Austria and Kazakhstan Clash in UEFA Nations League Bout

Austria and Kazakhstan are set to face off in a UEFA Nations League encounter at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz on Thursday evening. Both teams, seeking their first win of the season, are trailing by three points in League B Group 3 and are eager to avoid relegation.

Austria’s campaign began with two away matches resulting in a draw against Slovenia and a defeat in Norway. Despite initially equalizing, they were unable to maintain the scoreline against Norway, ultimately losing to a late goal. Having shown formidable performance at Euro 2024, Austria is aiming for a swift return to League A, following their relegation last season. The team has struggled recently, having not secured a victory in the Nations League since June 2022.

Kazakhstan, meanwhile, faced a challenging rise to League B after their promotion in 2022. Their Nations League journey began with a stalemate against Norway but was soon marred by a 3-0 defeat to Slovenia. Despite their loss, Kazakhstan has demonstrated improvement, notably during their European Championship qualifying rounds prior to losing in the playoffs.

Austria is challenged with an incomplete roster as captain David Alaba is still recovering from a knee injury. Additionally, Leeds United player Maximilian Wöber is scheduled for knee surgery, creating a gap in the defense. Ralf Rangnick, Austria’s coach, has called up Venezia’s Michael Svoboda for the first time following these absences.

Kazakhstan’s squad predominantly consists of players from their domestic league, with standout player Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov playing for Besiktas, and star striker Abat Aymbetov representing Adana Demirspor. The latter is particularly notable, having scored multiple times in past international tournaments.

The clash between Austria and Kazakhstan is expected to be a crucial contest, with both sides looking to gain a footing after underwhelming starts this season. Historically, Austria has held the upper hand in their encounters, and Kazakhstan will be aiming to alter this trend on Thursday.