Preview: Finland vs. Kazakhstan - prediction, team news, lineups

Finland and Kazakhstan square off in Helsinki on Saturday afternoon with both nations still searching for their first win during World Cup qualifying.

However, the home side have played less games than their rivals, leaving them aware that victory at the weekend will put them in a strong position to finish in second place in Group D.

Match preview

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As expected, Markku Kanerva took the opportunity to name a heavily-weakened side for Finland's friendly with Wales on Wednesday night, witnessing his players secure a goalless draw against their fellow Euro 2020 participants.

The Eagle-owls were clear second-best during the contest in Helsinki, benefitting from a missed penalty in the first half and Wales resting more players after the break.

Nevertheless, even though his team have now gone three games without scoring a goal, Kanerva will take nothing but positives from the result and performance.

On the back of the nation reaching their first-ever major tournament, their long-term plan now revolves around identifying players with the next few years in mind as much as this current qualification campaign.

Finland earned draws with Bosnia-Herzgovina and Ukraine back in March, laying the necessary foundations which could help them finish as runners-up to France.

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Kanerva will be optimistic that his squad will get the better of opponents who head into this fixture exactly a year since registering their last victory, which came away in Lithuania.

However, this is a Kazakhstan outfit very much on the up, a feeling solidified with another draw against Euro 2020 quarter-finalists Ukraine earlier this week.

Talgat Baysufinov's team twice came from behind to earn a share of the spoils as Ruslan Valiullin netted his first two goals for his country.

Although the result was not enough to move Kazakhstan off the bottom of Group D, victory at the weekend could take the Hawks into second spot.

Team News

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Having made sweeping changes for the Wales game, Kanerva will hand recalls to many of his senior Finland players for this contest.

Teemu Pukki and Joel Pohjanpalo should lead the attack, while goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky will take his place between the sticks ahead of Wednesday's debutant Carljohan Eriksson.

Depending on whether Kanerva goes with a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 formation, Fredrik Jensen may keep his place in the starting lineup.

Barring any fitness issues, Baysufinov could go with the Kazakhstan side which started against Ukraine.

Abat Aymbetov and Baktiyor Zainutdinov appear most likely to earn a recall after being introduced on the hour mark during that game.

Finland possible starting lineup:

Hradecky; Raitala, Toivio, Arajuuri, O'Shaughnessy, Uronen; Lod, Sparv, Kamara; Pukki, Pohjanpalo

Kazakhstan possible starting lineup:

Pokatilov; Bystrov, Maliy, Marochkin, Logvinenko, Valiullin; Vasiljev, Tagybergen, Kuat; Nurgaliev, Shushenachev

We say: Finland 2-1 Kazakhstan

At some point during this campaign, the remarkable run of draws will come to an end. We feel that could occur on Saturday afternoon with a fresher Finland squad potentially outlasting their opponents.