Slovakia
Euro Qualification
Qualifying Play-offs Route B - Semi-Finals
Thu , Oct 08 , 2020 20:45
0 - 0
Republic of Ireland
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
0 - 0
One of the most interesting EURO Qualifying Playoffs on Thursday is taking place in Bratislava where Slovakia welcomes the Republic of Ireland.
UEFA changed the qualification system for the EURO and now some European nations have another chance in the attempt to qualify for the 2020 European Championship. The main qualifying campaign has finished but there are still a few places left for the major tournament the next summer. The Nations League is being used as a part of the qualification for the first time playoff games will decide competitors in the final tournament. Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland have come through Path B of the Nations League but Slovaks had the superior record in the competition and due to that also a home advantage for this one game. Slovakia hoped for automatical participation from Group E during standard qualification but they were forced to settle for 3rd place behind Croatia and Wales having won 4 of their 8 games in the group. Two of those 4 victories came at home against Hungary and Azerbaijan but they lost 4-0 at home against Croatia and were held to a 1-1 draw by Wales. While not regular qualifiers for major international events, Slovakia made it through to the last 16 of Euro 2016, and they will be looking to at least be a part of the elite this time.
They have trouble finding the net and they don’t have an established striker at this level, they are more a team that works hard and it is ready to punish rivals' mistakes. Škriniar as a defensive anchor and Hamšik as a strong midfield presence are their strengths but other players must be on that level to bulk their chances to progress.
The Republic of Ireland also has a chance to qualify for Euro 2020 although new national coach Stephen Kenny will have to do things the hard way after failing to make it through main qualifiers. Ireland was drawn in a very difficult group which included Switzerland, Denmark, and Georgia. The Swiss and Danes were the favorites to progress from the group and they coped with the pressure and won the top positions. Ireland finished in third place with 13 points to their name and they were 3 points from the 2nd placed Denmark and 6 points behind Switzerland, who won the group.
The possibility of getting to the European Championships is unique, in Ireland in particular. It would be a unique occasion but they’ve not won an away game against a significant nation in quite a few years. It’s something they have to do, something extraordinary, and rally around each other to produce a big performance in Slovakia. Ireland only lost one of their 8 qualifying games but their main issue was winning matches and they claimed only 3 victories in the group. The wins came over Georgia and Gibraltar and Ireland failed to defeat either Switzerland or Denmark. Kenny took charge of the national team in April 2020 and the early signs have not been particularly encouraging, with the Republic earning a 1-1 draw away to Bulgaria before losing at home to Finland, but they marked their weaknesses but will have a small amount of time to work on them.
The defense will be their strong point with great right-backs as Coleman and Doherty who can play together and provide also great crosses in the attack. Central defenders Duffy, Egan, and Stevens are great in the air, and Duffy is their main scorer in the last games. He is very dangerous after corners in the rival's penalty box and could nick a goal of great importance for his team. Moreover, the number of Premier League and Championship matches being played this coming Sunday creates a headache for the Irish manager, at least 11 of the players were playing on Sunday. There's very little preparation time and that is something that could be a big problem.
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Both teams will try to progress to the last game that could eventually send them to the EURO but because of the importance of the game and great pressure, we don’t expect great football. Under 2,5 goals is our preferable bet.
