Preview: Slovakia vs. Liechtenstein - prediction, team news, lineups

Slovakia will be bidding to bounce back from their defeat to Portugal when they continue their Euro 2024 qualification campaign at home to Liechtenstein on Monday night.

The home side are currently second in Group J, boasting 10 points from their five matches, while Liechtenstein are bottom of the section on zero points from their opening five games.

Match preview

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Slovakia gave a strong account of themselves in Friday's clash with Portugal, but a first-half goal from Bruno Fernandes proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The result left the Falcons second in Group J on 10 points, five points behind leaders Portugal and level on points with third-placed Luxembourg on the same number of matches.

Francesco Calzona's side drew 0-0 with Luxembourg in their group opener before recording three straight wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland and Liechtenstein to put themselves in a strong position in the section.

The one-goal loss to Portugal was a setback, especially as they will head to the group leaders on October 13, which demonstrates the importance of picking up all three points here.

Slovakia have been present in the last two finals of the European Championship, progressing to the last-16 stage of the tournament in 2016, but they were knocked out in the group stage of Euro 2020.

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Liechtenstein, as expected, have struggled to make their mark in the group, losing each of their five matches, scoring just once and conceding 16 times.

The Blue-Reds were thumped 4-0 by Portugal in their section opener before conceding seven at home to Iceland on March 26, but there has been improvement in recent matches, only losing 2-0 to Luxembourg, 1-0 to Slovakia and 2-1 away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday night.

Konrad Funfstuck became head coach of the national side at the start of June, and while he has lost all three of his games at the helm, there have been clear steps forward under his management.

Liechtenstein have never qualified for the finals of a major tournament, while they have only ever won five European Championship qualification matches throughout their history.

The Blue-Reds have lost each of their last 18 matches in all competitions, while they have not been victorious since a 2-1 win over Luxembourg in a friendly in October 2020.

Team News

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Slovakia have not reported any injury concerns from their clash with Portugal, but head coach Calzona will be considering changes from the one-goal loss last time out.

Tomas Suslov and Robert Bozenik were the first two players off the bench against Portugal, and the pair could now come into the starting side for Monday's contest.

Peter Pekarik and Juraj Kucka are the most experienced members of the current squad in terms of caps, and the pair are set to retain their spots, while Lukas Haraslin should again feature in the final third of the field.

As for Liechtenstein, the head coach would have been delighted with his team's performance away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday night, so it could be a case of same again in terms of the side.

A 5-3-2 formation should see Sandro Wolfinger and Maximilian Goppel continue in the wing-back areas.

Dennis Salanovic is the leading goalscorer in the squad with four, and the 27-year-old is expected to again be joined in the final third of the field by Ferhat Saglam, with Aron Sele featuring in a wide area.

Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Suslov, Bozenik, Haraslin

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:
Buchel; Wolfinger, Beck, Traber, Malin, Goppel; Luchinger, Wieser, Sele; Salanovic, Saglam

We say: Slovakia 2-0 Liechtenstein

Having not won a single match for almost three years, it is so difficult to back Liechtenstein despite their obvious improvement under their new manager. Slovakia might have to be patient on Monday, but we are expecting them to collect what would be a very important three points.

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