Estonia v Belarus
Friday 6th September 1700hrs
Football – International – Euro 2020 Qualification
Pick Belarus
Bookmaker MarathonBet
Odds: 38/25 (odds taken 19.00 GMT, Wednesday 4 September)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21/10 | 29/20 | 29/20 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on September 4, 2019 at 19.00)
Estonia and Belarus were expected to prop up the rest of Group C and that’s the way it’s proving. Both nations remain on zero points and will be looking for a an elusive win when they clash in Tallinn on Friday.
Euro 2020 Qualifiers Betting at Boylesports
Estonia Preview – Can Estonia make home advantage count and bounce back from thumping in Germany?
The Estonians come into Friday’s home game against Belarus in desperate need of a change in fortunes. Although qualification would have been well beyond them they would have been hopeful of picking up something from their first three games following a good showing in the Nations League. Instead, it’s three games played and three losses with 12 goals conceded. The way the fixtures have worked out means they Estonia have taken on Northern Ireland twice in their opening three matches. To their credit, they have been competitive in both those meetings, even taken the lead in their home game. The one serious blip was losing 8-0 to Germany. Whilst it is a complete mismatch in every sense, it was still a very humbling defeat. This current squad are now responsible for their countries joint biggest defeat in history.
It will be a test of their character as to how they respond from that loss. It would have hurt but they have had three months to recover from it and are approaching what is their best chance of getting a win in this section – On paper at least. Coach Karel Voolaid was brought in on the back of that record loss and takes charge of his first game in charge of the senior team.
Belarus Preview – Will Belarus put poor start to the group behind them and record their first win of the campaign?
It’s been a very similar story for Belarus in this section so far as they continue their own search for some points. They have played a game more than their next opponents and also come up against Northern Ireland twice already. Like Estonia they have put up a good fight in those games but ultimately come away with nothing despite those efforts. Their campaign started with an ominous looking away trip to face the Netherlands and a 4-0 loss was arguably all they could really expect. That was also the case when hosting Germany back in June – a game they went down 2-0 in. Every so often they may scrape a result against the top nations but they are few and far between.
Four straight defeats will of course be disappointing but it needs to be kept in context. This same coach and group of players were responsible for Belarus finishing top of their Nations League group, winning four and drawing two in their section. That is good enough to see them earn promotion to the third tier which represents success for their nation. If they can find their first of this campaign on Friday then it will be sure to restore some of that same positivity.
Key-Facts – Estonia v Belarus
- This will be Karel Voolaid’s first game in charge of the Estonian team following a dismal 8-0 loss to Germany in their last qualifier.
- Belarus were approaching this campaign in confident mood following a good showing in the Nations League but they are pointless after four games
- Belarus won two and drew one of their three away games without conceding a goal in the Nations League
Estonia v Belarus Betting Advice
When the draw for this qualifying campaign was made both Estonia and Belarus would have been targeting the fixtures against each other as their most likely opportunity for getting points. The two nations will feel they should have a point or two on the board now having come so close against Northern Ireland but it makes the first of their meetings even more important the fact they both sit on zero.
This will be the first competitive meeting between these two since 1996 and it will be interesting to see how Estonia approach it under their new manager. That heavy defeat to Germany is bound to have affected some of the players but this does represent a new start and being at home means they will be expected to take the game to their opponents.
Belarus showed in their Nations League campaign that they are capable when playing teams of a similar level. Estonia are below them in the rankings and could be vulnerable once again. Belarus are good value to get their first win one the group.
