On Friday evening, Finland will look to boost their chances of qualifying for the European Championships as they welcome Northern Ireland to the Helsingin Olympiastadion.
The Nordic nation currently sits in fourth place in the group table, with just two games remaining, three points adrift of third-place Kazakhstan.
Ensimmäiset treenit ✅#Huuhkajat #MeOlemmeSuomi #FINNIR #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/UPN94V2AQQ— Huuhkajat (@Huuhkajat) November 13, 2023
Ensimmäiset treenit ✅#Huuhkajat #MeOlemmeSuomi #FINNIR #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/UPN94V2AQQ
However, both Kazakhstan and Finland have already booked their place in the play-offs. Finland’s place in the play-offs was sealed via their performance in the Nations League.
The home side's chances of sealing an automatic place at the European Championships have been hampered by a poor recent run of form, as a 2-1 home defeat by Kazakhstan in their last qualifier was a third straight loss in qualifying for the European Championships.
Finland also has a poor recent home record in qualifying, as they have won just two of their previous six home qualifiers.
The visitors have endured a poor qualifying campaign, picking up just six points from their eight matches in Group H of qualifying, which means that they can no longer qualify for Euro2024.
Unsurprisingly, Michael O’Neill’s team has a poor recent record in qualifying, as a 1-0 home defeat to Slovenia last time out means that they have lost six of their previous seven qualifiers.
One of the most significant factors in their poor recent results in qualifying has been a lack of goals, as they have failed to score in five of their previous seven qualifiers.
Northern Ireland has a poor recent away record in qualifying, having won just once in their previous seven qualifiers away from home. The visitors have also suffered three straight away defeats in qualifying.
Forebet predicts that this game will produce a close and low-scoring encounter, likely ending in a draw.