Moldova vs Czech Republic

Stadionul Zimbru is the venue as Moldova and the Czech Republic go head-to-head in a lopsided Euro 2024 qualifier.

Moldova and fellow Group E minnows Faroe Islands shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw on matchday one, marking the Moldovans’ first home stalemate in European qualifiers since 2007 and derailing their hopes of avoiding a third consecutive bottom-place finish in a Euro qualifying campaign. Inspired by the nation’s longest-ever unbeaten run in competitive football (W3, D1) since the inaugural UEFA Nations League season, Serghei Clescenco’s men will be looking to defy the odds against a more heavily fancied Czech Republic. However, not only have the Moldovans lost both previous Euro qualifying H2Hs via multi-goal margins, but they failed to get on the scoresheet on each occasion. Adding to the home side’s worries, they’ve lost 20 consecutive meetings against current top-100 nations in competitive action.

In stark contrast to Moldova’s perennial continental struggle, the Czech Republic laid the foundation for an eighth straight Euro qualification with a thumping 3-1 home win over neighbors Poland on day one. Despite the Czechs’ fiasco in the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle, their decision to stick with long-serving manager Jaroslav Silhavy could still prove right. But anything other than a routine triumph in Moldova would probably reignite the pressure on Silhavy after his team lost four competitive matches on the trot before the abovementioned humbling of Poland. The visitors can draw further confidence from an impressive ten-game unbeaten run in games they’ve started as pre-match favorites (W7, D3). Yet, seven successive outings in competitive football without a clean sheet should serve as a reminder not to take anything for granted.