Finland Vs Kazakhstan
Finland Vs Kazakhstan Saturday 4 September, 2021 – 14:00 (BST)
World Cup Qualifier (UEFA)
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 2 September 2021)
Preview: Locked on two points apiece in Group D, Sunday’s Helsinki meeting is an opportunity for Finland and Kazakhstan to stake a claim for a runners-up finish in a section headed by World Cup holders France.
World Cup Qualifying Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Finland – Blunt Finns overly reliant on Pukki?
The Finns (D2) weren’t involved in qualifying earlier in the week. Instead Markku Kanerva’s men were put through their paces – of sorts anyway – in a friendly, playing out a dour goalless stalemate here in Helsinki with Wales. Their fourth outing in five without scoring a goal, while it exacerbated an already underwhelming record for the year having delivered a solitary win from nine matches (D3 L5) in 2021 so far.
Hardly ideal preparation ahead of a must win fixture at the same venue against Kazakhstan. Trailing second place Ukraine by two points following following back-to-back score-draws at home to Bosnia and on the road in Ukraine. Finland know three points, coupled with France winning in Kiev later that day, would see The-Eagle-Owls occupy second for the next few days at least, before a daunting trip to Paris on Tuesday.
Key Stat: All three Finland goals in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying have been scored by the same player, Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki.
Kazakhstan – Visitors aiming to make it three unbeaten in Group D?
A second-half Ruslan Valiullin brace capped an astonishing conclusion to Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier in Astana. Having fallen behind for a second time in the match when conceding three minutes into time added on, the 26 year old midfielder popped up with a last gasp equaliser. Helping Kazakhstan (D2 L1) pick up their second point of the group and keep faint hopes about qualifying for a maiden World Cup alive.
Despite the euphoria that accompanied that late revival, humility is needed. For this is a collective now into double digits since its last win (D4 L6), since a 2-0 Nations League victory in Lithuania in September 2020. Meanwhile away from home it is two wins in seventeen competitive matches (D4 L11), though they would earn an unlikely 1-1 draw in Kiev versus Ukraine in their sole away outing thus far in Group D.
Key Stat: Since their last win away from home, in September 2020, Kazakhstan have managed only two goals in five away internationals (D2 L3).
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Finland Vs Kazakhstan Betting Advice
Marrku Kanerva’s Finland remain in Helsinki following their uninspiring 0-0 draw with Wales in midweek that left them scoreless in three consecutive matches, having scored just once across their past five fixtures. Therefore, with Sunday’s guests being a Kazakhstan side boasting two goals in its past five away encounters, those in attendance at the Olympiastadion may be hard pressed to get their money’s worth.
Finland Vs Kazakhstan – Key Facts:
- In three previous meetings Kazakhstan have never beaten Finland, with the Finns winning each of the last two (D1) with the most recent a 2-1 scoreline at home in 2007.
- After drawing 0-0 with Wales last time out, Finland have failed to score in four of their past five internationals. They have two points from two qualifying games so far.
- Wednesday’s thrilling 2-2 draw in Astana with Ukraine earned Kazakhstan their second point of this qualifying campaign. They have only scored twice across their previous five away matches, however.
As well as neither of these sides boasting much in the way of goalscoring threat, the pair are relatively sound defensively. The Finns conceding four in their last five games, while Kazakhstan deserve a modicum of credit for limiting France to only two efforts in Paris and Ukraine to three across their pair of meetings in Group D. So while I expect Finland to clinch three important points, it is unlikely to be a classic.
Best Betting Odds – Finland Vs Kazakhstan
Finland – 4/9 (Betfair)
Draw – 16/5 (BetVictor)
Kazakhstan – 17/2 (WilliamHill)
