UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Group H – San Marino vs Northern Ireland

San Marino host Northern Ireland in their opening UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier at San Marino Stadium. 

Victory would see San Marino or Northern Ireland go top if they better the results of Kazakhstan and Denmark’s clashes against Slovenia and Finland respectively.

 

Team News

San Marino have no fresh injury concerns to report with a full squad in contention for selection.

Northern Ireland will be without Jonny Evans (pictured) and Conor McMenamin after the pair withdrew due to respective hamstring and calf injuries.

Conor Washington (fitness) is a doubt.

 

When is Kick-Off?

San Marino host Northern Ireland at San Marino Stadium on Thursday 23 March at 8:45pm CET (7:45pm UK Time), with the match broadcast live on Viaplay 1 in UK.

 

Stat Attack

• San Marino are winless in four previous meetings against Northern Ireland in all competitions (L4).
• Northern Ireland have won each of their two previous visits to San Marino across all competitions
• San Marino have lost each of their two previous home matches against Northern Ireland by 3-0 result in all competitions.
• San Marino have failed to score in each of their last five home matches (D1, L4).
• Ireland have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions (W1, D2, L4).

 

Prediction

Whilst qualification looks incredibly unlikely for San Marino given their overall lack of quality, they certainly should view this game as winnable if they are at their best given Northern Ireland’s own poor quality at present.

Northern Ireland though are back under the reins of Michael O’Neill after Ian Baraclough’s disastrous era, yet have serious defensive issues to sort out but they should challenge for the runner-up spot if can get back to their best quickly.

O’Neill’s return also should give the visitors a bounce coming into this game which I do see paying off, despite still missing quality players like Evans, Steven Davis and Shayne Lavery because their quality still is fair better than San Marino’s standards.

Prediction: San Marino 0-2 Northern Ireland

Result: San Marino 0-2 Northern Ireland