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Armenia will be bidding to end a four-game losing run in all competitions when they tackle Kazakhstan in an international friendly on Friday night. The hosts enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Slovenia on Tuesday, while Kazakhstan lost 2-1 to Luxembourg in their last international fixture at the end of March.
Armenia's Recent Form
Armenia has a history of struggling to make a significant impact on the international stage. The team has never qualified for the finals of a major international tournament, and this trend continued as they failed to secure a spot in this summer's European Championship. Armenia finished fourth in Group D behind Turkey, Croatia, and Wales, which dashed their hopes of appearing in the prestigious tournament.
However, all hope is not lost for Armenia. Oleksandr Petrakov's side is looking forward to the return of competitive action in the UEFA Nations League, with their first fixture scheduled against Latvia on September 7. This match against Kazakhstan will serve as a crucial preparatory encounter for the upcoming competitive fixtures.
Armenia’s recent form has been disappointing, with the team suffering a 2-1 defeat to Slovenia on Tuesday evening, marking their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions. Prior to that, they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Croatia in their final Euro 2024 qualification fixture, and subsequently lost to Kosovo and the Czech Republic in friendly matches.
The national side is in search of their first victory since June 2023, when they secured a 2-1 win over Latvia. However, Armenia is currently on an eight-game winless streak in friendlies, with their last success in a non-competitive fixture dating back to March 2022 against Montenegro. This match against Kazakhstan presents an opportunity to break that cycle and gain some much-needed confidence.
Kazakhstan's Recent Form
Kazakhstan, meanwhile, has not played since suffering a 2-1 defeat to Luxembourg in a friendly at the end of March. Despite this setback, Kazakhstan can reflect on a period of significant progress. The Hawks had their best-ever qualification campaign when attempting to secure a spot at Euro 2024, though their journey ended in a 5-0 defeat to Greece in the playoff semi-final back in March.
While the result against Greece was disappointing, Kazakhstan’s overall performance in the qualification campaign was encouraging. The team collected 18 points from their 10 matches, only four points fewer than Denmark managed in the same group. This showcases the significant strides Kazakhstan has made in recent years under the guidance of head coach Stanislav Cherchesov.
Kazakhstan has won three of their last six international matches, including a 2-0 victory over Turkmenistan in a friendly in March. The team has shown that they can compete at a higher level and will be eager to demonstrate their growth against Armenia.
Historically, Kazakhstan has faced Armenia seven times, with Armenia winning four of those fixtures. Their most recent meeting, which was a World Cup qualifier in October 2017, ended in a 1-1 draw. This historical context adds an extra layer of intrigue to their upcoming encounter.
Key Players to Watch
For Armenia, Lucas Zelarayan stands out as a key player. His ability to influence the game from midfield and create scoring opportunities will be crucial for Armenia’s hopes of ending their winless run. Zelarayan celebrated scoring a goal against Slovenia recently and will be looking to replicate that form against Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan, on the other hand, will rely on the leadership and experience of players like Marat Bystrov and Aleksandr Marochkin. Both players were visibly dejected after their last match against Luxembourg, but they have the quality to bounce back and lead their team to a positive result.
Tactical Battle
Oleksandr Petrakov is likely to emphasize a solid defensive structure for Armenia, aiming to frustrate Kazakhstan and hit them on the counter-attack. Armenia's recent narrow losses indicate that they can be defensively resolute but need to improve their attacking efficiency.
Kazakhstan, under Stanislav Cherchesov, has shown a more balanced approach. They can be pragmatic when needed but also possess the ability to press forward and exploit weaknesses in their opponents' defenses. This tactical flexibility could prove to be the deciding factor in the match.
Prediction
Predicting the outcome of this friendly match is challenging, given the recent form of both teams. However, Kazakhstan’s slight edge in form and the momentum from their strong Euro 2024 qualification campaign might give them an advantage. Armenia’s home advantage and their desperate need to break their losing streak could balance the scales.
A closely contested match is expected, with both teams likely to have opportunities to score. A 1-1 draw seems a plausible outcome, reflecting the evenly matched nature of the two sides and their recent history.
Conclusion
Armenia versus Kazakhstan promises to be an intriguing friendly, with both teams eager to end their current losing runs and gain confidence ahead of their upcoming competitive fixtures. Armenia will hope to leverage their home advantage and end their winless streak, while Kazakhstan aims to build on their recent progress and showcase their growing strength on the international stage. Football fans can expect a competitive and engaging match as these two teams face off on Friday night.
