Do the hosts have a chance? Estonia vs Slovakia Prediction
In the first round of the UEFA Nations League, Estonia will face Slovakia in Tallinn. Here’s a match prediction from the Dailysports expert team.
Estonia
The "Sinisärgid" (Blue Shirts) had a disappointing run in the European Championship qualifiers. In a tough group with Belgium, Austria, Sweden, and Azerbaijan, Estonia, under the guidance of Thomas Häberli, finished last, managing only a single point. Despite a successful Nations League campaign that earned them a spot in the Euro playoffs, they were soundly defeated by Poland, losing 1-5.
Despite failing to qualify for Euro 2024, head coach Thomas Häberli retained his position. In the spring, Estonia played a friendly against Finland, losing 1-2 away, and suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat to Switzerland in the summer. However, they did shine in the Baltic Cup, where Estonia defeated the Faroe Islands 4-1 in the semifinals and overcame Lithuania in the final via a penalty shootout.
Slovakia
Unlike their upcoming opponent, Slovakia participated in the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. In their 10 qualifying matches, Slovakia accumulated 22 points, finishing second in their group, five points ahead of Luxembourg. However, they were unable to challenge Portugal effectively.
Surprisingly, Slovakia started the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Belgium. They then lost 1-2 to Ukraine, despite scoring first. In the third round against Romania, a draw (1-1) was sufficient for Slovakia to progress. In the playoffs, they came close to causing an upset against England, but conceded a goal in the 90+5 minute and eventually lost in extra time.
Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History
- The teams met in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, where Slovakia won both encounters.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet has won in Slovakia’s last three matches.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet has won in four of Estonia’s last five matches.
Estonia vs Slovakia Prediction
Bookmakers favor Slovakia in this match, offering odds of 1.60 for an away win. Considering the recent form of both teams, we believe there’s a strong chance for goals on both sides. Therefore, our pick for this match is "Total Over 2.5" with odds of 2.11.
