra time by England in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024. Head coach Francesco Calzona’s first two games in charge of Sokoli back in the autumn of 2022 came in the Nations League, failing to win either (D1, L1), while they ended their campaign third with just two wins from six matches overall (D1, L3).[/p]
[p]Since then, Calzona’s side, ranked #44 by FIFA, have only been beaten four times in 20 games (90 mins: W10, D6), winning seven of their ten qualification games en route to Euro 2024 (D1, L2). If they can pick up another win here in Tallinn, Slovakia will maintain their 100% H2H record after winning both of their two previous encounters with Estonia in 2005, each by a single goal margin (1-0, 2-1).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Young striker Alex Tamm has scored two goals across his last four international appearances, with both being Estonia’s first goal of the game. Veteran Juraj Kucka has been booked in five of his last nine Nations League appearances, with all coming in the last 15 minutes of a half.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of Estonia’s eight defeats in League C of the Nations League came by a single-goal margin. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]