Verdict: Each groups to attain – No
Finest Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Getting their respective World Cup qualifying campaigns underway on Friday night time, Finland will journey to the Ta’Qali Stadium after they meet Malta.
Malta
Beginning with the hosts, whereas Malta might need endured a EURO 24 qualifying marketing campaign again in 2023 as they misplaced all of their eight Group C appearances, Emilio De Leo’s males had turned a current nook. Signing off their Nations League marketing campaign by mustering seven factors from their last three appearances, the Reds ought to discover the temper of their camp at a red-hot excessive. Together with a 2-0 pleasant victory in opposition to Liechtenstein on November 14th, Malta are unbeaten in every of their final 4 showdowns throughout all competitions – their longest unbeaten run since again in 2020. Probably smelling the possibility to assert a well-known scalp this weekend, Friday’s hosts can even be excited by their prolonged success on the again. In reality, De Leo’s facet haven’t shipped a single purpose in simply over 400 minutes of motion.
Malta Group Information
James Carragher, son of former Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has obtained a maiden worldwide call-up and is predicted to characteristic on Friday night time. Signing off 2024 with a Nations League crimson card in opposition to Andorra on November nineteenth, one-time Botafogo teen Gabriel Mentz has been omitted from De Leo’s squad.
Making 17 Ligue 1 appearances for French outfit Reims this season, Teddy Teuma will begin in the course of the park and earn a forty second worldwide cap right here. Whereas Basil Tuma might need solely made 4 senior appearances for Studying this 12 months, the 19-year-old has been known as up.
Finland
As for the guests, formally appointing new boss Jason Friis again in January, it’s no secret that the previous Augsburg coach has a significant job on his arms. Enduring a public Nations League disaster final 12 months and coming underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny, the Eagle-Owls are desperately looking for an important increase. In reality, signing off their League B nightmare with a 2-0 loss at dwelling in opposition to Greece, Friday’s visitors misplaced all of their six Nations League showdowns by an combination rating of 13-2. Together with failing to muster a single victory on overseas soil since November 2023, Finland have additionally continued to point out some obtrusive points within the last third. Together with drawing consecutive blanks on two separate events over the previous six months, Friis’ struggling squad have additionally failed to search out the online in all of their final three appearances outdoors of Helsinki.
Finland Group Information
Returning dwelling again in January after becoming a member of HJK on a everlasting foundation, former Norwich striker Teemu Pukki has been included in Friis’ maiden squad and appears set to earn a 128th worldwide cap on Friday night time. Making 23 Bundesliga appearances for German giants Bayer Leverkusen this season, veteran goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky ought to return between the sticks.
Nonetheless, notching only a single strike for League One outfit Exeter this 12 months, Imari Niskanen has been disregarded and won’t characteristic over the subsequent fortnight. Becoming a member of Saudi Arabian facet Al-Shabab through the January switch window, former Leeds star Glen Kamara will begin in the course of the park.
Malta vs Finland Key Elements to Take into account
- When Malta and Finland final met again in March 2018, Friday’s visitors collected a routine 5-0 victory on dwelling soil.
- Finland have gained their 4 historic conferences in opposition to Malta by an combination rating of 11-2.
- The Eagle-Owls misplaced all of their six Nations League appearances final 12 months by an combination rating of 13-2.
- Malta haven’t conceded a single purpose throughout any completion in simply over 400 minutes of motion.
- Finland have drawn a clean in all of their earlier three consecutive showdowns on overseas soil.
Conclusion
Whereas Finland would possibly open their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign pencilled in as a standout contender, Friday’s visitors needs to be bracing themselves for what could possibly be a difficult take a look at. Remarkably shedding all of their six Nations League showdowns final 12 months and coming underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny, the Eagle-Owls have additionally failed to search out the online of their earlier three consecutive appearances on overseas soil. Assembly a Malta squad which can be having fun with their longest unbeaten run since 2020, possibilities might come at a premium right here. It also needs to be famous, the Reds haven’t conceded a single purpose in simply over 400 minutes of motion.
Verdict: Each groups to attain – No
Finest Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
