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 9 - 28 of 68

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Kazakhstan is trying to modernise their country after years of neglect by the Soviet union. Borat is the joke not the Khazaks.As for the football. We(England ) are not excactly world beaters are we, the premier league may be the best there is but there are not many English players in the top 5 clubs. we should definately beat Khazakstan but the way England are playing !

    From peevafred, on Thu 9 Oct 6:58PM

  2. to everyone who doesn't have any idea about the Kazakh team watch the game Kazakhstan-Serbia where tactically better Kazakh team won showing quality football. By the way serbians had Jigic who is the same height as Crouch, so the kazakh defenders got the experience of playing against long players. also kazakhstan got many animals in their country so none of kazakh players will be feared of rooney's sight.

    From Aslan, on Thu 9 Oct 6:32PM

  3. rio should be captin and john terry sacked

    From michael, on Thu 9 Oct 6:29PM

  4. "However, of the world's top 10 biggest countries by area, only Brazil and Argentina are any good."

    What about Russia? Don't tell me you forgot what did your EURO 2008 qualification hopes in!

    The Russians beat the Dutch and the Swedes in the same tournament. More than what can be said for footballing giants England.

    From The Undertaker (RIP), on Thu 9 Oct 6:18PM

  5. I have many kazach friends. If you know nothing about this country you shouldn't say they ate rubbish. These people are very wise. Borat has nothing to do with Kazach people. There is nothing common between Borat and the Kazach. Frankly speaking, i'm ashamed to mention Borat when talking about Kazach people. If we compare the goal achieved by England anf Kazachstan they achieved the same : neither nation qualified for Euro. So England didn't succed more than Kazachstan. broly m - shame on you : Peter Crouch seems much more like Borat than any Kazach player.

    From mark, on Thu 9 Oct 5:48PM

  6. any body here know anything about football???? any 1 team can beat any team on any day
    if your english you know that...we have the best league in the world and look where hull are!!! ....england will win as now for once we have a manager that knows how to manage ....not just look at his bank acc ...where were we in euro 2008 ...taking a break to come back and show you all how the game is played...watch us go ..come on england...

    From james b, on Thu 9 Oct 5:48PM

  7. wonder what the odds are for Kazakhstan to win

    From adam, on Thu 9 Oct 5:27PM

  8. Hey, Tony Mabert from Eurosport

    My homeland - Kazakhstan gained independence from former USSR on 16th December 1991.
    Check your infos before writing something.

    From chika_kazakh_88, on Thu 9 Oct 5:26PM

  9. The way England go on you would think theyre playin Brazil. A crucial game against Andorra, a tough game against Kazakhstan.
    what a pile of @#$%

    From codonnell95, on Thu 9 Oct 5:24PM

  10. Potential banana skin - show the opposition some respect, i've seen England lose too
    many times, against teams that are supposed to have no chance. . . .

    From Anthony, on Thu 9 Oct 5:13PM

  11. Interesting to note Kazakstan managed to whip Andora Arms XI 3 - 0 :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Thu 9 Oct 4:59PM

  12. Who are England to mock ? When was the last time they won anything 1966 and that was at home have some respect ! you think your gonna win everything after one good result !

    From Alan D, on Thu 9 Oct 4:47PM

  13. Seriously keeping an eye out for VICTOR V's prediction. Will f@!%ing laugh my t*ts off if that one comes up. Half tempted to go & put a bet on!

    From Emma, on Thu 9 Oct 4:27PM

  14. england will win

    From joe, on Thu 9 Oct 4:05PM

  15. England 1-2 kazakhstan

    From VICTOR V, on Thu 9 Oct 4:00PM

  16. England 1 - 2 Kazakhstan
    Crouch 47 R. Ferdinand o.g. 22
    R. Smakov 66

    From VICTOR V, on Thu 9 Oct 3:54PM

  17. It seems like anyone can take a point or 3 off England at any time.... and Yes I am English.... I do so hope I am wrong this and every other game in the qualifiers although not FULL of confidence as yet!!!!

    From Bob S, on Thu 9 Oct 3:51PM

  18. WHERE WAS ENGLAND ON EURO 2008?

    From martinatanasovski@..., on Thu 9 Oct 3:50PM

  19. WHERE WAS ENGLAND ON EURO 2008

    From martinatanasovski@..., on Thu 9 Oct 3:48PM

  20. Borat jokes how original and creative.

    From football4life, on Thu 9 Oct 3:37PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account