'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fiji U20 and Slovakia U20 will battle for three points in their opening game of the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Saturday (May 20).
Fiji are particpating in their second Under-20 World Cup, following their maiden appearance in 2015. They booked their spot on the plane to Argentina following their second-placed finish at the 2022 OFC U-19 Champioship.
Slovakia are also competing in their second Under-20 World Cup, 20 years after their maiden appearance in the United Arab Emirates. The Little Falcons secured qualification having beating Austria 1-0 in the UEFA playoff qualifier.
The Slovaks are coming off a 1-1 draw with Malta in a friendly in March. Goals in either half from Balint Csoka and Matthia Veselji saw the spoils shared. Meanwhile, Fiji have also not been in action since March, with their last preparatory friendly seeing them fall to a 2-1 defeat to Vanuatu. Tony Kalotang and Joe Moses scored to guide their side to victory.
Fiji U20 vs Slovakia U20 Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first official meeting between the two sides.
- Slovakia's last five games have had goals at both ends.
- Fiji's last six games have produced at least three goals, while six of their last eight seeing both sides find the back of the net.
- Fiji have lost their last four games.
- Four of Fiji's last five games have produced higher-scoring second halves than the first.
- Slovakia are unbeaten in four games, with their stalemate against Malta snapping their three-game winnng run.
Fiji U20 vs Slovakia U20 Prediction
Fiji are arguably the biggest underogs in the tournament and have nothing to lose. That could make them a tricky proponent, but their four-game losing streak heading into this competition does not inspire confidence.
Slovakia, by contrast, come into the tournament on a high and are a potential darkhorse. They are heavy favourites to claim maximum points, but they will be wary of underrating their opponets, having failed to see off Malta in their last friendly. Nevertheless, expect Slovakia to claim a comfortable win in a high-scoring game.
Prediction: Fiji 1-4 Slovakia
Fiji U20 vs Slovakia U20 Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Slovakia to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Slovakia to win both halves
Tip 5 - Highest scoring half: Second half
