Kazakhstanvs.Austria

Back-to-back victories have drawn the Austrians level with Norway and Slovenia on seven points, while their hosts have yet to win or even score.

Match preview

After suffering something of a Euro 2024 hangover, Austria bit back with two wins and nine goals last month, hoisting them into contention for Group 3's top spot with two games remaining.

Ralf Rangnick's squad took just one point from a pair of away fixtures in September and were under pressure to produce when Kazakhstan paid them a visit in Linz.

Christoph Baumgartner gave the Austrians an early lead, before two goals in three second-half minutes - from Philipp Lienhart and Marcel Sabitzer - put the result beyond doubt; Matthias Seidl made it 4-0 to the hosts, setting them up nicely for a showdown with Norway three days later.

Austria really rode that momentum, with veteran striker Marko Arnautovic bagging a brace en route to a superb 5-1 win over their Nordic counterparts, who they now sit alongside on seven points.

Relegated last time around, before briefly making an impact at the Euros, Das Team are now intent on making an instant return to Europe's top tier.

Ahead of Sunday's grand finale at home to Slovenia, they can strengthen their hand even further, in pursuit of a first-placed finish that would ensure automatic entry to League A - meanwhile, second spot secures a playoff.

In addition to that heavy loss when they last met, Kazakhstan have yet to defeat Austria in UEFA competition, losing three of the nations' five previous meetings without scoring a single goal.

Finding the net has also proved a major issue for the Hawks in this season's Nations League, as they remain scoreless after four matches, from which they have taken one point.

Last month, the Kazakhs followed their thumping by Austria with 1-0 defeat to Slovenia, casting them adrift of Group 3's leading trio.

Relegation back down to League C is all but confirmed, then, and unless they beat Austria in Almaty it will be signed and sealed before the final matchday.

Stanislav Cherchesov's side had previously posted six wins from 10 during Euro 2024 qualification, having just won promotion in the Nations League, but a home draw against Norway has brought their sole point in this highly competitive group.

Kazakhstan Nations League form:

D

L

L

L

Kazakhstan form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

L

L

Austria Nations League form:

D

L

W

W

Austria form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

W

W

Team News

After Ralf Rangnick had to improvise when selecting his back four last month, only captain David Alaba is ruled out of Austria's concluding Group 3 fixtures.

Lens centre-back Kevin Danso and Leeds United's Maximilian Wober are now available, with the latter called up despite only just returning to full training after a serious knee injury.

Veteran forward Andreas Weimann scored twice for Blackburn Rovers in the Championship last weekend, and he will vie with several players including Junior Adamu and Michael Gregoritsch to support Marko Arnautovic - who has been sparingly used by Inter Milan - up front.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan coach Stanislav Cherchesov has selected a 27-man squad for this month's Nations League camp, led by captain and midfield mainstay Askhat Tagybergen.

As the hunt for an elusive goal goes on, all-time top scorer Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov - who plays his club football for Besiktas - should link up with another Turkish Super Lig player, Adana Demirspor's Abat Aymbetov, in the final third.

Astana trio Aleksandr Marochkin, Yan Vorogovskiy and Marat Bystrov are set to join Zenit St Petersburg's Nuraly Alip at the back.

Kazakhstan possible starting lineup:

Shatskiy; Bystrov, Alip, Marochkin, Vorogovskiy; Tagybergen, Darabayev; Zaynutdinov, Islamkhan, Samorodov; Aymbetov

Austria possible starting lineup:

Pentz; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Seiwald, Laimer; Schmid, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic

We say: Kazakhstan 0-2 Austria

While Austria will believe they belong among Europe's elite, Kazakhstan are simply along for the ride at League B level, which has proved too tough for them so far.

The visitors should take care of business against their toothless hosts on Thursday, setting up a possible winner-takes-all showdown with Slovenia.

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