Kazakhstan vs Wales: Football Previews & Free Football Betting Tips
It’s a long haul to Astana for a genuinely pivotal World Cup qualifier. Wales arrive second in Group J and chasing top spot, while Kazakhstan need a result to keep pace in a stacked section. The reverse fixture finished 3–1 to Wales back in March, so this is a chance for the hosts to level the head-to-head and for the visitors to improve their qualification likelihood from promising to convincing.
Expect a lively atmosphere at the Astana Arena with a strong home crowd and a healthy Red Wall contingent making the trek. On the pitch, Kazakhstan tend to keep things compact and direct, often in a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 hybrid built on duels and quick wide breaks. Wales are likelier to use a 4-2-3-1 that morphs into a 4-3-3 in possession, with pace outside and a focal point up top to attack early crosses.
- Squad confirmed: Seisen; Anarbekov; Shaizada; Kasym; Vorogovskiy; Alip; Zhagorov; Tapalov; Malyy; Zhaksibaev; Astanov; Chesnokov; Zaynutdinov; Orazov; Tyulyubay; Kenzhebek; Zhumat; Muzhikov; Karaman; Kairo; Kasabulat; Omirtaev; Samorodov; Satpaev; Sviridov.
- Doubts: None publicly reported in the call-up.
- Likely roles: Zaynutdinov’s ball-carrying is key between lines, Alip anchors the back line, and Samorodov gives them the outlet to attack space.
- Squad confirmed: Darlow; A. Davies; Ward; Cabango; Jay Dasilva; Ben Davies; Kpakio; Lawlor; Mepham; Rodon; N. Williams; Kai Andrews; Brooks; Charlie Crew; Jordan James; Sheehan; Sorba Thomas; Harry Wilson; Broadhead; Cullen; Mark Harris; Lewis Koumas; Dan James; Brennan Johnson; Kieffer Moore.
- Out / not selected: Ethan Ampadu (knee – out until after the break). Aaron Ramsey not selected as he builds minutes post-injury.
- Likely roles: Moore as the reference point, with Johnson and Dan James/Wilson running off him; Rodon–Ben Davies stability at the back; Jordan James and Sheehan to control tempo and second balls.
Record: 1–1–8. Goals: 3 for, 24 against (that’s 0.3 GF and 2.4 GA per game). Clean sheets: 2/10 (20%). They’ve struggled to create clear chances recently and have often had to defend for long spells; when they concede first, the game tends to run away from them.
Trend: long goal droughts, reliance on transitions and set-pieces to nick something.
Record: 5–4–1. Goals: 19 for, 10 against (1.9 GF, 1.0 GA per game). Clean sheets: 4/10 (40%). They’ve balanced control with direct threat, and the wide runners have carried a lot of the end-product.
Trend: good game-state management; dangerous in broken play and early in halves.
Tip: on smaller screens, rotate your device sideways if the table looks cramped. (It’s mobile-optimised and will switch to stacked cards.)
| Metric | Kazakhstan | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Last 10 (W–D–L) | 1–1–8 | 5–4–1 |
| Goals For (total) | 3 | 19 |
| Goals Against (total) | 24 | 10 |
| Avg Goals Scored | 0.3 | 1.9 |
| Avg Goals Conceded | 2.4 | 1.0 |
| Clean Sheet % | 20% | 40% |
| Over 2.5 Goals % | 50% | 60% |
| Points per Game | 0.4 | 1.9 |
Recent competitive games in Astana have been tight for long spells but low on chances: narrow margins (like 0–1) and the odd clean sheet when they’ve been compact and aggressive in the first phase. Scoring first has been rare; protecting their box and set-piece delivery are the best routes to points here.
Wales’ travelling form this cycle shows resilience and threat in transition: they’ve found goals on the road even in a wild defeat (4–3) and ground out results like the 1–1 in Skopje. The defensive baseline (≈1.0 GA per game overall) tends to travel reasonably well when they control rest-defence behind the wingers.
Note: rotate your device sideways on mobile if needed to see the bars and scale clearly.
Goals For (avg per match)
Goals Against (avg per match)
- Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov — ball progression and late arrivals; if Kazakhstan get up the pitch, it’s usually through him.
- Nuraly Alip — the organiser at the back; aerial duels vs Moore and recovery runs v Wales’ wingers are pivotal.
- Maksim Samorodov — the outlet into space; first touch in transition can relieve pressure and draw fouls.
- Brennan Johnson — direct running and combination play around the box; drags blocks around.
- Kieffer Moore — penalties, set-piece magnet, and a wall for runners; expect plenty of early crosses.
- Harry Wilson — delivery, switches, and shots from the right half-space; adds variety against a low block.
0–2 away win. Wales have the stronger recent numbers (5–4–1 across ten competitive games) and more reliable sources of goals in wide areas. Kazakhstan’s recent chance creation has been limited; if Wales manage game-state and avoid early set-piece pressure, their pace and delivery should tell.
Wales to win the game — assuming they score first this should be a foregone conclusion.
Wales win to nil — aligns with Kazakhstan’s low scoring rate (0.3 per game over the last 10).
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