Liam Duckstein
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Kazakhstan host Moldova in the UEFA Nations League on Friday 2 October 2026, and these predicted lineups lean heavily on who each coach has actually picked in the last couple of fixtures. The most obvious contrast between the two sides is in how settled they look: Kazakhstan’s XI barely moved between their last two outings, while Moldova’s back line shows a touch more shuffling behind an otherwise consistent spine. Neither camp has announced a team yet, so what follows is a projection built from recent selection patterns rather than confirmed news.
Kazakhstan Predicted XI
John van ‘t Schip’s side is projected in a 4-3-3, which lines up with his own preferred formation. The group is largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, so there is little guesswork in the spine of the team. Stas Pokatilov has started both of the matches used for this projection and looks the clear pick in goal, while further forward Arsen Ashirbek has only one start in that sample, making his inclusion the shakier call among the back four. The midfield trio and the rest of the back line have all started consistently in the games considered here.
Kazakhstan predicted XI: Stas Pokatilov; Nuraly Alip, Temirlan Erlanov, Arsen Ashirbek, Nauryzbek Zhagorov; Islambek Kuat, Zhasulan Amir, Dinmukhamed Karaman; Ramazan·Karimov, Galymzhan Kenzhebek, Artur Shushenachev
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 2 | Last 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Stas Pokatilov | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 3 | Nuraly Alip | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 23 | Temirlan Erlanov | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 4 | Arsen Ashirbek | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| D | 14 | Nauryzbek Zhagorov | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 5 | Islambek Kuat | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 8 | Zhasulan Amir | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 18 | Dinmukhamed Karaman | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| F | 19 | Ramazan·Karimov | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 7 | Galymzhan Kenzhebek | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 10 | Artur Shushenachev | 1/2 | 1/2 |
Moldova Predicted Lineup
Lilian Popescu is expected to set his team up in a 5-3-2, again matching his own stated preference. Moldova’s projection is also largely settled, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match, though there is a little more churn in defence than on the Kazakh side. Dumitru Celeadnic has started every match in the sample and is the clearest certainty in this expected XI, whereas Mihail Stefan has not started either of the two games used here despite being pencilled into the back five, making him the most uncertain name in the group.
Moldova predicted XI: Dumitru Celeadnic; M. Gherasimencov, Iurie Iovu, Catalin Cucos, Mihail Stefan, Daniel Dumbravanu; Oleg Reabciuk, Vladyslav Baboglo, Victor Stina; Petru popescu, Ştefan Bodişteanu
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 2 | Last 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 12 | Dumitru Celeadnic | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 6 | M. Gherasimencov | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 18 | Iurie Iovu | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 5 | Catalin Cucos | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| D | 3 | Mihail Stefan | 0/2 | 0/2 |
| D | 19 | Daniel Dumbravanu | 0/2 | 0/2 |
| M | 2 | Oleg Reabciuk | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 4 | Vladyslav Baboglo | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 11 | Victor Stina | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| F | 15 | Petru popescu | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| F | 10 | Ştefan Bodişteanu | 0/2 | 0/2 |
Injuries and Suspensions
For Kazakhstan, no absentees are recorded in the data, so the projected XI above is not being shaped around any confirmed unavailability. Should that change, the deepest options on the bench with recent starting minutes, such as stanislav basmanov or Bauyrzhan Islamkhan, would be the likeliest replacements given they already have a start in the matches used here.
How We Predict These XIs
Both projections here are built from each side’s last two lineups, with the more recent of those two matches weighted more heavily than the one before it. Any player confirmed injured or suspended is removed from selection before the XI is built. Because only two matches were available for both Kazakhstan and Moldova, these predicted lineups should be read as tentative rather than settled, and they will be updated as soon as the official teams are confirmed.
Read also: Kazakhstan vs Moldova Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form as of 30 Sep 2026
Read also: Kazakhstan vs Moldova Prediction: 02.10.2026 UEFA Nations League
FAQ
What formation are Kazakhstan and Moldova expected to play?
Kazakhstan are projected in a 4-3-3 under John van ‘t Schip, while Moldova are expected to set up in a 5-3-2 under Lilian Popescu, both matching each coach’s preferred shape.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Kazakhstan vs Moldova?
Stas Pokatilov is projected in goal for Kazakhstan and Dumitru Celeadnic for Moldova, with both having started every match used in this projection.
Are there any injuries or suspensions for Kazakhstan vs Moldova?
No absentees are recorded in the data for either side ahead of this fixture.
When do Kazakhstan and Moldova kick off?
The match is scheduled for Friday 2 October 2026 in the UEFA Nations League.