Northern Ireland v Slovakia: Euro 2020 playoff prediction, betting preview & tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the Euro 2020 playoff between Northern Ireland and Slovakia

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Challenge, 7.45pm, Thursday

Best bet

Northern Ireland
1pt 9-5 bet365

Team news

Northern Ireland
Corry Evans has had to withdraw. Kyle Lafferty may not play.

Slovakia
Ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel and Feyenoord striker Robert Bozenik are injured.

Match preview

One nation in pretty awful form will be celebrating a place in next summer's European Championship finals - and it's Northern Ireland who get the nod over Slovakia.

Northern Ireland go into their Windsor Park showdown on a run of no 90-minute wins in their last seven internationals.

Meanwhile Slovakia's sole success in their last nine matches was against hapless Azerbaijan.

Both countries needed penalty shootouts to set up this match, Ian Baraclough's men winning their spot-kick duel in Bosnia while Slovakia took care of the Republic of Ireland via the same route.

Since then the Slovaks have lost manager Pavel Hapal – sacked after a Nations League double disaster last month against Scotland and Israel – and have lost veteran defender Martin Skrtel to injury.

Stefan Tarkovic is in caretaker charge of a side who were clearly second best to Ireland in Bratislava but managed to survive until penalties and prevailed.

They are on the decline and relying on a nucleus of veterans – the likes of Marek Hamsik, Peter Pekarik, Juraj Kucka and Michal Duris – who are all the wrong side of 32, although Inter's Milan Skriniar is a top-class defender.

Hamsik now plies his trade in China and hasn't played a competitive game since last month's 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Israel.

They are acutely aware that they are going to need a decent attack to unlock Baraclough's well-drilled defence, which will look as strong as ever with Rangers' Steven Davis patrolling a rearguard boasting fit-again Jonny Evans at its heart.

Northern Ireland's three games last month produced the grand total of four goals - they have scored only four goals in the last seven internationals.

Former Napoli ace Hamsik insists Slovakia possess the tools to break through but even he doesn't expect many goals. And nor do the layers, who offer just 4-9 about under 2.5 goals.

One goal may well be all it takes for Northern Ireland, backed by the 1,000 or so supporters who have been permitted entry, and they are worth backing to deliver it.

Key stat

Northern Ireland have scored 16 goals in their last 15 matches.

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