Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
In the first round, both teams can be said to have earned a point as their opponents simply let them off the hook. Now, they will face off to decide who takes three points, or they might end up with a draw again.
Slovenia
Slovenia played at home, but the game didn't go as planned. Austria dominated possession with 63% and had 11 shots, including 4 on target. Slovenia earned a draw thanks to a penalty for a handball by an Austrian player; otherwise, they hardly had any dangerous moments. The Austrians missed several chances, and in the case of the only goal they conceded, both the defenders and goalkeeper Matevž Vidovšek played terribly. They clearly missed Jan Oblak, who remained on the bench.
Kazakhstan
The level of dominance Norway had over Kazakhstan was something we haven't seen in a long time. The attacking actions chart was entirely on Norway's side. The hosts could barely breathe under such pressure, but the team, with Erling Haaland, Alexander Sørloth, and Martin Ødegaard on the pitch, couldn't break down Kazakhstan's low block defence: 17 out of 19 shots went to waste. They came closest to scoring in the 31st minute, but Felix Myhre's shot hit the woodwork.
Slovenia - Kazakhstan Prediction
Slovenia have drawn their last six matches, including four times at Euro 2024, and are on an 11-match unbeaten run. This streak began with a win over Kazakhstan (2:1) in November 2023. That was only their second meeting, with Slovenia previously winning by the same scoreline in Kazakhstan. Currently, Kazakhstan can be considered a mid-tier team in European football, especially under the guidance of the experienced Stanislav Cherchesov. This time, they are unlikely to lose by more than one goal.