Kazakhstan vs North Macedonia prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-06-08 14:00.
[p]Kazakhstan (FIFA rank #113) return to FIFA World Cup qualification (WCQ) for their third match of the campaign under manager Ali Aliyev, who has the immensely difficult task of getting the nation into the top two of a group that includes highly-ranked nations Belgium (#8) and Wales (#29). There were no surprises in their first pair of games in March, as they were beaten in Wales (3-1) but comfortably defeated minnows Liechtenstein (2-0).[/p]
[p]Their hopes of making their first appearance at a World Cup as an independent nation may depend on causing a surprise on Monday against North Macedonia (#67), a team they lost to 4-0 in Skopje during the two countries’ only previous meeting in 2021. A rematch on home soil does not hold much promise for Kazakhstan after they failed to score a single goal as hosts in 2024 (D1, L2), part of a poor run that led to the appointment of Aliyev in January, initially as interim boss. [/p]
[p]North Macedonia continue to enjoy a lengthy period of stability as Blagoja Milevski approaches the fourth anniversary of a tenure that includes their first-ever promotion to UEFA Nations League B. While there is a long way to go yet, their start to this WCQ cycle has been most promising, with 1-1 draws at home to both Wales and Belgium, the latest of which saw them grab a late equaliser on Friday night, leaving them in an excellent position to challenge the two big hitters of the group. [/p]
[p]Their nine-game unbeaten run (W6, D3) includes three consecutive wins on opposition soil, all three of which were against lower-ranked nations including Armenia and Latvia, both of whom are in similar positions to Kazakhstan in the FIFA rankings. When coupled with the inevitable confidence boost that must come with going toe-to-toe with Belgium and Wales, North Macedonia’s status as favourites for this away trip is definitely warranted. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Galymzhan Kenzhebek scored his maiden first-team goal for Kazakhstan in Friday’s 4-1 friendly loss to Belarus, while North Macedonia’s Bojan Miovski made his first competitive start for club or country against Belgium since finding the net against Wales and Liechtenstein in March. He’s never lost when scoring or assisting for his country (W10, D2). [/p]
[p]Hot streak: North Macedonia have conceded one goal at most in each of their nine successive games without defeat, either drawing 1-1 (x3) or winning with a clean sheet (x6). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]