Northern Eire will hope to do the double over Slovakia in World Cup qualifying to place themselves in pole place to no less than safe a play-off spot of their penultimate Group A conflict.
Michael O’Neill’s males beat Slovakia 2-0 in Belfast within the final spherical of fixtures earlier than shedding 1-0 to Germany, leaving them in third place, three factors behind each leaders Germany and Slovakia.
Whereas Northern Eire might nonetheless earn a play-off spot on the again of their UEFA Nations League rating, victory in Kosice would give them a superb alternative to verify they don’t require that fallback choice, as they end off their Group A marketing campaign at dwelling in opposition to minnows Luxembourg.
With Germany visiting Luxembourg on Friday, profitable the group is prone to be past Northern Eire, who shall be consigned to 3rd place in the event that they lose and the four-time world champions keep away from what can be a seismic defeat.
The prospect of profitable the group is the motivation for Slovakia as they purpose to achieve the finals for under the second time as an unbiased nation, having final certified in 2010.
Slovakia surprised Germany to start the qualifying marketing campaign, handing Die Mannschaft their first ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
The earlier defeat to Northern Eire noticed Slovakia give up their benefit over Germany within the desk, however revenge over O’Neill’s aspect adopted by an unlikely away win in Leipzig would see Francesco Calzona’s aspect win the group and seal qualification.
Having did not win their Nations League group, victory over Northern Eire is significant for Slovakia no matter their ambitions of securing direct qualification.
It’s a top-two end or bust for Slovakia, who haven’t misplaced a aggressive match on dwelling soil since a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in September 2023 in qualifying for Euro 2024.
And O’Neill is aware of the problem forward of Northern Eire is a formidable one.
“It was an excellent end result for Slovakia and it’s in all probability given them an edge over us,” O’Neill advised The Press Affiliation of Slovakia’s win over Germnay.
“However we now have to take that again. Having crushed them at dwelling, now we now have to take it off them after we go to Kosice.
“It will likely be a large recreation for Slovakia as effectively as a result of they are going to imagine if they’ll beat us, they’ll go to Germany with the chance to prime the group. That’s a large incentive for them so we now have to have the ability to cope with that.”
O’Neill is concentrated on eradicating the necessity to depend on the Nations League rating, including: “I believe a security internet is one of the best ways to explain it. However make no mistake about it – we need to end within the prime two positions of the group. That was our ambition at the beginning.
“We talked about that with the gamers – how we might try this, what we felt we would want to try this. And we now have the chance to try this.”
Workforce information for Slovakia v Northern Eire
Slovakia will have the ability to welcome again Stanislav Lobotka following his current return from harm.
Northern Eire have a bunch of harm points, with first-choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles nonetheless unavailable. His brother Shea is absent from the midfield with a hamstring downside.
Ali McCann is out with a damaged arm, whereas Ethan Galbraith is banned.
Brodie Spencer is one other absentee, however Liverpool defender Conor Bradley is again from suspension.
Predicted line-ups for Slovakia v Northern Eire
Slovakia: Dubravka; Gyomber, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Bero; Haraslin, Strelec, Schranz.
Northern Eire: Peacock-Farrell; Hume, Ballard, McNair; Bradley, Worth, Saville, Devenny, Lewis; Marshall, Reid.
Easy methods to watch Slovakia v Northern Eire: TV and on-line streams
Slovakia v Northern Eire kicks off at 7:45pm UK time. It will likely be broadcast on BBC Two in Northern Eire. It can even be accessible to look at by way of BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport web site and app.
Within the Republic of Eire, the sport shall be broadcast on Virgin Media Two and also will be accessible by way of the Virgin Media Participant and the Virgin TV Go app.
Stats for Slovakia v Northern Eire
- Slovakia and Northern Eire have met six instances. Slovakia have received thrice, with Northern Eire claiming two victories.
- Northern Eire have by no means crushed Slovakia away from dwelling.
- Slovakia are unbeaten of their final eight aggressive worldwide matches at dwelling.
- Northern Eire are the one aspect to attain in opposition to Slovakia on this World Cup qualifying marketing campaign.
