Preview: Faroe Islands vs. Moldova - prediction, team news, lineups

As the Euro 2024 qualifying process continues, Group F's bottom two meet on Sunday evening, when Faroe Islands host Moldova.

While the Faroes lost again earlier this week, to stay four points adrift of their visitors, Moldova continued an impressive run of results by drawing with Austria in a friendly.

Match preview

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Sitting rock-bottom of their European Championship qualifying group, with just a single point from four matches, it is safe to assume Faroe Islands will not be making their major tournament debut in Germany next summer.

Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Poland in Warsaw came after a battling effort helped the Faroes hold out for over an hour, but a Robert Lewandowski brace ultimately undid them and they departed Stadion Narodowy empty-handed.

Although Hakan Ericson's side started with a point away to Moldova, losing successive home fixtures to the Czech Republic and Albania subsequently sent them to the foot of the standings, and their latest loss leaves the Faroe Islands winless for seven matches.

Indeed, the North Atlantic nation have now recorded only one victory in their last 18 European qualifiers, despite enjoying an upturn in the UEFA Nations League - Swedish coach Ericson guided them into League C before pulling off a shock win over Turkey last September.

Now, though, thoughts must turn to making sure they do not finish their Group F campaign without a single success, and if they can beat Moldova at Torsvollur, avoiding last place could yet be possible.

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Fourth in the table, with only one loss suffered so far, Moldova travel to Torshavn still in contention for an unlikely top-two finish: such an achievement would secure the minnows' first-ever finals appearance at senior level.

Serghei Clescenco's side are just two points shy of second-placed Albania, with their most recent victims Poland sandwiched in-between.

Moldova celebrated their first victory since for nine months during the June international period, when they produced an improbable comeback to stun their Polish visitors in Chisinau.

Recovering from a two-goal deficit, Ion Nicolaescu's double strike and a late Vladislav Baboglo winner snatched all three points for the Tricolorii, who then went on to post another eye-catching result when they reconvened this week.

Playing out a 1-1 draw in Austria will boost the Moldovans' confidence still further, and having held a team 100 places above them in the FIFA World Rankings, they may fancy their chances of following up with a win on Faroese soil.

Team News

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Faroe Islands generally opt for a five-man defence against Europe's established nations, but after a 4-4-2 setup helped them earn a point in Moldova when the teams last met, Hakan Ericson should make a similar switch on Sunday.

The hosts may therefore recall Breidablik striker Klaemint Olsen, who started on the bench in midweek, while Sligo Rovers forward Stefan Radosavljevic will also be considered as support for Joan Simun Edmundsson up front. The latter has scored only eight goals in 77 international appearances to date, though.

Moldova, meanwhile, will turn to Heerenveen's Ion Nicolaescu to provide their main goal threat, having netted three times in their first four qualifiers.

With three precious points now at stake, the visitors are likely to make several changes to the starting XI that frustrated Austria in Linz.

Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate Virgiliu Postolachi could be brought in to bolster their attack - he has, however, yet to score his first Grenoble goal since joining the Ligue 2 club this summer.

Faroe Islands possible starting lineup:
Lamhauge; Danielsen, Faero, Ragnar, Davidsen; Joensen, Andreasen, S. Vatnhamar, Bjartalio; Edmundsson, Olsen

Moldova possible starting lineup:
Railean; Craciun, Baboglo, Posmac; Revenco, Rata, Motpan, Reabciuk; Damascan; Postolachi, Nicolaescu

We say: Faroe Islands 1-2 Moldova

Moldova have conceded relatively few goals in recent outings, as they continue to improve their place in the international pecking order. While the Tricolorii have lost just once in eight matches, their hosts have been short of success for some time now and will succumb to another defeat on Sunday.


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