Northern Ireland will aim to end a three-game losing run when they face Slovenia at Stozice Stadium in Euro 2024 qualifying on Thursday.

Trailing the Slovenians by four points, the Green and White Army find themselves second from bottom in Group H after winning just one of their four matches.

Match preview

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Slovenia enjoyed an ideal start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, securing back-to-back victories over Kazakhstan and San Marino, but Matjaz Kek's men have managed to take only one point from a possible six since then.

Following a 2-0 defeat against Finland back in June, Slovenia played out a 1-1 draw with Denmark in their previous match, despite registering two attempts on target while seeing just 37% of the ball on home soil.

As a result, the Slovenians find themselves fourth in Group H - level on points with third-placed Denmark and two points behind Finland and Kazakhstan, who have both one three of their four qualifiers.

Slovenia have only made one European Championship appearance over the years, featuring at Euro 2000 in the Netherlands and Belgium, with the former Yugoslav nation failing to qualify for each of the previous five editions of the tournament.

That said, Kek's side have suffered a solitary defeat in their last 10 games across all competitions, picking up five wins and four draws in the process, so they will back themselves to reach next summer's competition in Germany.

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Meanwhile, Northern Ireland kicked off their qualification journey with a routine 2-0 victory over San Marino, courtesy of a brace from Bolton Wanderers forward Dion Charles, but it has been all downhill since then.

Michael O'Neill's side head into their fifth qualifier on the back of three successive 1-0 defeats, having fallen to Finland, Denmark and Kazakhstan without scoring a single goal.

Consequently, the Green and White Army sit second from bottom in Group H after four matches, meaning that Northern Ireland already trail the joint leaders - Finland and Kazakhstan - by six points.

Northern Ireland qualified for their first-ever European Championship back in 2016, but they failed to punch their ticket to Euro 2020, taking 13 points from a possible 24 during the qualification process before falling to Slovakia in the playoffs.

Not only have O'Neill's men lost each of their last three games, but they have also lost seven of their previous 11, so they will need to turn things around quickly if they want to reach their second European Championship.

Team News

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Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak will start between the sticks for Slovenia on Thursday, while RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko will aim to enhance his tally of six goals in 21 international appearances.

Matjaz Kek has also called up uncapped forward Aljosa Matko for the upcoming qualifiers, while 23-year-old defender Vanja Drkusic will be hoping to earn his second cap for his country.

Fresh from making his Manchester United comeback, Jonny Evans is set to pick up his 102nd cap for Northern Ireland, with Paddy McNair expected to join Evans in the visitors' backline on Thursday.

Exciting teenager Shea Charles has been recalled following his move from Manchester City to Southampton, with Championship regulars like Daniel Ballard, Trai Hume, George Saville and Jordan Thompson also making the cut.

Slovenia possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Northern Ireland possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Evans, Cathcart; Hume, McCann, Charles, Saville, Thompson; Price, Charles

We say: Slovenia 2-0 Northern Ireland

Having lost each of their last three matches without scoring, Northern Ireland look set to suffer another damaging defeat on Thursday, strengthening Slovenia's qualification hopes in the process.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Ben Morris

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