Finland will face off against Kazakhstan on Tuesday night at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, in a match both teams need to win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Here Channel46News free preview of the match.
It has been a tight run in Group G so far, with plenty of upsets and surprises. After seven of ten matches have been played, favourites to progress Denmark are joint top of the group with Slovenia, at 16 points. They forced a gap to form between them and the next two teams, Kazakhstan and Finland, whom they defeated last Saturday. Finland fell to Slovenia 3-0 and Kazakhstan to Denmark 3-1. Thus, both teams need to win tomorrow to keep their hopes up of direct progression.
For Finland, it had been a good campaign. Before losing to Slovenia on Saturday, they had won four of six games, including at home against Slovenia. Slovenia’s good run meant, however, that defeating Finland put them on the cusp of securing a place at the Euros. To deny this, Finland would need to make up four points in three games. This isn’t impossible, however, as Finland have three relatively easy games in Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland at home, and minnows San Marino away. Slovenia on the other hand still have Denmark and Northern Ireland away before finishing their campaign against Kazakhstan at home. Finland can still feel they have a chance of progression, but they know they need to win out.
Finland will certainly be hoping to do so. They have a good record at home, and they even beat Kazakhstan away 0-1 last month. They have won the last three meetings between the two sides, and possess the better team on paper.
Kazakhstan, who have yet to qualify for a major tournament, have had a historic run so far, picking up twelve points from seven matches, an all time high. They will be hoping to continue that fortune when they visit Helsinki. Kazakhstan are certainly not out of it either. As Long as Slovenia don’t pick up six points from their two next fixtures, Kazakhstan can be in position to advance to the group stages with a win on the last matchday in Ljubljana, as long as they win their next two games, against Finland and San Marino.
Both countries can rest assured knowing that they are guaranteed at least a spot in the Play-off. The last three matches between the teams have ended 1-0, 0-2, and 0-1 for Finland. Finland tend to play defensively, and concedinh three goals as they did against Slovenia is a rarity, especially at home. Kazakhstan instead likes to play brave football, though they often sit back to wait for the counter.
We say: 1-0
Finland have lost their last two games, and will be immensely dissapointed following their 3-0 loss to Slovenia over the weekend. Their attacking game has struggled recently, as they achieved under one expected goal in their last two matches. Attacker Oliver Antman’s injury will not help either. Meanwhile Kazakhstan will put everything on the line, but considering that they have failed to score against Finland in three straight matches, we dont see that changing.