Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Denmark and Slovenia are set to clash on Friday at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, aware that the victor of this match will clinch automatic qualification for Euro 2024 with one game left in Group H.

Despite this high-stakes showdown, both nations hold a comfortable four-point lead ahead of third-placed Kazakhstan which means that both effectively have two opportunities to secure their spots at the upcoming tournament.

Denmark

Denmark have navigated their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign reasonably well, despite facing some challenges along the way. While they suffered an unexpected defeat against Kazakhstan and had close encounters with Finland and Northern Ireland, they’ve managed to accumulate 19 points from eight games. This puts them in a strong position, needing just one win from their remaining two fixtures to secure automatic qualification.

Although they have a safety net with a playoff spot secured, coach Kasper Hjulmand will naturally prioritize sealing their qualification in the group stage itself. Avoiding any unnecessary complications, especially with scenarios where a loss to Slovenia and a Kazakhstan win over Slovenia could complicate their path, is a priority.

Denmark’s confidence remains high, backed by an impressive undefeated streak spanning six matches. Additionally, their strong home record adds to their belief as they aim to continue this trend against Slovenia.

Team News

Elias Jelert, Simon Kjaer, Christian Eriksen, and Rasmus Hojlund are all unavailable, which means Hjulmand will be forced to do some reshuffling in his team.

Rasmus Kristensen seems a probable choice for a return at right-back, and Andreas Christensen could feature in the center-back position. In midfield, Mathias Jensen or Thomas Delaney might step in to fill the void left by the absent players. Yussuf Poulsen could potentially take the central attacking role, edging out Jonas Wind.

Slovenia

Slovenia head into this match with a sense of urgency, considering their position in the campaign. Unlike Denmark, they do not have the assurance of a guaranteed place in the playoffs. Securing at least one victory from their two remaining games is therefore crucial for their qualification.

Facing Denmark away poses a significant challenge for Matjaz Kek’s team, and a win against a strong opponent like Denmark could alleviate the pressure on them going into the final fixture against Kazakhstan.

Slovenia’s recent form has been positive, marked by four consecutive victories, including a notable 3-0 win against Finland and a hard-fought 1-0 victory away against Northern Ireland. Their overall record of just one loss in the last 14 matches, extending back to June 2022, provides them with confidence as they aim to secure a spot in Euro 2024, either in the upcoming match or in their subsequent fixture.

Team News

Kek might consider maintaining the same lineup that clinched victory against Northern Ireland for the crucial match against Denmark. Consistency in the starting XI could be a strategic choice, especially given the success they had in their last fixture.

However, there’s also a possibility that Jasmin Kurtic might be introduced into the central midfield if any changes are made. This would likely mean that Andraz Sporar makes way in the lineup.

Conclusion

Denmark’s formidable record on their own turf further strengthens this perspective. Despite their occasional struggles in the qualifiers, their home record and determination to secure automatic qualification suggest they’re arguably likely to carve out a hard-fought victory against Slovenia.

But with both teams standing to gain plenty with a potential triumph, it’s likely that the visitors won’t come to simply try and avoid defeat.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Olympusbet