Armenia vs Kazakhstan Predictions Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews for this International friendly affair. Armenia aim to end a four-game losing streak against Kazakhstan in a Friday night international friendly. Read on for our free predictions and tips.
Friendlies 1 | Jun 7, 2024 at 5.00pm UK at Vazgen Sargsyan anvan Hanrapetakan Marzadasht
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Armenia vs Kazakhstan Predictions
Armenia and Kazakhstan Set for High-Scoring Encounter in International Friendly
Key Stats
– Armenia have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight friendly matches.
– Kazakhstan average 1.5 goals per game in their recent competitive fixtures.
– Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov has scored 14 goals in 36 international appearances for Kazakhstan.
Armenia will be seeking to end their dismal four-game losing streak when they face Kazakhstan in an international friendly on Friday night. Armenia’s recent 2-1 defeat to Slovenia highlights their struggles, while Kazakhstan also come into this match after a 2-1 loss to Luxembourg in their last international outing in March. This match presents an opportunity for both teams to recalibrate their strategies ahead of their upcoming competitive fixtures.
Armenia’s Recent Form and Expectations
Armenia have never qualified for a major international tournament and will not be participating in this summer’s European Championship, having finished fourth in their qualification group behind Turkey, Croatia, and Wales. Instead, Oleksandr Petrakov’s side are focusing on their return to competitive action in the UEFA Nations League, starting with a match against Latvia on September 7.
Armenia’s recent form has been worrying, with their latest 2-1 defeat to Slovenia marking their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions. Their last victory came in June 2023 against Latvia, and they have since gone winless in eight friendly matches. Armenia’s primary challenge has been their defensive frailties, having failed to keep a clean sheet in these games.
Kazakhstan’s Progress and Challenges
Kazakhstan, meanwhile, have not played since their 2-1 loss to Luxembourg at the end of March. They enjoyed their best-ever qualification campaign for Euro 2024, but their journey ended abruptly with a 5-0 defeat to Greece in the playoff semi-final. Despite the setback, Kazakhstan can draw positives from their qualification run, where they amassed 18 points from 10 matches, just four points behind group leaders Denmark.
Stanislav Cherchesov’s team have had mixed results recently, winning three of their last six international matches, including a 2-0 victory over Turkmenistan in March. Kazakhstan have faced Armenia seven times previously, winning four of those encounters. Their last meeting in October 2017 ended in a 1-1 draw, underscoring the closely contested nature of their fixtures.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Armenia: Armenia’s lineup against Slovenia saw Artur Miranyan spearheading the attack in a 5-4-1 formation, a setup likely to be retained against Kazakhstan. Varazdat Haroyan is expected to captain the side from the back. Notably, Valencia’s young defender Andranik Hakobyan is among the four uncapped players in the squad, and he may get some playing time.
Expected Lineup: Cancarevic; Hovhannisyan, Harutyunyan, Haroyan, Mkrtchyan, Tiknizyan; Dashyan, Sevikyan, Spertsyan, Serobyan; Miranyan
Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan’s squad features Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov, who boasts an impressive international record of 14 goals in 36 appearances. He, along with Abat Aymbetov from Adana Demirspor, will be key figures in the attack. Defensively, Serhiy Malyi is set to earn his 68th cap, providing experience and stability at the back.
Expected Lineup: Shatsky; Malyi, Marochkin, Alip, Yerlanov; Kuat, Tagybergen, Orazov, Zaynutdinov; Aymbetov, Astanov
Tactical Analysis and Key Areas
The midfield battle will be pivotal in this match. Armenia’s formation relies heavily on their ability to control the game through the middle, with players like Dashyan and Spertsyan needing to be at their best. Kazakhstan’s midfield, featuring Kuat and Tagybergen, will be essential in disrupting Armenia’s play and launching counter-attacks.
In defence, Armenia’s backline led by Haroyan will need to be disciplined to contain Kazakhstan’s attackers, particularly Zaynutdinov and Aymbetov. Conversely, Kazakhstan’s defensive unit must address their vulnerabilities, as seen in their heavy defeat to Greece, to prevent Armenia from capitalising on any lapses.
Expected Gameplay
Armenia are likely to adopt a cautious approach, focusing on maintaining possession and building their attacks methodically. Their wing-backs will play a crucial role in providing width and delivering crosses into the box. Kazakhstan, known for their counter-attacking prowess, will aim to exploit any gaps left by Armenia, relying on quick transitions and the physical presence of their forwards to create scoring opportunities.
Expected Goals (xG) Analysis
Armenia’s expected goals (xG) metrics reveal a team that struggles to convert chances, averaging 1.1 goals per game in their Euro 2024 qualifiers. Their defensive record is also concerning, with 1.4 goals conceded per game, highlighting their need for improvement at both ends of the pitch.
Kazakhstan, on the other hand, average 1.5 goals per game, demonstrating a slightly better attacking output. However, their defence also concedes 1.5 goals per game, indicating a balanced but vulnerable setup. Both teams’ xG figures suggest a match where defences could be breached multiple times.
Managerial Critique
Oleksandr Petrakov has faced a tough challenge with Armenia, struggling to instil a defensive solidity in the team. While his tactical approach aims to leverage the team’s strengths, the lack of clean sheets and consistent performances indicates areas for significant improvement.
Stanislav Cherchesov has had a relatively better tenure with Kazakhstan, leading them to an impressive qualification campaign. However, the heavy defeat to Greece and recent inconsistent results highlight the need for tactical adjustments, particularly in shoring up their defence and maintaining discipline under pressure.
Suggestions for Improvement
Armenia need to focus on defensive organisation and reducing individual errors that lead to goals. Enhancing their set-piece play could also provide an additional route to goal, which has been underutilised.
Kazakhstan must improve their defensive resilience, particularly in away matches. Developing a more cohesive pressing strategy could help them regain possession higher up the pitch and reduce the pressure on their backline.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Armenia: Strengths: Possession play, midfield creativity, attacking versatility. Weaknesses: Defensive frailties, lack of goal-scoring efficiency, vulnerability on counter-attacks.
Kazakhstan: Strengths: Counter-attacking ability, physicality in attack, set-piece threat. Weaknesses: Defensive lapses, inconsistent performances, reliance on key players for goals.
Predictions
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score (BTTS) Given both teams’ defensive vulnerabilities and reasonable attacking capabilities, predicting both teams to score seems prudent. Armenia’s defensive record, coupled with Kazakhstan’s ability to find the net, supports this prediction.
Correct Score Prediction: Armenia 2-2 Kazakhstan A high-scoring draw appears likely given the attacking potential and defensive weaknesses of both sides. Armenia’s struggle to keep clean sheets and Kazakhstan’s scoring ability suggest a 2-2 outcome.
Goalscorer Prediction: Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov to Score Anytime Zaynutdinov, with his impressive goal-scoring record, is a strong candidate to score in this match. His knack for finding the back of the net in crucial moments makes him a constant threat.
Team to Score First: Kazakhstan Considering Kazakhstan’s recent scoring form and Armenia’s defensive issues, Kazakhstan are likely to open the scoring. Their ability to exploit defensive gaps early in the game could give them the advantage.
Innovative Market Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals With both teams’ defensive struggles and the likelihood of multiple scoring opportunities, predicting over 2.5 goals in the match is a reasonable bet. This market aligns with the expected attacking play and defensive vulnerabilities.
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