Verdict: Each groups to attain – No
Greatest Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Getting their respective World Cup qualifying campaigns underway on Friday evening, Finland will journey to the Ta’Qali Stadium once they meet Malta.
Malta
Beginning with the hosts, whereas Malta may 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 latest nook. Signing off their Nations League marketing campaign by mustering seven factors from their closing 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 say a well-known scalp this weekend, Friday’s hosts may even be excited by their prolonged success on the again. In actual fact, De Leo’s facet haven’t shipped a single aim in simply over 400 minutes of motion.
Malta Crew Information
James Carragher, son of former Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has obtained a maiden worldwide call-up and is anticipated to characteristic on Friday evening. Signing off 2024 with a Nations League pink card in opposition to Andorra on November nineteenth, one-time Botafogo teenager 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 midst of the park and earn a forty second worldwide cap right here. Whereas Basil Tuma may need solely made 4 senior appearances for Studying this 12 months, the 19-year-old has been referred to 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 palms. Enduring a public Nations League disaster final 12 months and coming beneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny, the Eagle-Owls are desperately in search of a vital enhance. In actual fact, 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 international soil since November 2023, Finland have additionally continued to point out some obvious points within the closing third. Together with drawing consecutive blanks on two separate events over the previous six months, Friis’ struggling squad have additionally failed to seek out the web in all of their final three appearances outdoors of Helsinki.
Finland Crew 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 evening. Making 23 Bundesliga appearances for German giants Bayer Leverkusen this season, veteran goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky ought to return between the sticks.
Nevertheless, notching only a single strike for League One outfit Exeter this 12 months, Imari Niskanen has been overlooked and won’t characteristic over the subsequent fortnight. Becoming a member of Saudi Arabian facet Al-Shabab throughout the January switch window, former Leeds star Glen Kamara will begin in the midst of the park.
Malta vs Finland Key Elements to Contemplate
- When Malta and Finland final met again in March 2018, Friday’s visitors collected a routine 5-0 victory on dwelling soil.
- Finland have received 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 aim throughout any completion in simply over 400 minutes of motion.
- Finland have drawn a clean in all of their earlier three consecutive showdowns on international soil.
Conclusion
Whereas Finland would possibly open their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign pencilled in as a standout contender, Friday’s visitors must be bracing themselves for what could possibly be a difficult take a look at. Remarkably dropping all of their six Nations League showdowns final 12 months and coming beneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny, the Eagle-Owls have additionally failed to seek out the web of their earlier three consecutive appearances on international soil. Assembly a Malta squad which are having fun with their longest unbeaten run since 2020, probabilities may come at a premium right here. It must also be famous, the Reds haven’t conceded a single aim in simply over 400 minutes of motion.
Verdict: Each groups to attain – No
Greatest Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
