Kazakhstan host Finland at the Astana Arena this Thursday in matchday five of the UEFA Euro Qualifiers. Both teams are tied at the top of Group H, giving this clash even more weight when it comes to taking home the three points.
Kazakhstan sit second in Group H currently by virtue of goal difference. After four games, Kazakhstan have three wins and one loss leaving them with nine points. However, due to only scoring eight goals and conceding four, their goal difference is four, three behind top of the group Finland.
Matchday one for Kazakhstan was against Slovenia. Kazakhstan opened the scoring with a goal from Maksim Samorodov but goals from David Brekalo and Zan Vipotnik gave Slovenia the 2 - 1 win. Next was a visit from Denmark where a double from Rasmus Hojlund gave Denmark a 2 - 0 lead going into halftime. However, Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov converted his penalty in the 73rd minute and then Askhat Tagybergen and Abar Aimbetov also scored to complete the 3 - 2 comeback, though Aimbetov was also sent off in extra time. A trip to San Marino saw another three goal game for Kazakhstan as Yan Vorogovskiy, Tagybergen and Zaynutdinov all scored in the 3 - 0 win.
The last game out for Kazakhstan was away to Northern Ireland. Aimbetov scored the only goal of the game as Kazakhstan took home a 1 - 0 and all three points.
Finland are top of Group H going into the game on nine points. With three wins and one loss leaves them joint with Kazakhstan. However, Finland have scored ten goals in those four games and have only conceded three, giving them the superior goal difference and the top spot.
Finland’s first game of the Qualifiers came away to Denmark in their only loss of the group stage. Though Oliver Antman scored to bring them level, Iceland were powerless to stop the rampaging Hojlund as he scored a hattrick to give Denmark the 3 - 1 win. The trip to Northern Ireland was a more successful outing for Finland as Benjamin Kallman scored to grab the 1 - 0 win. Next up was a visit from Slovenia where goals from Joel Pohjanpalo and Antman gave Finland the 2 - 0 win.
Last time out for Finland was a six goal thrashing of San Marino. Finland had 80% of the possession and 26 shots as Glen Kamara, Kallman and Teemu Pukki all scored along with a nine minute hattrick from Daniel Hakans for his first ever goals for his country.
Kazakhstan and Finland have met just five times in their histories, with the first ever meeting coming in 2006. Finland have won on four occasions and the teams have drawn just once, in that first meeting. The two most recent meetings in 2021 both ended in a Finland win, another likely outcome this week.