UEFA Euro 2024 is our second selection as these two teams face up in Cardiff. Wales finished 3rd in a 5-team group behind Turkey and Croatia (ahead of Armenia and Latvia) They won 3, drew 3 and lost 2 of their 10 games. Home form saw 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. At home they beat Croatia and Latvia, drew with Turkey, and lost to Armenia. Finland finished 3rd in their 6-team group. Behind Denmark and Slovenia, ahead of Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, and San Marino. Away form for them saw 3 wins and 2 defeats. They beat Northern Ireland, San Marino and Slovenia. Losing to Kazakhstan and Denmark.
Team rankings:
Wales – World ranked 29 with 1521 ranking points.
Finland – World ranked 60 with 1401 ranking points.
Team news: Wales are without the injured defenders Joe Low, Ben Cabango and Tom Lockyer. Winger Wes Burns is missing also. Their influential midfielder Aaron Ramsey is a doubt. They have a strange situation in goal also as their 4 goalkeepers are all back up club players so none of them have regular game time and that is a huge worry. Finland loses Inter Miami wide man Robert Taylor and that’s a blow. Striker Marcus Forss is a doubt for the game also.
Coach information: Rob Page has been manager since 2020 for national side after promoting from Wales u21. Markku Kanerva played in Finland for 15 years and has been in the international management set up since 2004.
Head-to-head statistics: 6 games since 2009 – 2 wins Wales, 2 draws and 2 wins Finland.
Betting selection: Another close game and a one-legged semi-final where goals will be at a premium. I think the draw is a possibility for sure with so much to play for. The winners will play either Poland or Estonia for a place in Germany so a lot of pressure. I am taking double chance again here and draw/Finland at Evens (2.00) with Skybet is the play.