Kazakhstan vs Germany Preview

Top of UEFA Group C in FIFA World Cup Qualification, the Germans, no longer the crème de la crème of European football, takes on fifth placed Kazakhstan.

Team News

Kazakhstan has a full squad to choose from in this match. Joachim Löw can only wish for a full strength squad. Firstly, Marco Reus is suspended. Miroslav Klose is still recovering from a long term injury, leaving Mario Gomez as the only recognized center forward in the squad.

Holger Badstuber is also recovering from a long term injury. Shortly after Lars Bender withdrew, his twin Sven Bender withdrew due to injury. Mats Hummels continues to suffer from a niggling ankle problem. Toni Kroos is a late withdrawal from the squad as well.

Analysis

In both their meetings en route to Euro 2012, Germany absolutely battered the Kazakhs. The Germans should not be afraid of losing this one. However, they have lost an incredible amount of aura following an inglorious exit from the Euros. They won all their World Cup qualifications games nonetheless leading up to the debacle against Sweden. Leading 4-0, the Germans somehow conceded four goals to give away a point.

This year, against France, Germany seemed too open at the back but managed to get the job done in a friendly, winning 1-2. Joachim Löw will be counting on the likes of midfield general Bastian Schweinsteiger, captain and full back Philipp Lahm and experienced midfielder Thomas Müller to produce good performances.

Not everybody is best pleased with Joachim Löw’s failure to yield a trophy with such a wonderful and talented team. Euro 2012 was considered a huge failure by most. It will be on Löw to put together the perfect team in time for the big tournament in Brazil in 2014. The continuous exclusion of Stefan Kiessling despite Klose’s injury and Mario Gomez’s lack of match minutes (which has been fulfilled by now) was a strange decision by Löw too.

He has to win back the trust of everyone soon if he is to lift the Golden Cup in 2014.

Previous Meetings

Germany 4-0 Kazakhstan (26th March 2011)
Kazakhstan 0-3 Germany (12th October 2010)

Previous Matches

Moldova 1-3 Kazakhstan (6th February 2013)
Austria 4-0 Kazakhstan (16th October 2012)
Kazakhstan 0-0 Austria (12th October 2012)
Sweden 2-0 Kazakhstan (11th September 2012)
Kazakhstan 1-2 Ireland (7th September 2012)

France 1-2 Germany (6th February 2013)
Netherlands 0-0 Germany (14th November 2012)
Germany 4-4 Sweden (16th October 2012)
Republic of Ireland 1-6 Germany (12th October 2012)
Austria 1-2 Germany (11th September 2012)