Preview: Northern Ireland vs. San Marino - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking just their second win of a dismal Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Northern Ireland welcome San Marino to Windsor Park on Saturday.

Facing the only nation below them in the Group H standings, Michael O'Neill's men are already out of contention for a place at next year's finals, having lost five of six games so far.

Match preview

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In a week when the UK and Ireland were confirmed as hosts of Euro 2028, with Belfast's Casement Park set to host some matches, Northern Ireland resume their doomed quest to reach Germany next summer.

Coach Michael O'Neill has admitted he is already building towards events in five years time, as his team's current qualifying campaign faltered badly following an opening-day win over San Marino: five straight defeats in a group without any European heavyweights has drawn criticism and, in some quarters, despair.

Sitting fifth, Northern Ireland trail fourth-placed Kazakhstan by no less than nine points - as the Kazakhs, Denmark, Slovenia and Finland fight it out to decide the top two - and can realistically play only for pride in their final four fixtures.

Having suffered away losses to both Slovenia and Kazakhstan in September, they now return to home turf, where a Windsor Park double-header offers an opportunity to at least pick up more points.

After San Marino's visit at the weekend, Group H leaders Slovenia arrive in Belfast on Tuesday, having beaten Northern Ireland 4-2 when the pair met in last month's reverse fixture.

On both occasions, O'Neill - who led Northern Ireland to their first Euros in 2016 and is now back for a second stint in charge - will aim to balance building for the future and saving some face.

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As ever, San Marino occupy last place in their qualifying group for the European Championship, in which they have yet to come anywhere close to participating.

A microstate surrounded by Italy, the tiny nation remain without a single point to their name following successive 4-0 defeats in September, when Denmark and Slovenia put Fabrizio Costantini's side to the sword.

In all, San Marino have conceded 21 goals without scoring at all themselves across five Group H losses, therefore holding the worst record of any team taking part in Euro 2024 qualifying - since joining the fray back in 1990, they have lost 81 of 82 Euro qualifiers.

Also sitting at the foot of FIFA's world rankings, the Sammarinese's only relative successes have come in recent UEFA Nations League campaigns, when pitched against countries of a similar stature.

Nonetheless, they did keep Northern Ireland's tally down to two when the teams met in Serravalle earlier this year, with Dion Charles scoring either side of the break.

Team News

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Once again, Northern Ireland's plans have been disrupted by injury this month, as Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann misses out due to a calf problem; Conor Bradley also joins long-term absentees Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Shane Ferguson and captain Steven Davis on the sidelines.

More positively, Saturday's hosts have recalled teenage striker Callum Marshall, who had a goal ruled out on his senior debut against Denmark in June and has scored 12 times in nine games for West Ham United's Under-21 side this season.

Having made a remarkable return to the first-team picture at Manchester United, 104-cap defender Jonny Evans will captain Northern Ireland once again, while uncapped duo Eoin Toal and Brad Lyons will both hope for a taste of the action at some stage.

San Marino are skippered by La Fiorita striker Matteo Vitaioli, who has netted just once in his previous 87 international appearances.

Earlier this year, defender Roberto Di Maio, now aged 41, became the oldest footballer in Europe to make his international debut; he has been called up again by coach Fabrizio Costantini this time around.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Elia Benedettini once represented Modena in Italy's Serie B but has recorded only two clean sheets from 45 games for his nation.

Northern Ireland possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; Hume, Evans, McNair, Lewis; McMenamin, S. Charles, Saville, Kennedy; D. Charles, Washington

San Marino possible starting lineup:
Benedettini; D'Addario, Franciosi, Di Maio, Rossi, Palazzi; Battistini, Golinucci, Mularoni; Lazzari, Vitaioli

We say: Northern Ireland 3-0 San Marino

Without a victory for nearly two decades, San Marino's winless run stands at 132 matches ahead of their trip to Windsor Park, where they are set to be dealt a seventh straight defeat in Group H. Northern Ireland often struggle to score, but home advantage and a relative lack of pressure should help them comfortably see off one of football's smallest minnows.


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