Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Nations League clash between Armenia and Faroe Islands, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Both aiming to return to winning ways following difficult matches during the October international window, Armenia and the Faroe Islands will lock horns in Yerevan for a UEFA Nations League C clash on Thursday night.
Havakakan were defeated on their own turf by section leaders North Macedonia last time out, whilst Landslioio could only manage a share of the spoils with Latvia.
Match preview
After just over 18 months in charge of the Armenian national team – taking the reins at the start of 2023 – Oleksandr Petrakov was relieved of his duties in the managerial hotseat last month following a highly-disappointing 2-0 loss to North Macedonia in the Nations League.
Over the course of the 90 minutes, Havakakan enjoyed more possession and created the majority of the clear-cut chances but were ultimately unable to breach the net of Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, with second-half strikes from Isnik Alimi and Girona’s Bojan Miovski sealing maximum points for the visitors.
With 67-year-old Petrakov out of the door, Armenia will be under the interim stewardship of legendary forward Artur Petrosyan during the November international break, with the 52-year-old striker making the net ripple on 11 occasions across 69 appearances between 1992 and 2004.
Focusing on the present, Havakakan are currently occupying second position in the Group C4 standings – six points behind leaders North Macedonia – ahead of the final two fixtures, with the section runners-up earning a shot at promotion to League B via the playoffs in March.
Armenia have only tasted victory twice during eight fixtures so far in 2024, although both of those successes arrived on home soil, with Thursday’s hosts beating League B-contending Kazakhstan in friendly over the summer before recording a 4-1 thumping of Latvia in the Nations League.
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Since a four-goal victory over European minnows Liechtenstein during a friendly clash in late March, the Faroe Islands have endured a seven-game winless spell across international friendlies and the Nations League, meaning that relegation to League D is a distinct possibility for Thursday’s visitors.
It looked as if Landslioio were heading towards their maiden victory in Group C4 when creative midfielder Hanus Sorensen found the net in the first half against Latvia last time out, however a second-half strike from substitute Dario Sits forced a share of the Nations League points.
The Faroe Islands have only played one away match in the section ahead of a daunting trip to Yerevan on Thursday night, with Hakan Ericson‘s troops suffering a one-goal defeat at Stadions Skonto in Riga due to a maiden goal on the international stage for Latvia’s Renars Varslavans.
Enduring a 12-game winless run across Euro 2024 qualifying and the Nations League, Landslioio supporters have to cast their minds back to September 2022 for their side’s most recent competitive victory, with the continental minnows recording a historic 2-1 success over Turkey.
Despite their poor run of form over the past 24 months, the Faroe Islands will take great confidence from their showing against Armenia in October, when an added-time equaliser from substitute and FC Noah star Gor Manvelyan prevented Ericson’s side from collecting three points.
Armenia Nations League form:
Armenia form (all competitions):
Faroe Islands Nations League form:
Faroe Islands form (all competitions):
Team News
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With a change of management since the October international break, Armenia are set to line up differently compared to the XI that was dispatched by North Macedonia last time out.
As a result, a number of the players who started on the bench against the group pacesetters will be pushing for spots in the team, including attackers Grant-Leon Ranos and Edgar Sevikyan.
Although interim boss Petrosyan could depart from a back-three formation, veteran defender Varazdat Haroyan is set to retain his place in the side.
Forced off during the second half against Latvia last month, 35-year-old Odmar Faero is not expected to start for the Faroe Islands in Yerevan.
Youngster Andrias Edmundsson will require a new partner in defence as a result, with Sonni Nattestad representing the most likely candidate for that role.
Armenia possible starting lineup:
Cancarevic; Hovhannisyan, Muradyan, Haroyan, Tiknizyan; Dashyan, Spertsyan, Bichakhchyan; Zelarayan, Ranos, Miranyan
Faroe Islands possible starting lineup:
Reynatrod; Benjaminsen, Nattestad, Edmundsson, Davidsen; G Vatnhamar, S Vatnhamar, Sorensen, Hendriksson, Agnarsson; Olsen
We say: Armenia 3-0 Faroe Islands
Following an alteration in the managerial hotseat after a difficult October, Armenia will be desperate to put the Faroe Islands to the sword on home soil.
Winless across their last 12 competitive matches, we are not expecting Landslioio to produce a surprise result in front of a hostile Yerevan crowd on Thursday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
