Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Latvia
Match Time & Date:
13/10/2018
12:00 PM
Prediction: 0-0
Kazakhstan
Saturday’s football game at Daugavas Stadionas pits together Latvia and Kazakhstan, the two teams who are eyeing their first ever win in the UEFA Nations League. Latvia are on a four-match winless run in all competitions and seeing that they failed to score in the first two games in the UEFA Nations League, we do not believe that there is a big value in betting on the hosts. Kazakhstan, on the other hand, picked up one point from possible six, but they are definitely capable of grabbing something from Saturday’s clash against Latvia. A close encounter is on the horizon and we predict that the two teams are going to share the spoils at Daugava Stadionas. In two of their last three meetings in all competitions the two sides played out a draw, which is yet another reason why we are tempted to put our money on draw.
Highlighted Player (Dmitri Shomko):
Born in Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan on March 19, 1990 Dmitri Andreievich Shomko is a defender who plays for Astana. Shomko is a product of his home-town club Ekibastuzets, but he started his senior career at Batyr Ekibastuz.
As expected, the 182-cm tall footballer returned to his boyhood club and it has to be noted that he made nine appearances in the league for Ekibastuzets. Dmitri Shomko then moved to Irtysh Pavlodar and he played for the Kazak club from 2009 to 2014. In 2011 he was sent on loan to Astana and three years later he signed a permanent deal with the Blue and Yellows. His main position is left-back, but he is used as a left midfielder as well.
Over the years Shomko has established himself as a first-team regular at Kazakhstan national football team and he made his debut for the Hawks on February 2, 2011 in a 1-1 draw with Belarus. Shomko came as a substitute for Nurgaliev in the 85th minute of the match. He has 17 caps for the U21 team as well.
Highlighted Team (Kazakhstan):
Kazakhstan national team played their first international match on June 1, 1992 against Turkmenistan, with the team beating the Emeralds 1-0. The former Soviet republic have been competing on the international stage since 1991, when the country declared independence.
Kazakhstan have yet to book their place at major tournaments, but they have not been serving as a cannon fodder for top European national teams. The Kazakhs were part of Asian Football Confederation before joining UEFA in 2002. However, they could not enter UEFA Euro 2004 qualification as the draw had been made earlier. Kazakhstan national football team recorded their biggest win over Pakistan in June, 1997 and they suffered their biggest defeat in 2005, with the team losing to Turkey 6-0.
Kazakhstan wear sky-blue shirts and sky-blue shorts when playing at home, while their away colour is yellow. Astana Arena is considered Kazakhstan national football team’s home ground and the capacity of the stadium is 30.244. The venue was opened in July, 2009.
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