Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying match.
Kazakhstan U21
Last autumn Kazakhstan U21 finished the qualifying campaign second-bottom in a group with Spain U21, Belgium U21, Scotland U21, Hungary U21 and Malta U21, conceding 24 goals across 10 matches. In June against Andorra U21, the squad featured a highly rated youngster who has since been called up to the senior national team, which leaves even fewer attacking options. Kazakhstan U21 will likely drop into a low block with five at the back, which will not help them avoid conceding.
England U21
England U21 look capable of navigating the 10 qualifying rounds with a perfect 30 points. Given the abundance of talent in the senior set-up, Lee Carsley can continue to blood elite youngsters; at the recent UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Archie Gray, Jack Hinshelwood, Lewis Miley and Harvey Elliott featured. In the final, England U21 generated 1.56 xG over 120 minutes against Germany U21 (3:2 after extra time), with Jonathan Rowe, a Bologna newcomer, coming off the bench to score the decisive goal.
Kazakhstan U21 vs England U21 Prediction
In Aktobe, Kazakhstan U21 and England U21 are likely to produce a familiar pattern with the balance of play tilted firmly one way. The visitors should, on sheer quality, secure an emphatic win.