4-2-3-1
4-4-2
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
11.10.2021. | Croatia | VS | Slovakia | 2-2 |
D
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08.10.2021. | Russia | VS | Slovakia | 1-0 |
L
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07.09.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Cyprus | 2-0 |
W
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04.09.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Croatia | 0-1 |
L
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01.09.2021. | Slovenia | VS | Slovakia | 1-1 |
D
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23.06.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Spain | 0-5 |
L
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18.06.2021. | Sweden | VS | Slovakia | 1-0 |
L
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14.06.2021. | Poland | VS | Slovakia | 1-2 |
W
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06.06.2021. | Austria | VS | Slovakia | 0-0 |
D
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01.06.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Bulgaria | 1-1 |
D
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07.09.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Cyprus | 2-0 |
W
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04.09.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Croatia | 0-1 |
L
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23.06.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Spain | 0-5 |
L
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01.06.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Bulgaria | 1-1 |
D
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30.03.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Russia | 2-1 |
W
|
27.03.2021. | Slovakia | VS | Malta | 2-2 |
D
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15.11.2020. | Slovakia | VS | Scotland | 1-0 |
W
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14.10.2020. | Slovakia | VS | Israel | 2-3 |
L
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08.10.2020. | Slovakia | VS | Republic of Ireland | 0-0 |
D
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04.09.2020. | Slovakia | VS | Czech Republic | 1-3 |
L
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11.10.2021. | Croatia | VS | Slovakia | 2-2 |
D
|
08.10.2021. | Russia | VS | Slovakia | 1-0 |
L
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01.09.2021. | Slovenia | VS | Slovakia | 1-1 |
D
|
18.06.2021. | Sweden | VS | Slovakia | 1-0 |
L
|
14.06.2021. | Poland | VS | Slovakia | 1-2 |
W
|
06.06.2021. | Austria | VS | Slovakia | 0-0 |
D
|
24.03.2021. | Cyprus | VS | Slovakia | 0-0 |
D
|
18.11.2020. | Czech Republic | VS | Slovakia | 2-0 |
L
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12.11.2020. | Northern Ireland | VS | Slovakia | 1-2 |
W
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11.10.2020. | Scotland | VS | Slovakia | 1-0 |
L
|
12.10.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Qatar | 4-0 |
W
|
09.10.2021. | Azerbaijan | VS | Republic of Ireland | 0-3 |
W
|
07.09.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Serbia | 1-1 |
D
|
04.09.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Azerbaijan | 1-1 |
D
|
01.09.2021. | Portugal | VS | Republic of Ireland | 2-1 |
L
|
08.06.2021. | Hungary | VS | Republic of Ireland | 0-0 |
D
|
03.06.2021. | Andorra | VS | Republic of Ireland | 1-4 |
W
|
30.03.2021. | Qatar | VS | Republic of Ireland | 1-1 |
D
|
27.03.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Luxembourg | 0-1 |
L
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24.03.2021. | Serbia | VS | Republic of Ireland | 3-2 |
L
|
12.10.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Qatar | 4-0 |
W
|
07.09.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Serbia | 1-1 |
D
|
04.09.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Azerbaijan | 1-1 |
D
|
27.03.2021. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Luxembourg | 0-1 |
L
|
18.11.2020. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Bulgaria | 0-0 |
D
|
11.10.2020. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Wales | 0-0 |
D
|
06.09.2020. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Finland | 0-1 |
L
|
18.11.2019. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Denmark | 1-1 |
D
|
14.11.2019. | Republic of Ireland | VS | New Zealand | 3-1 |
W
|
10.09.2019. | Republic of Ireland | VS | Bulgaria | 3-1 |
W
|
09.10.2021. | Azerbaijan | VS | Republic of Ireland | 0-3 |
W
|
01.09.2021. | Portugal | VS | Republic of Ireland | 2-1 |
L
|
08.06.2021. | Hungary | VS | Republic of Ireland | 0-0 |
D
|
03.06.2021. | Andorra | VS | Republic of Ireland | 1-4 |
W
|
30.03.2021. | Qatar | VS | Republic of Ireland | 1-1 |
D
|
24.03.2021. | Serbia | VS | Republic of Ireland | 3-2 |
L
|
15.11.2020. | Wales | VS | Republic of Ireland | 1-0 |
L
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12.11.2020. | England | VS | Republic of Ireland | 3-0 |
L
|
14.10.2020. | Finland | VS | Republic of Ireland | 1-0 |
L
|
08.10.2020. | Slovakia | VS | Republic of Ireland | 0-0 |
D
|
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Daniel Garcia is originally from Basque Country, and as a kid who grew up just a few streets from Mendizorrotza Stadium, the choice of Deportivo Alavés as his favourite club is more than obvious. Because of his studies, he moved to Madrid where he graduated in Sports Journalism. Daniel plays football on the weekends, but that does not stop him from watching all La Liga matches. He believes that the outcome of a match can be predicted if all the parameters are analyzed well, including form of the players and weather conditions. Currently he is living in Belgrade, and is in love with a Serbian girl who works as a journalist at one of the famous Sport Channels in Serbia.