Slovenia Vs Kazakhstan

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Slovenia is gearing up for their second match of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League as they aim to secure their first win of the campaign against Kazakhstan. The fixture is set to take place at Stozice Stadium on Monday night, and both teams will be looking to improve on their opening results. Slovenia played out a 1-1 draw with Austria on Friday night, while Kazakhstan managed a goalless stalemate with Norway, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive clash.

Slovenia's Recent Performance and Match Preview

Slovenia's national team has been experiencing a challenging period in recent months, struggling to turn draws into victories. Despite being undefeated in regular time over their last six matches, Matjaz Kek's side has failed to secure a win during that period, with five of those matches ending in draws. Their most recent encounter, a 1-1 draw with Austria in the Nations League, epitomized this pattern.

Slovenia started the game strongly, taking the lead in the 18th minute through a well-converted penalty by Benjamin Sesko. The goal seemed to give the team early momentum, but Austria quickly responded. Konrad Laimer equalized just 10 minutes later, and from that point on, neither team could find the decisive breakthrough, resulting in another draw for Slovenia. This marked their fourth consecutive match without a win, stretching back to their Euro 2024 group-stage campaign.

At the Euros, Slovenia also found themselves struggling to get over the line, drawing all three of their group-stage matches. Although these results were enough to see them progress to the knockout stages, they were ultimately eliminated in the round of 16 by Portugal. After a goalless draw in regulation and extra time, Portugal triumphed in the penalty shootout, sending Slovenia home from the tournament. Despite their exit, the performance highlighted Slovenia's resilience and ability to stay competitive in matches, even against tough opposition.

Looking ahead to their game against Kazakhstan, Slovenia will be hopeful of securing their first win since November 2023, when they last triumphed over Cyprus in a World Cup qualifier. While the team has been hard to beat, their inability to finish off matches has been a source of frustration for fans and players alike. However, their solid defensive record—having not been beaten in regular time for almost a year—offers reason for optimism.

A win on Monday would be a significant step forward for Slovenia, as it would move them to four points in League B Group 3, positioning them well ahead of their upcoming matches against Norway and Kazakhstan in October. With their next two fixtures set to be away from home, securing a victory in front of their own fans at Stozice Stadium is crucial.

Slovenia's promotion to League B for the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League was seen as a major achievement for the national team. In their debut campaign at this level, they finished third in their group, which included Serbia, Norway, and Sweden. Despite some challenging fixtures, Slovenia managed to avoid relegation, a feat they will be eager to replicate in this season's competition. With Sweden relegated from Group 4 last season, Slovenia's aim this time around will be to build on their experience and push for a higher finish.

When it comes to head-to-head encounters, Slovenia holds the upper hand against Kazakhstan, having emerged victorious in both of their previous meetings. These encounters took place during qualification for Euro 2024, where Slovenia triumphed on both occasions. These past victories could give them a psychological advantage heading into Monday's clash, but they will need to be cautious against a Kazakhstan side determined to make an impact.

Kazakhstan's Journey and Recent Form

On the other side of the pitch, Kazakhstan will be looking to build on their encouraging performance against Norway. Despite coming into their opening match of the 2024-25 Nations League on the back of four consecutive defeats, Kazakhstan managed to frustrate their more illustrious opponents, holding them to a goalless draw. It was a result that few expected, especially considering Norway's attacking talent, including the likes of Erling Haaland, who was kept quiet throughout the match.

The draw against Norway not only ended Kazakhstan's losing streak but also provided a much-needed boost to their confidence. Kazakhstan had endured a difficult spell in the months leading up to the Nations League, suffering defeats to Greece, Luxembourg, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. These results had raised concerns about the team's form and ability to compete at the higher level of League B, following their promotion from League C last season.

Kazakhstan's promotion to League B was a landmark achievement for the national team. They finished top of Group 3 in the 2022-23 League C campaign, ahead of Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Belarus. Their performances in that campaign earned them a step up to League B, where they now face stiffer competition against teams like Slovenia, Austria, and Norway. For a team that has often been seen as an underdog in European football, this represents a significant opportunity to prove their credentials on a bigger stage.

Under the guidance of manager Stanislav Cherchesov, Kazakhstan will be hoping to secure their first win in League B. Cherchesov, who took charge of the team in 2023, has been working to instill a more disciplined and defensively solid approach to their game. The draw against Norway was a clear example of this, as Kazakhstan defended resolutely and limited their opponents to few clear-cut chances.

Kazakhstan's last victory came back in March, when they recorded a 2-0 win over Turkmenistan in a friendly match. Since then, results have been hard to come by, but the performance against Norway would have given the team renewed belief that they can compete at this level. Their next two Nations League fixtures, against Austria and Slovenia in October, will be crucial in determining whether they can establish themselves in League B or face a battle for survival.

One of the key challenges for Kazakhstan will be finding the back of the net. Despite their solid defensive display against Norway, the team struggled to create many opportunities in attack. This has been a recurring issue for Kazakhstan, who have often found it difficult to break down well-organized defenses. They will need to be more proactive going forward if they are to pose a threat to Slovenia on Monday night.

However, Kazakhstan can take heart from their defensive resilience, particularly the way they managed to keep Norway's Haaland at bay. The Norwegian striker, one of the most feared forwards in world football, was largely anonymous during the match, thanks to Kazakhstan's disciplined defending. If they can replicate that kind of performance against Slovenia, they will give themselves a good chance of securing a positive result.

Key Players to Watch

For Slovenia, Benjamin Sesko will be a player to watch. The 21-year-old striker has been a rising star for the national team and was the hero in their match against Austria, calmly converting from the penalty spot to give his side the lead. Sesko's pace, physicality, and finishing ability make him a constant threat to opposition defenses, and he will be looking to add to his goal tally against Kazakhstan.

In midfield, Slovenia will rely on the experience of Jasmin Kurtic and the creativity of Miha Zajc to control the game and unlock Kazakhstan's defense. Kurtic, with over 80 caps for his country, brings leadership and composure to the midfield, while Zajc's vision and passing ability can create chances for the likes of Sesko and Andraz Sporar.

Defensively, Slovenia has been solid in recent months, with the likes of Jaka Bijol and David Brekalo forming a strong partnership at the back. Their ability to keep clean sheets has been a key factor in Slovenia's resilience, and they will be aiming for another shutout on Monday night.

Kazakhstan, meanwhile, will look to their goalkeeper, Igor Shatskiy, for inspiration. Shatskiy was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet against Norway, making several crucial saves to deny the likes of Haaland and Martin Odegaard. His performance will be vital if Kazakhstan is to come away with a result from Stozice Stadium.

In attack, Abat Aymbetov will be the player Kazakhstan turns to for goals. The forward has been a consistent performer for the national team in recent years and will need to be at his best if Kazakhstan is to break down Slovenia's defense. Aymbetov's ability to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play will be crucial in relieving pressure on Kazakhstan's defense and creating opportunities in the final third.

Conclusion and Predictions

Both Slovenia and Kazakhstan will be looking to build on their opening results as they meet in Ljubljana on Monday. For Slovenia, the match represents an opportunity to claim their first win of the campaign and take a step toward securing their place in League B for another season. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, will be aiming to continue their positive momentum after their encouraging draw with Norway.

Slovenia's experience at this level, combined with their solid defensive record, makes them the favorites to win, but Kazakhstan has shown that they are capable of causing an upset. A close, competitive match is expected, with both teams keen to avoid defeat.