Sunday’s Euro 2024 Qualifying Predictions: Denmark likely to record another easy win

The Euro 2024 qualifiers continue on Sunday with England, Portugal and Italy among the teams in action. Greg Lea has previewed five of the standout fixtures below.

Kazakhstan v Denmark

Kick-off: 2pm Sunday

Denmark got their campaign off to the perfect start with a 3-1 victory over Finland on Thursday. A hat-trick from Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund saw Kasper Hjulmand’s side climb to the top of the Group H standings, a position they might not vacate between now and the end of the process.

A trip to Kazakhstan should be negotiated without too much fuss this weekend. The Hawks turned in a battling display but still lost 2-1 to Slovenia in their opening encounter, and this looks set to be a tougher match for the hosts. 

Prediction: Denmark to score over 2.5 goals @ 2.22 

Luxembourg v Portugal 

Kick-off: 7.45pm Sunday 

Luxembourg has made huge strides in recent years. Previously among the continent’s perennial whipping boys, they won three out of eight games in the qualification campaign for World Cup 2022, before holding Slovakia to a 0-0 draw on Thursday.

Yet, despite their improvements, this will be a very difficult game. Portugal began the Roberto Martinez era in style with a 4-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in Lisbon. A similarly one-sided contest awaits here, with Luxembourg unlikely to be able to stop Cristiano Ronaldo and co.

Prediction: Portugal to win both halves @ 2.12

Malta v Italy

Kick-off: 7.45pm Sunday 

Italy will try to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat by England on Thursday. That result puts Roberto Mancini’s men under a little bit of pressure, but the fact that two teams from each group qualify automatically for Euro 2024 means the Azzurri should ultimately have little trouble securing their spot.

An away game against Malta represents an excellent opportunity for Italy to return to winning ways. We can expect to see the reigning European champions make a quick start in Ta' Qali as they seek to assert their dominance from the get-go.

Prediction: Italy to score over 1.5 first-half goals @ 2.36 

Northern Ireland v Finland 

Kick-off: 7.45pm Sunday

Northern Ireland ran out 2-0 winners over San Marino in their first match as Michael O’Neill marked his return to the national team with a victory. However, San Marino will almost certainly finish bottom of Group H, so in some ways their qualification campaign starts here.

This is the type of match that O’Neill’s team needs to win if they are to advance to the tournament finals in Germany next summer. Finland have scored in five of their last six away games, though, so Northern Ireland will not have everything their own way. 

Prediction: Both teams to score @ 2.02

Slovakia v Bosnia-Herzegovina 

Kick-off: 7.45pm Sunday

Slovakia could only manage a 0-0 draw with Luxembourg on Thursday, so they will be under pressure when they take on Bosnia-Herzegovina this weekend. Both of these sides will be eyeing a top-two finish in Group J, which will probably be won by Portugal.

Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Iceland 3-0 on matchday one and will therefore be full of confidence when they head to Bratislava. They scored in each of their six games in the 2022/23 Nations League, so this could be an entertaining encounter. 

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 2.18

Recommended bets

Kazakhstan v Denmark: Denmark to score over 2.5 goals @ 2.22
Luxembourg v Portugal: Portugal to win both halves @ 2.12
Malta v Italy: Italy to score Over 1.5 first-half goals @ 2.36
Northern Ireland v Finland: Both teams to score @ 2.02
Slovakia v Bosnia-Herzegovina: Over 2.5 goals @ 2.18