Malta vs Finland prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-03-20 19:45.
[p]World Cup qualification (WCQ) Group G kicks off as Malta take on Finland in search of their first-ever participation at a major tournament. Ranked #168 in the world by FIFA, Malta have a new coach in the shape of Emilio De Leo, who has recently called on fans to back the team as he plans for a more “aggressive and attractive style of play’’. [/p]
[p]The size of the task at hand shouldn’t be underestimated though, as Malta have won just three WCQ games in their history (D12, L97). One of those victories did arrive in their last such campaign – a 3-0 home win against Cyprus – and they do come into this clash in good form, unbeaten in four international games (W3, D1), although it’s worth noting all four games came against nations ranked outside of FIFA’s top 150![/p]
[p]Their Nordic opponents are ranked 69th by FIFA but travel in disastrous form after losing their last seven competitive games, all of which came in 2024. They’ll be hoping 2025 brings a change in fortunes, but like their hosts, Finland have never qualified for the World Cup, although they did come close to qualifying for Euro 2024 after being defeated in the play-off round.[/p]
[p]Scoring goals has been a major problem, netting only three times in their current losing run in competitive action. They’ll hope to get back on the goal trail against Malta, who they’ve beaten in the last five meetings, scoring 2+ goals in all five. They won the last H2H 5-0 back in March 2018, but only once since then have they won by a bigger margin, and even that was against San Marino.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Malta’s Teddy Teuma struck his last three international goals in the second half – five of his last six at club level also arrived after the break. Teemu Pukki is looking to break a five-game scoring drought for Finland here, and he could do so having scored three times in Finland’s last WCQ campaign. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Finland have managed just one first-half goal from their last eight internationals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Luke Bridle[/i][/p]