World Cup qual. - Who are Kazakhstan?

Eurosport - Fri, 10 Oct 08:23:00 2008

If a nation's footballing prowess directly correlated with its size, then Kazakhstan would have the world's ninth-strongest team.

2008 Kazakhstan - 0

However, of the world's top 10 biggest countries by area, only Brazil and Argentina are any good, with the Kazakhs alongside the likes of India, China and Canada as countries that are as large as they are rubbish.

The country which is not - contrary to popular belief - inhabited solely by moustachioed men in dayglo mankinis, are currently ranked 131st in the world by FIFA, below New Caledonia and Equatorial Guinea, although they did crack the top 100 in 2001, when they reached the dizzy heights of 98th.

Since gaining independence from the dismantled Soviet Union in 1992, Kazakhstan have never qualified for a major tournament - either in Asia or in Europe following their incorporation into UEFA in 2002.

They have a decent defensive record - conceding 21 goals in 14 matches in a tough Euro 2008 qualifying group - but lack a cutting edge going forward. After three World Cup qualifiers, only Group 6 whipping boys Andorra are between them and the foot of the table.

The 3-0 opening win over the Pyreneen minnows has been followed by defeats in Croatia (3-0) and at home to Ukraine (3-1), a run that led to the sacking of Dutch coach Arno Pijpers.

Announcing Pijpers's sacking, Kazakhstan FA secretary-general Sayan Khamitzhanov displayed the ambition that saw the country leave the Asian conference for the more competitive one of Europe when he said: "How long should we endure it? We in the federation are ashamed of the existing situation and we all must apologise to the country's fans for it."

German Bernd Storck, the Kazakh Under-21 coach, has taken over as caretaker for the match at Wembley.

Storck spent his post-playing career as number two at several Bundesliga clubs before taking his first top job at FK Almaty in the Kazakh Super League, a job he still holds now.

He now finds himself preparing to face England, with a squad of players drawn almost entirely from their own domestic league.

However, that will not deter the German coach from trying to play good football, and he said upon announcing his provisional 27-man squad: "We will not play too deep as that would only make it easier for our opponents. We will play in an active defensive style, rather than being passive."

Missing from that squad are first-choice goalkeeper David Loria and Dynamo Moscow midfielder Andrei Karpovich. However, striker Sergei Ostapenko - the man who has scored three of Kazakhstan's four goals in this campaign - is in the squad.

Goalkeepers: Alexander Mokin (FK Almaty), Andrei Shabanov (FK Almaty), Vladimir Loginovsky (Esil-Bogatyr Petropavlovsk), Alexander Petukhov (Tobol Kustanai)

Defenders: Samat Smakov (FK Aktobe), Kairat Nurdauletov (Tobol Kustanai), Alexander Kislitsyn (Shakhtyor Karaganda), Alexander Kuchma (FK Astana), Vladimir Noskov (Irtysh Pavlodar), Alexander Kirov (FK Almaty)

Midfielders: Ruslan Baltiyev (Tobol Kustanai), Sergei Skorykh (Tobol Kustanai), Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev (Tobol Kustanai), Sabyrkhan Ibrayev (Tobol Kustanai), Talgat Sabalakov (Tobol Kustanai), Yuri Logvinenko (FK Aktobe), Anton Chichulin (FK Astana), Bekzat Beisenov (Ordabasy Shymkent), Tanat Nuserbayev (Ordabasy Shymkent), Vyacheslav Erbes (Vostok Ust-Kamenogorsk), Kairat Ashirbekov (Shakhtyor Karaganda), Vadim Borovsky (FK Almaty), Maksat Baizhanov (Kaisar Kyzylorda)

Forwards: Sergei Ostapenko (FK Almaty), Maxim Azovsky (FK Almaty), Gleb Maltsev (Irtysh Pavlodar), Erzat Kenbayev (Zhetysu Taldykorgan)

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 49 - 68 of 68

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  1. Comment 68 says the author is a racist, then makes a racist comment himself !

    Way to make your point worthless.

    From doc_scrumpy, on Fri 10 Oct 2:19PM

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    From , on Fri 10 Oct 1:48PM

  3. I think the author of this article is a some kind a racist ..... what dose he mean by "Kazakhs alongside the likes of India, China and Canada as countries that are as large as they are rubbish"I don't think the word rubbish is the right word to use if he wanted to mention that these countries are low in fifa ranking. In my opinion he (the author) is a @#$% Idiot.

    India's National Sport is hockey , India are down in hockey these day a bit but remember India is 8 times olympic champion, football may be the National sport of England but how many times they have own the WC, just once in '66, the goal by sir Hurst is still remains a controversy.......... @#$% u english..............

