Kazakhstan-Slovenia is a match from the first day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group H and is played on Thursday at 16:00: predictions.
Kazakhstan have never managed to reach the final stage of a major international competition, but this could be the right time. In Group H, behind Denmark – the overwhelming favourite for first place – several selections look likely to aim for second place, or at least qualification for the playoffs.
From Finland to Slovenia, passing right through the national team led by Russian Magomed Adiev, revelation of the last Nations League. Last September, Kazakhstan were promoted to League B after finishing first in a group with Azerbaijan, Slovakia and Belarus, scoring an impressive 13 points. The most resounding success was against the Slovaks, who were beaten in both the first leg and the return leg. Actually, the progress of this small selection had already been glimpsed in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, where Kazakhstan had collected 10 points despite the presence of more competitive teams such as Belgium, Russia and Scotland. The most dangerous player at coach Adiev’s disposal is undoubtedly Astana striker Aymbetov, author of three goals and an assist in the last six official matches with the Kazakh national team. He will lead the forward pack in an already potentially in-or-out match with Slovenia.
Slovenia are on the rise
In the Nations League, the selection coached by Matjaz Kek avoided relegation to League C thanks to two points more than top-ranked Sweden
Kek, selector of Slovenia
After losing the first two matches of the round, Slovenia went undefeated for four matches in a row, even getting the better of Haaland’s Norway. Two victories also came in November’s friendlies, both of them narrowly against Romania and Montenegro. Signs of awakening from a national team that had ended up somewhat on the sidelines over the past decade. There is no longer Ilicic pulling the strings, but the Slovenian football movement is churning out several interesting players, including Salzburg’s Sesko and the two Udinese players Bijol and Lovric. Veteran Kurtic will be absent in Kazakhstan.
The Prediction
In Kazakhstan it is never easy to play and this is proven by the fact that Adiev’s men haven’t lost a match in front of their home crowd since October 2021, when they surrendered to Finland. It cannot be ruled out that they will manage to avoid defeat again this time in a match with a total of less than three goals.
The likely line-up for Kazakhstan v Slovenia
- KAZAKISTAN (5-4-1): Shatskiy; Kairov, Maliy, Yerlanov, Marochkin, Dosmagambetov; Zaynutdinov, Tagybergen, Kuat, Astanov; Aymbetov.
- SLOVENIA (4-4-2): Oblak; Stojanovic, Blazic, Bijol, Sikosek; Zajc, Gnezda Cerin, Stankovic, Verbic; Sporar, Sesko.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
