As March 25 approaches, anticipation builds for the World Cup 2026 qualifying match between Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan, set to take place in Vaduz. Both teams are seeking their first points after dismal openings in the tournament, making this clash a vital opportunity for redemption.
Liechtenstein's road to qualification began on a sour note, suffering a heavy 0-3 defeat against North Macedonia in their opening match. The team, under the guidance of coach Konrad Fünfstück, struggled to assert themselves, controlling the ball for a staggering 75% of the match but only managing one shot on target that failed to trouble the opposition. Currently sitting at a disheartening 204th in the FIFA rankings, expectations for the team remain low, especially with their last recorded victory against San Marino in the Nations League still fresh in the memory.
Despite a team valuation of less than one million euros, Fünfstück, whose contract has been extended until 2027, remains optimistic. However, his tenure has yielded only one win in 19 matches. For the crucial fixture against Kazakhstan, he has called up five debutants, including Italian-born striker Willi Pizzi, who made an appearance in the previous round.
Liechtenstein will be missing several key players, including Ospelt, Frommelt, Büchel, Maier, and Kranz, which will undoubtedly limit Fünfstück's options in midfield and defense as they strive to clinch their first points of the qualifying campaign at home.
Kazakhstan faced their own challenges in the group, suffering a 1-3 defeat to Wales during their opening match. They conceded a goal in the 9th minute but managed to equalize through a penalty conversion by Askhad Tagybergen. It marked Tagybergen's first official goal since 2023, showcasing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise disappointing encounter, where Kazakhstan's defense faltered under pressure as they were left without points.
The Kazakh side has endured a grim run, with only one win in the last 14 matches, including eight losses out of ten. Their previous coach, Stanislav Cherchesov, was dismissed following a spells of poor performances including a failure to score a single goal in the Nations League. Now helmed by Ali Aliyev, Kazakhstan hopes to break a nearly decade-long failure in World Cup qualifying, having not secured a victory since 2013.
For the upcoming match, Aliyev has called a squad of 32 players, with captain Tagybergen, who boasts 60 caps, leading the charge. A rotational strategy in attack is expected, with Aymbetov potentially replacing Zhaksylykov, while Zainutdinov is absent due to a lack of club practice.
The two teams have met four times previously, with Kazakhstan winning two of those encounters, one victory for Liechtenstein, along with one draw. The last fixture between them occurred in 2021, ending 2-1 in favor of Liechtenstein, but with both teams struggling at the moment, predictions are challenging.
Recent statistics paint a grim picture for Liechtenstein, who have lost 15 of their last 16 official matches, only scoring more than one goal once. Kazakhstan, having not achieved victory in 22 World Cup qualification matches, while scoring in three of their last five away games, also supports the notion that this match could yield goals, and potentially plenty of them.
With bookmakers favoring Kazakhstan with odds of 1.35 for a win compared to Liechtenstein's 11.00, it seems the odds are stacked against the hosts. A draw is listed at 4.80, but many experts predict a likely outcome of Kazakhstan winning with a handicap -1.5 rated at 1.80 due to their superior squad depth.
Despite both teams' net strengths appearing limited offensively, fans can expect a highly competitive showdown marked by mistakes, especially considering both teams will be eager to score their first points of the qualifying round.
For betting enthusiasts, options abound: With more than 2.5 goals expected given the poor defensive records, along with suggested prop bets including a total corners count over 9.5 and a total yellow cards count exceeding 3.5. The push for goals might see both teams pulled wide as they seek to secure vital points in their campaigns.
With home advantage on their side, Liechtenstein will be desperate to put recent struggles behind them and provide a spectacle for their fans. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, will aim to build on their slight improvement last match to reclaim dominance and paper over their own cracks. It will surely be an exciting encounter!