    From yashwant r, on Fri 10 Oct 10:01AM

  4. Some people always see the trees and not the forest. The writer's attempt at humour may make you cringe at times, but you must take it with that famous grain of salt, even if it is being sprinkled on the wounds of Kazakh (and Indian, and Chinese?)fans.The country's FA directors are ambitious, nothing wrong to that, if only they could assemble a respectable team. Hey, Japan beat Brazil (with Romario and Bebeto) at the 1992 Olympics!!! Impossible is nothing.On the other side, R. Ferdinand has been on the news, lashing at almost everyone not ManU or English. What will he say, after and if the visitors score(???)Saturday night! Everybody, root for your country team, with more joy and noise if it at the bottom of FIFA standings. The English invented sarcasm, could not find a proper way to use it, then they invented football!

    From lajackie1438, on Fri 10 Oct 8:48AM

  5. England did not invent football you muppet!! Scotland did! Scotland also gave the world Golf! England did invent Rugby, but who cares about that!!

    From Ian, on Fri 10 Oct 8:33AM

  6. I stopped reading this piece of @#$% when I saw the word "rubbish" ! That Tony Marbett confirms what I think about journalists... @#$% for most of them - I'm not indian, chinese, canadian or even Kazak but how dare he says something like this ?

    As ryan_wood103 said, those nations are somehow interested in other sports, and I think that England invented football, so they connot be Number 1 in a foreign sport (even if it's the most entertaining sports of this planet).

    Only to see what the stupid article he'll write in that case, I'll bloody love to see Kazaksthan beat England... but I reckon this is hardly to occur.

    From Mervin A, on Fri 10 Oct 7:51AM

  7. Looking at England team, they have higher chance of winning

    From Kalombo c, on Fri 10 Oct 7:48AM

  8. after what they have said about Kazakhstan thats england beat this weekend then.

    From neil, on Fri 10 Oct 7:22AM

  9. Kazakhs who?

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 10 Oct 6:07AM

  10. Oi never underestimate Kazak ...
    I've heard a rumour that Borat is going to be in RealMadrid next summer and I truely believe that.

    From yorkshire_bastard, on Fri 10 Oct 4:04AM

  11. Will the people commenting here please focus only on football? OK, sad sod milosh94?

    From artan, on Fri 10 Oct 2:31AM

  12. anyone up for a giant killing this saturday?? lol!

    From dila, on Fri 10 Oct 2:24AM

  13. Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.
    All other countries are run by little girls.
    Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium.
    Other countries have inferior potassium.

    From lazytramp789, on Fri 10 Oct 2:08AM

  14. Comment 31 by Miras is a bit over the top, you shouldn't really say things like that.

    The First Paragraph is a bit over the top as well "Rubbish" wouldn't be a Good Choice of word take note of the 3 countries mentioned their Major Sports aren't considered to be Football.

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Canada would consider something like Ice Hockey as there National Sport, China's National Sport would be Table Tennis and India's National Sport would be Cricket, I'd think those Countries would be more interested in those Sports not Football.

    Considering the Size of Countries as already mentioned you forgot Russia, but any Team can beat any other Team in Sport but if England play well then most likely they will Win.

    Also noting a further Comment I think it was No 34, there may be boasting about the Premier League being the Best, but mainly because of Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
    Capello only has about 37% of Players to choose from who are eligible to play for England, Italy has about 60 and Spain about 50% (I think, Can't remember the Spain Figure)

    From Ryan, on Fri 10 Oct 1:19AM

  15. dorin is a useless moron

    From brixtongreen, on Fri 10 Oct 12:52AM

  16. Whoever that chinease guy is, I'm glad you know that your national team is not good, maybe you should focused on that instead of worrying about other national teams.

    From brixtongreen, on Fri 10 Oct 12:50AM

  17. who ever made such comment of Englsnd excluding comment 23 should be ashamed. how do you expect England to win if you don't show the support the players need. I think some of you just talk without using your sneseless heads or maybe you've just visited a gay bar. what happen in the past is history this is now. Maybe most of you just sit at home and expect England to win every game but it doesn't work that way and it's not easy running around a field 5 times bigger than a gay bar. Maybe one of you should be put in that suituation where you play for England and fail to qualify for just one tournament then you will realise what it feels like.

    From brixtongreen, on Fri 10 Oct 12:48AM

  18. we should ask borat this question who are kazakhstan!!???

    From chris, on Fri 10 Oct 12:39AM

  19. excuse me mr. author of this article........I am an indian.....plz mind your language before writing india A rubbish......i can't say same you back...because indians are more sesible than stupid english....not just in game in every aspect....its a nation og thugs,druggies, waste, lazy, drunken monkeies and foolish people......

    From Jatt in Mood, on Fri 10 Oct 12:08AM

  20. @#$% you, Tony Marbet! Rubbish is only U!!! Regards from Kazakh!

    From askari4i, on Thu 9 Oct 11:50PM
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