Main »
2013 » March » 22 » World Cup: Kazakhstan-Germany
World Cup: Kazakhstan-Germany
Preview
Fresh from an encouraging win over France in February, Joachim Low's side will be looking to put any lingering memories of their 4-4 draw with Sweden behind them in Astana Germany will be without the services of two of their regular defenders for the trip to Astana, with both Mats Hummels and Holger Badstuber injured, leaving Per Mertesacker and Jerome Boateng to line up together at centre-back.
Both Bender twins have dropped out of the squad due to injury, but Sami Khedira is fit to line up alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger. Finally, Mario Gomez is fit, but Mario Gotze is expected to get a run-out in a false nine role. Lukas Podolski will play on the left with Marco Reus suspended.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan will be without the services of Marat Shakhmetov and Azat Nurgaliev from the side who faced Austria back in Ocober.
Marat Khairullin should replace the latter on the left-hand side of midfield, with either Pavel Shabalin or Tanat Nuserbaev filling in for the former on the right.
