Kazakhstan vs Norway Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | League B Group 4
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Kazakhstan gained promotion to League B of the UEFA Nations League in the 2022/23 campaign and they will be simply hoping to avoid relegation for this one as they begin their League B ‘season’ against what is now a star studded Norway side.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 6th September, 2024 - UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – FOX Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms
KAZAKHSTAN PREVIEW: THE IMPROVED KAZAKHS
Like a lot of the so-called ‘smaller’ footballing nations within Europe, Kazakhstan are certainly one that have majorly progressed in recent years and they have used the competitive edge of UEFA Nations League football to do so.
Now, under the management of former Russia boss Stanislav Cherchesov, the Kazakhs are looking to establish themselves as a ‘middle-ranked’ side that could well soon qualify for a major international tournament.
NORWAY PREVIEW: MUST MAKE THE MOST
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Stale Solbakken remains in charge of the Norwegian national team but it would have to be widely accepted that he is now into his last cycle and the pressure for Norway to succeed is extremely high.
After a really poor failure to qualify for UEFA EURO 2024 without even really challenging Scotland in their group, Norway have a genuinely now long list of extremely talented players that extends way beyond the obvious of Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard.
KAZAKHSTAN TEAM NEWS: CHERCHESOV CHANGES
The interesting tactical debate for this one would be Stanislav Cherchesov and whether he would tweak the three-at-the-back system that has been effective for Kazakhstan but that system is actually often the preference of Cherchesov.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Shatsky; Marochkin, Malyi, Erlanov; Beysebekov, Kuat, Tagybergen, Vorogovskiy; Zainutdinov, Aimbetov, Samorodov
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
NORWAY TEAM NEWS: FINDING A FORMULA
For what is now a star studded attack for Norway, the challenge for Stale Solbakken will be to try and find a way in which he can get the best out of the aforementioned Haaland and Odegaard with the likes of Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth also somehow in the side.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-1-2): Nyland; Ryerson, Ostigard, Hanche-Olsen, Pedersen; Berge, Thorsby, Odegaard; Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
KAZAKHSTAN VS NORWAY PREDICTION
In recent seasons, Kazakhstan have made themselves a side difficult for the best sides to beat and capable of beating the rest, especially at home. Now is the time for Norway to move into the category of finding Kazakhstan difficult to beat but being able to get over the line and with the players at their disposal, they should be able to accomplish that. Defence remains a weakness so it may not be comfortable but Norway remain favourites.
KAZAKHSTAN VS NORWAY TIP: NORWAY TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
