Saturday EURO qualifiers:
Northern Ireland 3-0 San Marino
Without a victory for nearly two decades, San Marino’s winless run stands at 132 matches ahead of their trip to Windsor Park, where they are set to be dealt a seventh straight defeat in Group H. Northern Ireland often struggle to score, but home advantage and a relative lack of pressure should help them comfortably see off one of football’s smallest minnows.
Bulgaria 3-1 Lithuania
Two teams that struggle to penetrate their opponents in the final third will have a chance to play each other for a long-awaited victory.
Lithuania have failed to score in any of their away games in qualifying for Euro 2024, so a win against an equally struggling Bulgarian side could still be too much to ask.
Slovenia 2-1 Finland
With so much on the line, neither side is set to go all-guns-blazing on Saturday evening, when one point apiece would represent a decent result for either. Slovenia seem to have the tougher run-in, but a win or a draw keep their destiny in their own hands, as Denmark or Kazakhstan play each other and at least one must drop points.
Ukraine 2-1 North Macedonia
The withdrawals of key attackers Yarmolenko and Tsygankov was not on Rebrov’s bingo card for October’s crucial fixtures, but Mudryk and Ruslan Malinovskyi represent competent alternatives for a side who gave runaway leaders England a good run for their money last month.
Revenge will be on the minds of North Macedonia following June’s late collapse, but we still have faith in Ukraine to come up trumps in a tight contest and open up a healthy lead over the Lynxes in Group C.
Denmark 2-0 Kazakhstan
Given the unpredictability of this group, there is a feeling that anything can happen in this fixture. Kazakhstan have won twice on their travels, yet they have not faced anyone of Denmark’s quality and they could come up short on this occasion.
Hungary 2-1 Serbia
Both teams are full of attacking talent, which makes the game an exciting encounter.
Serbia look more vulnerable defensively, as the games against Bulgaria and Lithuania showed. Therefore, it is hard to imagine that Stojkovic’s eleven will be able to keep such a highly talented team as Hungary at bay for the entire 90 minutes.
Italy 4-0 Malta
Even with one eye on the impending trip to Wembley and a ravaged, Immobile-less attack, Italy should not run into many obstacles en route to a comfortable victory at the Stadio San Nicola.
The absence Teuma in particular will hamper Malta’s chances of breaking their 30-year goalless streak against the reigning European champions, and a sixth defeat from six surely awaits the Reds, as Italy send out a early warning to England ahead of next week’s highly-anticipated battle.
International Friendlies:
