Slovenia vs Finland

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With Group H's outcome still uncertain, a crucial Euro 2024 qualifying match will take place at Stadion Stozice on Saturday, pitting Slovenia against Finland. The top four teams are separated by a mere one point as they enter this month's fixtures, and Slovenia leads the group after playing six matches.

Apart from their loss in the reverse fixture to Finland in Helsinki back in June, Slovenia has remained unbeaten in their five other Group H games, including consecutive wins in September. This success has placed Matjaz Kek's team in one of the two automatic qualifying positions for the European Championship finals in Germany next summer, but there's still a significant amount of work ahead of them.

Slovenia faces competition from Denmark and Kazakhstan, both of which are within one point of Slovenia in this six-team group. With four matches left to be played between now and next month's conclusion, the race remains highly competitive.

In their most recent gathering, Slovenia defeated the bottom-ranked San Marino 4-0 and secured a 4-2 win over Northern Ireland in Ljubljana. Notably, Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko, the striking duo, contributed to the scoresheet at Stadion Stozice.

Slovenia hasn't qualified for the Euros since 2000, and their last appearance in any major finals was at the World Cup ten years later. Matjaz Kek, who was in charge during that time, now seeks to bring back the glory days and make his second stint as the national team's coach just as memorable.

The Finns are naturally keen for more after experiencing a taste of the big stage, and they began their journey to Germany in excellent fashion by defeating Kazakhstan at the beginning of September to take the lead in Group H by two points.

Joel Pohjanpalo and Oliver Antman's goals helped Markku Kanerva's team upset Slovenia 2-0 in June, but their most recent loss against Denmark resulted in an outright victory for their neighbors. As a result, they are currently third, one point behind the top two.

Not everything depends on the Eagle-Owls' remaining four group matches because they still have a chance to be awarded a playoff spot based on their performance in League B of the most recent UEFA Nations League.

However, winning in Ljubljana and the home game against Kazakhstan the following week might put Finland in the lead going into the final day of November.

For the games against Finland and Northern Ireland, Matjaz Kek has selected a familiar Slovenia lineup as his team has established some rhythm in recent months. Once more, Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid assumes the captaincy duties; Matevz Vidovsek, one of his backups, had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury, but Kek still has all of his starting players available.

The hosts on Saturday have averaged over two goals per game in Group H thanks to a strong front line, and Panathinaikos striker Andraz Sporar, who has three goals through four Euro 2024 qualifiers, should pair up with RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.

Meanwhile, Lukas Hradecky of Bayer Leverkusen, who is set to earn his 88th senior cap for his country, will also serve as Finland's captain.

Oliver Antman, who scored the game-winning goal in Kazakhstan and also scored in the rematch in June, is the most significant injury absence for the visitors, but Venezia striker Joel Pohjanpalo and 38-goal record holder Teemu Pukki can still work together up front.

Group H has established itself as a very competitive arena in the exhilarating world of European football, with Slovenia and Finland two of its most bitter rivals. Slovenia now has Finland in mind as they want to clinch first place in the group after cruising to a convincing 4-0 victory against San Marino. On Saturday, they face a significant task.

The Slovenians, who dominated the qualifying round in September, have played with aggression, and their goal total is evidence of their offensive prowess. Andraz Sporar, the Panathinaikos striker who is their offensive captain, will surely be the biggest cause for concern for Finland.

The happiness for Slovenian supporters doesn't end there. Miha Blazic, who had been battling an ailment, is finally healthy, which improves Slovenia's defense. Their total team statistics, which show a 60% ball possession rate and a shooting accuracy yielding 2.2 goals per game, emphasize their potential threat even more.

In contrast, the Finnish team does not give up easily. The challenge of playing Slovenia in Ljubljana is enormous because they are seeking to restore a top-two spot in the group. The Finnish lineup is still strong, with no bans weakening their team, even though Ilmari Nicksanen is still on the road to recovery.

The star player, midfielder Daniel Hkans, has scored three goals in this competition as well, matching Sporar's total for Slovenia. Finland's playstyle suggests a well-balanced club, both defensively and offensively, as evidenced by their 52.3% ball possession rate and average of 1.8 goals per game.

In Euro 2024 qualification, Slovenia will be hosting Finland in a highly competitive match on Match Day 7. These two teams are part of Group H, with Slovenia currently leading the group, and Finland holding the third position. Just one point separates them, and at the moment, any of the top five nations in the group could qualify for the tournament.

Slovenia has the home advantage in this fixture, having won their last two matches and remaining unbeaten in their last three. Playing on their home turf further strengthens their position, and they have the opportunity to seek revenge for their 2-0 loss to Finland in June. Slovenia hasn't participated in a major tournament for over a decade, making this a significant opportunity for them. With 13 points and sitting atop their group, a victory in this match would be a significant boost to their chances. Their greatest strength lies in their ability to score, having netted two or more goals in four out of their six matches in this group. Only Finland managed to halt their attack, and they aim to maintain their good form in front of their home crowd.

Finland kicked off their campaign with an away defeat to Denmark but then went on a solid winning streak, securing four consecutive victories. Their winning run, however, came to an end when they faced Denmark again in September, losing 1-0 on the road. They are determined to avoid a second consecutive away loss in this match. Notably, that defeat was the first time in this group that Denmark failed to score, as they had kept four consecutive clean sheets before that game. After their inaugural appearance at a major tournament during Euro 2020, Finland is eager to make the most of this opportunity. Even if things don't go their way in this group, they still have a chance to advance through the playoffs, based on their performance in League B of the Nations League.

The hosts have won two straight games and are unbeaten in their past three qualification contests. In their previous game, they defeated San Marino 4-0 on the road, scoring four goals for the second straight contest.

An Vipotnik, Jan Mlakar, An Karninik, and Sandi Lovric all contributed goals to Slovenia's victory, which propelled them to the top of Group H rankings.