Slovakia vs Luxembourg

Slovakia’s Euro 2024 qualifying Group J campaign kicks off at the City Arena Trnava as they entertain section minnows Luxembourg in a curtain-raising clash.

Slovakia will be aiming to turn their fortunes around in 2023 following a freefall in the FIFA rankings each year since 2018, which currently sees them ranked outside the top-50 at 54th position. An underwhelming five-match winless run (D3, L2) in the build-up to this clash adds to the nation’s growing fears about failing to qualify for a third consecutive European Championship tournament. However, the ‘Falcons’ have developed a habit of getting their Euro qualifying campaigns off to a flying start, having won the opening match of their last four Euro qualifying cycles. Unfortunately for head coach Francesco Calzona, Slovakia’s disappointing spell of five consecutive home matches without winning (D3, L2) could douse the optimism, even though the odds firmly back them for success here.

It’s not like visiting Luxembourg are flying high either, with the visitors going winless in five of their last six internationals at the tail-end of 2022 (D4, L1). But it should at least be an incentive for ‘Les Lions Rouges’ to break a woeful four-game losing streak against Slovakia in competitive H2Hs and boost their hopes of bettering a poor record of one win in the last Euro qualifying campaign (D1, L6). Considering they conceded at least three goals in each of those four H2Hs, Luxembourg’s bid to keep back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since 2018 looks far-fetched. Yet a scoreless home draw against Bulgaria last time out was a promising sign for Luc Holtz’s side after conceding multiple goals in three of their four outings beforehand.