Slovenia vs. Northern Ireland Betting Tips: Hosts to claim win over Green and White Army

If Northern Ireland are to keep their EURO 2024 dreams alive they'll have to grab a win over Slovenia in the first of September's two qualifying matches.

Following maximum points in their opener with San Marino, it's been a turgid qualifying campaign for Northern Ireland. They've suffered three consecutive 1-0 defeats to Finland, Denmark and most recently Kazakhstan, leaving their chances of participating at the 2024 tournament hanging in the balance.

Slovenia are one win and four points better off than Thursday's opponents, sitting behind 3rd placed Denmark on goal difference. A win here keeps them well and truly in contention for automatic qualification, if not at least competitive with the Danes for entry into the competition's play-offs.

In the match result market, bookmakers fancy Slovenia's chances, making them the 5/6 favourites. The visiting Northern Ireland have been priced up as a 19/5 shot, while the draw is available at 5/2 to those who can't decide on a winner.

Having won five of their last eight games - a run in which they've only lost once to table toppers Finland - Slovenia look primed to win this contest.

The 5/6 on show is very tempting in itself, but by adding them to keep NI goalless, we enhance our odds to 7/4.

The Slovenians beat the team occupying the other automatic qualification spot in Kazakhstan, and shared the spoils with Denmark in a 1-1 draw last time out in June.

Besides whipping boys San Marino, Northern Ireland appear to have established themselves as a guaranteed opponent for three points in Group H. Michael O'Neill's side have looked really poor during qualifying, putting just two past the group's basement dwellers and losing their last three without a single reply on the scoresheet.

The spotlight is firmly on 20-year-old Benjamin Šeško in this outing. At feeder club RB Salzburg last term he held a hit rate of just above one goal every two league outings and boasts plenty of big game experience in the Champions League group stages despite his tender age.

He's made the switch to parent team RB Leipzig for the new season and has already backed up his status as a talent to watch with two goals from two games in the Bundesliga.

Slovenia can put a couple of goals past this feeble Northern Ireland side, but don't expect them to run riot. They've only scored five goals in their opening four qualifying matches, and have failed to net more than twice in a single game in their last 17 matches since a 4-0 World Cup qualifier against Malta in October 2021.

Coupling these two selections together takes us from 21/10 for the anytime goalscorer shout to a cushy 4/1 with two or fewer goals scored in the match.