Kazakhstan vs Northern Ireland, Sunday 10th September 14:00
Northern Ireland will be looking for a return to winning ways after their European Championship qualifying hopes were essentially ended by a 4-2 defeat in Slovenia.
The Green and White Army will be looking to resurrect spirits with a positive result away in Kazakhstan – something that is far easier said than done.
Kazakhstan vs Northern Ireland Verdict:
Following a torrid run of results, Northern Ireland could certainly do with a positive display away in Kazakhstan.
The Green and White Army have only won two of their last 12 international outings, with those victories coming against powerhouses San Marino and Kosovo.
Six of those 12 matches have seen Northern Ireland lose by a single goal margin – five of them by the 1-0 scoreline.
Clearly, O’Neill’s men aren’t a million miles away from turning those small margins around and start picking up wins.
However, in order for those margins to turn, Northern Ireland will need to find a way of finding the back of the net.
Scoring is something that hasn’t been a major problem for Kazakhstan during these ongoing European Championship qualifiers.
The Kazakhs have bagged eight goals in five games – a run which has helped them amass nine points and sit three short of the current leaders.
Last Thursday, Finland ended Kazakhstan’s three-match winning run with a 1-0 victory in Astana.
The Kazakhs are still targeting qualification for Euro 2024, and they will be determined to return to winning ways against Northern Ireland.
Considering the run of form both teams are in, our recommendation is to back the hosts to deliver in front of an expectant crowd. Kazakhstan to win by a one goal margin is the way to go in this one.
