Kazakhstan vs Austria Prediction: 15/11/2024

Kazakhstan has found the competition tough in League B, managing just one point from their first four matches. They held Norway to a goalless draw in September but have since suffered three straight defeats, losing to Slovenia 3-0, Austria 4-0, and then again to Slovenia 1-0. Ranked 107th by FIFA, Kazakhstan appears likely to face relegation in the next Nations League edition. Notably, Kazakhstan has never qualified for an international tournament.

Austria, on the other hand, reached the last Euro, where they topped a group containing France, the Netherlands, and Poland before narrowly losing to Turkey in the round of 16.

After a slow start in this Nations League group with a 1-1 draw against Slovenia and a 2-1 loss to Norway, Austria rebounded in October, defeating Kazakhstan 4-0 and achieving an impressive 5-1 victory over Norway. As a result, Austria is now level on points with Norway and Slovenia, each with seven, heading into the final two matches.

Kazakhstan may still be without key players like defender Malyi (Ordabasy, 67 caps), experienced midfielders Kuat (Astana, 6 goals in 62 caps) and Beysebekov (Astana, 48 caps), as well as Kairov (Aktobe, 16 caps), Yerlanov (Ordabasy, 20 caps), Tapalov (Tobol, 14 caps), and Astanov (Astana, 1 goal in 13 caps). Their main offensive threat, winger Zainutdinov (Besiktas, 14 goals in 37 caps), has yet to make an impact in this campaign, as Kazakhstan remains goalless.

 

Prediction

Kazakhstan struggled significantly in their previous top-flight appearance, losing eight of their last 12 matches, and stepping up to League B has proven challenging. Austria, in strong form with eight wins in their last ten games, likely presents too steep a test for Kazakhstan.

Prediction: Kazakhstan 0-2 Austria