UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying: Northern Ireland vs Kazakhstan

Northern Ireland host Kazakhstan at Windsor Park, Belfast, in Qualifying Group H of UEFA Euro 2024.

Victory could put Northern Ireland second in Group H if Finland and Slovenia both lose elsewhere, whilst Kazakhstan could go top with a win if Denmark lose to Slovenia.

 

Team News

Craig Cathcart could return for Northern Ireland after he missed their away defeat to Denmark with a back injury.

Manager, Michael O’Neill meanwhile could rotate his squad with Callum Marshall in contention for a first senior start, having impressed as a substitute in Copenhagen.

Kazakhstan have no fresh injury concerns to report as Abat Aymbetov looks to return after he was suspended for their win against San Marino.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Northern Ireland host Kazakhstan at Windsor Park, Belfast, in a 7:45pm BST kick-off on Monday 19 June, live on Viaplay 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Northern Ireland’s first-ever meeting against Kazakhstan in all competitions.
• Kazakhstan are playing away to Northern Ireland at senior level for the very first time across all competitions.
• Northern Ireland are looking to avoid three consecutive 1-0 defeats for the first time in their history.
• Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov and Askhat  Tagybergen have scored in each of Kazakhstan’s last two matches (W2).

 

Prediction

Although their trip to Denmark was always going to be a difficult task, Northern Ireland certainly can take confidence from how defensively resilient they were to lose by just one goal, whilst they were clinical if unlucky with their own chances.

Kazakhstan meanwhile are coming into this match off the back of an easy win away to San Marino which put them second in the group, which does feel slightly surprising given the overall quality in this group because you naturally wouldn’t give them much of a chance on instinct.

Yet this Kazakhstan team are no pushovers as Slovenia, Denmark and San Marino have already discovered, but I do fancy Northern Ireland to again be defensively resilient and make a tight contest where home advantage could be key in a game which they must win to keep pace.

Prediction: Northern Ireland 1-0 Kazakhstan

Result: Northern Ireland 0-1 Kazakhstan