Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik. (Photo : Getty Images)
A tough 2018 FIFA World Cup UEFA qualifiers match between dark horse squads Slovenia (0-0-1, 1 point) and Slovakia (0-1-0, 0 points) will be held at the Stožice Stadium in Ljubljana on Oct. 8, Saturday as Group F competitions continue.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 8:45 p.m. UTC+2. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Slovenia, presently ranked 67th in the world by FIFA, might be placed much lower than the 28th-ranked Slovakia, but the two teams have the firepower to present a hard-fought and competitive game.
In their tournament-opener on Sep. 4, Slovenia managed to escape with a 2-2 draw with Lithuania at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius to gain their first point, ESPN reported.
The hosts scored the first two goals of the contest with strikes from forward Fiodor Cernych and midfielder Vykintas Slivka in the 32nd and 34th minutes, giving head coach Srečko Katanec's side an early scare.
It looked like a lost cause for the Slovenians as time slowly ran out, but the team managed to pull off two goals late in the game.
Granada midfielder Rene Krhin cut the lead to one point in the 77th before Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar nailed the equalizer in injury time to salvage the draw.
Meanwhile, Slovakia dropped a 0-1 opening game to tournament favorite England at the Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava also on Sep. 4, as per BBC Sport.
Liverpool winger Adam Lallana netted the match's lone goal in stoppage time as head coach Ján Kozák's boys succumbed to the heart break.
Slovakia's roster will be undermanned in this match against Slovenia as the team is set to miss the services of some key starters, such as team captain Martin Škrtel (suspension), defenders Peter Pekarik and Norbert Gyomber, and midfielders Viktor Pecovsky and Ondrej Duda with the last four sidelined by separate injuries.
Vice-captain Marek Hamsik, who is currently playing for Napoli, is set to take over the leadership role
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a tough 1-0 victory for Slovakia.
Slovenia starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Oblak; Skubic, Samardzic, Cesar, Jokic; Verbic, Krhin, Kampl; Birsa; Beric, Bezjak
Slovakia starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Kozacik; Salata, Durica, Hubocan; Pauschek; Kucka; Mak, Gregus, Hamsik, Svento; Duris
