Finland vs San Marino prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-06-18 16:00.
Things couldn’t be much tighter in the UEFA European Championship qualifying (ECQ) Group H with four sides stuck on six points, including hosts Finland, who remain firmly in contention for a second straight tournament appearance. A raucous Helsinki Olympic Stadium will cheer them on here for a contest they’re heavy favourites for against UEFA’s lowest-ranked nation in San Marino (#211).
Their previous successful qualifying campaign was largely credited to Finland’s domineering home form which saw them secure four wins from five (L1), with each victory paired with a clean sheet. Coincidentally, that’s exactly how they began this home campaign with a 2-0 win over Slovenia, a result which has set Finland up to make strides towards the top of the group here by building on their 15 H2H goals in just four meetings (W4).
Although no team’s chances of victory can ever be dismissed, San Marino’s dismal all-time record of one win, nine draws and 189 defeats means they arrive into almost any game as massive outsiders. That sole victory came in a friendly vs Liechtenstein back in 2004, but a repeat success seems highly unlikely, although they have conceded fewer than three goals in four of their last five games (D1, L4).
Regardless, San Marino are up against it if they’re to get a result here, a point illustrated by the fact their entire population could fit within this venue with room to spare! Qualification therefore looks well beyond the microstate, but they’ll be looking to avoid defeat in an ECQ match for the first time since November 2014 – a 0-0 draw with Estonia (L19).
Players to watch: Venezia and Finland forward Joel Pohjanpalo will be hoping to rack up the goals against San Marino after his opener last time out made it ten goal contributions across his last eight games for club & country (G9, A1). Trying his best to outdo him may be San Marino’s Lorenzo Lazzari, who scored his side’s only goal across their previous 11 internationals.
Hot stat: Across both historical home H2Hs, nine of Finland’s 12 goals came beyond half-time.