Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Preview: Liechtenstein vs. Slovakia - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 June 2023, 22:02
Slovakia will look to maintain their unbeaten start to Euro 2024 qualifying when they face Liechtenstein in Vaduz on Tuesday.

The hosts, meanwhile, will have their work cut out to claim a positive result after losing their last 16 internationals.

Match preview

Since beating Luxembourg 2-1 in October 2020, Liechtenstein have gone 28 matches without picking up a victory, and three of those games have taken place in the current qualifying campaign.

They lost 4-0 to European giants Portugal in their opening game, before they fell to a demoralising 7-0 home defeat to Iceland on matchday two.

Konrad Funfstuck was named Liechtenstein's permanent manager in May, replacing interim boss Rene Pauritsch, but he was unable to inspire an immediate upturn in fortunes in his first game in charge against Luxembourg on Friday, which resulted in a 2-0 away defeat.

Liechtenstein have not won a match in European Championship qualifying since November 2014, and it looks set to be another tough campaign for the minnows.

While achieving a positive result may prove difficult, Tuesday's hosts will be hoping to find the net for the first time since June last year.

In contrast to their hosts, Slovakia have made an impressive start to their qualifying campaign, collecting seven points from three matches.

They would have been disappointed to play out a goalless draw with Luxembourg on matchday one, but they have gained momentum from wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland.

Juraj Kucka gave Slovakia the lead in Saturday's away trip to Reykjavik, before Iceland's Alfred Finnbogason restored parity from the penalty spot.

However, Tomas Suslov scored the all-important winner in the second period to leave Slovakia in second place in Group J with seven points to their name.

Slovakia will be looking for a third consecutive win on Tuesday, and they will draw inspiration from their recent away form, having won four of their last six away internationals.

Liechtenstein Euro Champ Qualifying form:

L

L

L

Liechtenstein form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

L

L

Slovakia Euro Champ Qualifying form:

D

W

W

Slovakia form (all competitions):

D

D

D

D

W

W

Team News

Liechtenstein may have to cope without the services of Nicolas Hasler, who is a doubt after being forced off in the first half against Luxembourg.

Sandro Wolfinger replaced Hasler at the weekend, and he could be presented with a starting opportunity if the 32-year-old is unable to feature on Tuesday.

After starting the first two qualifiers, Jens Hofer dropped to the bench for Saturday's contest, but the defender could return to the starting XI against Slovakia.

As for the visitors, Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka will keep his place in goal, and he is expected to be shielded by the central defensive pairing of Denis Vavro and Milan Skriniar.

After coming off the bench to score the winner against Iceland, Suslov could be rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.

Robert Polievka is likely to retain his place in the forward line, and he will be hoping to make his fourth appearance for Slovakia with his first international goal.

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:

Buchel; Malin, Traber, Hofer; S. Wolfinger, Meier, Luchinger, Sele, Goppel; Saglam, Salanovic

Slovakia possible starting lineup:

Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Hamsik; Suslov, Mak, Polievka

We say: Liechtenstein 0-3 Slovakia

Slovakia head into Tuesday's encounter off the back of consecutive victories, and we think that they will ease to three points when they come up against Liechtenstein, who have lost their last 16 games.

Previews by email

Top News

19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Tuesday, England Under-17s will kick off the European Under-17 Championship with a tricky game against last year's runners-up France Under-17s. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Manchester United squad are apparently facing the prospect of a mammoth pay cut due to their failure to qualify for the 2024-25 Champions League. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk David Moyes believes he is leaving West Ham United having enjoyed a "successful" period as the club's manager and hopes they can reach new heights in the 2024-25 season. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Tuesday, Spain Under-17s will face Iberian rivals Portugal Under-17s on matchday one of the European Under-17 Championship. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta issued a short, sharp response when asked if the injury that kept Bukayo Saka out of Sunday's 2-1 win over Everton could harm his chances of playing for England at Euro 2024. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has paid an emotional tribute to Liverpool's departing boss Jurgen Klopp following his final match in charge of the Reds at Anfield on Sunday. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A Liverpool academy graduate scored a landmark Premier League goal in the Reds' 2-0 beating of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on the final day. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola is confident that Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side will continue to challenge his Manchester City team for the Premier League title for "many years". 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has admitted that he is "closer to leaving than staying" at Manchester City after leading the club to a record fourth consecutive Premier League title. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Tuesday, Italy Under-17s kick off their European Under-17 Championship campaign with Poland Under-17s at AEK Arena in Cyprus. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovakia Under-17s will begin their European Under-17 Championship in Tuesday's clash with Sweden Under-17s at the Paralimni Stadium in Cyprus. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lorient suffered an automatic relegation from Ligue 1 in the most heartbreaking circumstances as Metz survived by the skin of their teeth on the final day. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz have been relegated from La Liga, with their four-year stay in Spain's top flight coming to an end on the penultimate weekend of the 2023-24 campaign. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Departing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp paid a heart-rending tribute to his backroom coaching team after the curtain came down on his glittering Reds career. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti lavished praise on Arda Guler following the teenager's brace in Sunday's La Liga clash with Villarreal. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ten Premier League whistles sounded for the final time on a sunny Sunday evening, where title and relegation fates were sealed on a goal-laden final day of 2023-24 action. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jurgen Klopp delivered an emotional speech to the Anfield crowd after leading Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in his final match as the club's head coach. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Diogo Dalot deserves credit for his performances for the club during the 2023-24 campaign. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has said that his future at the club is up to "the owners and the sporting director". 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has admitted that his side will "need to go to a different level" if they are to get over the line in the future for the Premier League title. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has admitted that his side's final position of eighth in the Premier League table 'is not good enough'. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are condemned to a second-placed finish despite a 2-1 win over Everton. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions for a record fourth season in a row after beating West Ham United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham secure a fifth-placed Premier League finish with a 3-0 beating of Sheffield United. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea record a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, securing sixth place in the Premier League table. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool reign ends with a routine 2-0 win over 10-man Wolves. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo went into Sunday's Premier League fixture against Bournemouth having failed to score in his first 47 appearances for the club. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly turn down any offers which arrive for Bruno Fernandes this summer, with the club have no interest in allowing the Portugal international to leave. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lisandro Martinez is handed a start in Manchester United's Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have made two changes for Sunday's Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.