Liechtenstein will be bidding to end a 23-game losing run in all competitions when they take on Faroe Islands in an international friendly on Friday night.
Both teams concluded their Euro 2024 qualification campaigns last November, with Liechtenstein suffering a 1-0 loss to Luxembourg in their final match, while Faroe Islands drew 0-0 with Albania.
Match preview
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Liechtenstein struggled during their Euro 2024 qualification section, losing all 10 of their matches, scoring once and conceding 28, which left them rooted to the bottom of Group J.
The Blue-Reds have never qualified for the finals of a major international tournament, while they are currently 203rd in the FIFA rankings, which is just one spot higher than their lowest-ever position of 204 last June.
Konrad Funfstuck's side, as mentioned, were beaten 1-0 by Luxembourg in their last match in November 2023, and they have not managed to find the back of the net in any of their last five games.
Liechtenstein are on a 23-game losing run in all competitions, last avoiding defeat against Armenia in September 2021, but they have not been victorious since beating Luxembourg in a friendly in October 2020.
The Blue-Reds have four friendlies in the diary against Faroe Islands, Latvia, Albania and Romania before opening their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign against San Marino on September 5.
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Faroe Islands performed slightly better in their Euro 2024 qualification campaign, picking up two points from eight matches, scoring twice and conceding 13, which left them at the bottom of Group E.
The National Team have also never qualified for the finals of a major international tournament, and they have had similar problems to Liechtenstein when it comes to winning matches, with their last success proving to be back in September 2022 against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League.
Hakan Ericson's side are also building towards their UEFA Nations League campaign, which starts against North Macedonia on September 7, but they will also be in action in the Baltic Cup in June, taking on Estonia in the semi-finals ahead of a potential final against Latvia or Lithuania.
Faroe Islands will take on Denmark in their next friendly on March 26, and they are winless in their last four non-competitive matches, including a 2-0 defeat to Norway last November.
The National Team have been victorious in all seven of their previous matches with Liechtenstein, all of which have been friendlies, including a 1-0 success when they last locked horns in March 2022.
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Team News
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The Liechtenstein squad is full of experience, although there are three uncapped players in the latest selection, including two teenagers in the shape of David Jager and Emanuel Zund.
Dennis Salanovic, who plays his club football for York United FC in Canada, is the leading goalscorer in the squad with four, and he is expected to be at the tip of the attack.
Ferhat Saglam could earn his fifth cap as a starter in the final third of the field, while experienced midfielder Sandro Wolfinger is in line to secure his 62nd cap for the national side.
Faroe Islands can also call upon a host of experience at international level, with Joan Simun Edmundsson in line to secure his 83rd cap on Friday night.
Edmundsson is the second-highest goalscorer in the squad with eight, and he is expected to be joined in the final third by Klaemint Olsen, who has netted 10 times at this level of football.
Head coach Ericson will make full use of his squad in this match, but he is expected to name a strong side for the first whistle, with Mattias Lamhauge set to be given the nod between the sticks.
Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:
Buchel; Malin, Beck, Traber, Marxer; Wolfinger, Goppel, Sele, Meier; Salanovic, Saglam
Faroe Islands possible starting lineup:
Lamhauge; Danielsen, Davidsen, Askham, Vatnhamar; Hendriksson, Mikkelsen, Johansen, Andreasen; Olsen, Edmundsson
We say: Liechtenstein 0-2 Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands have struggled for wins of late, but they are coming up against a team that have lost their last 23 matches. We are not expecting too many goals on Friday evening but believe that Faroe Islands will be able to use their superior quality to claim the victory in the international friendly.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
