Wales vs Finland Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 21/03/2024

Odds via Tonybet

Wales vs Finland	March 21, 2024, 3:45 PM EDT
Wales odds	-110
Finland odds	+350
Draw	+240
Over\Under	2 -120/ +102

Wales vs Finland. Shape of the Teams

As a common theme in the playoffs, both teams hold a similar record – mixed with victories and defeats in their recent form – and this match is no different.

However, what matters and needs to be mentioned is the different groups from which both mid-table teams emerged, which shaped their journey to the playoffs.

Finland is not exactly known for its soccer – the harsh Finnish winters prioritize the national sport, ice hockey – and they haven’t made it this far in the qualification for a while now.

In the group stage, Finland secured victories against minions like San Marino and Northern Ireland while suffering losses against Slovenia and the more tricky Kazakhstan. Finland’s Nordic neighbour Denmark comfortably won the group, which is hardly surprising given the nature of the group.

Finland also granted San Marino their first goal in ages, though they still clinched a 2-1 win. The 4-0 victory against Northern Ireland seemed to raise spirits, but the defeats against Kazakhstan (1-2) and Slovenia (0-3) point towards the reality of the situation: Finland’s team is not ready for the EURO’s.

On the other hand, Wales is also a mid-table team, but they navigated through a tougher group that featured the superpowers Croatia and Turkey. Despite not being front-runners, these are always dark-horse underdogs that are difficult to beat in their compact block – Croatia’s recent international record speaks for itself.

Wales managed to secure a 1-1 draw in their last encounter against Turkey and a surprising 2-1 win against Croatia. However, a draw against the less impressive Armenia (1-1) shows that the Welsh are not quite at the level just yet.

Wales vs Finland Main Match Info

Date and Kickoff Time: Wednesday, March 21, 2:45 PM ET
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Location: Cardiff, Wales
Last match: Wales – Finland: 3-1 (November 18, 2020, Nations’ League)

Wales vs Finland, Prediction, Odds

Pick: Wales to win
Odds: -110 (Tonybet)

Wales might not have the legendary Gareth Bale in their squad anymore, who frequently bailed the team out, but they are on the way to building a decent team

The same cannot be said about Finland, which has never achieved a major success in soccer, not even on a small scale. The country’s best soccer player in recent years has been Teemu Pukki, who had his most successful stint at Norwich. With all due respect, that is not very impressive.

In international soccer, tactics matter less than they do at club level – for the simple reason that there is limited preparation time to compose the squads and perfect XIs. In most cases, teams simply try to find coherence by balancing the different qualities of their players.

In the case of Wales, all eyes will be on Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff City), Daniel James (Leeds) and youngster Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur).

While they might not all be of Premier League quality, they do bring a wealth of experience from England’s top flight, especially Ben Davies. This creates a nice mix of youthful energy and seasoned expertise, which is always a plus in such tournaments and could help Wales through the pressure-cooker environment of these playoff matches.

Wales vs Finland Betting Tip

Pick: Wales to win by a two-goal margin
Odds: +459 (Tonybet)

The confidence in a Welsh victory isn’t misplaced if you consider their typical starting XI during the past games of the European Qualification group stage. A pattern emerges of having at least one good player per line (defence, midfield, attack), while the addition of a Neco Williams in form means that Wales packs a potent goal threat.

Furthermore, their last meeting in Cardiff ended in a 3-1 victory for Wales. The game – which took place during the pandemic era – included a Finnish red card, indicating that the home advantage is indeed real in this case.

One should expect the Welsh to launch an assertive offensive. Few factors indicate that the Fins are ready to defend themselves against the Welsh onslaught. The betting tips also largely favour Wales – and with good reason.

Disclaimer: Odds are accurate at the time of posting and subject to change. Please verify the latest odds on our platform before betting.