These two sides only met on Friday, with Germany emerging 3-0 winners in Kazakh capital Astana. Now the fixture is reversed, and Kazakhstan face the unenviable task of travelling to Nürnberg to face certain demolition. Germany haven't lost a competitive match since going out of Euro 2012 at the hands of Italy last summer, Kazakhstan haven't won one since they squeezed by Azerbaijan two years ago.
Germany vs. Kazakhstan, 2014 World Cup qualifying: Preview and TV schedule
Less than a week after they last met, Germany host Kazakhstan on Tuesday night, and are expected to comfortably record victory.
Alexander Hassenstein
Unsurprisingly Germany are comfortably top of this qualifying group, only dropping a couple of points so far -- when Sweden came back from 4-0 down to draw in Berlin back in October. Sweden have a game in hand in second place, though are five points in arrears of the Germans. Kazakhstan have picked up only a point so far, after they impressively held Austria to a goalless draw in the same month.
Germany played their last match without a recognised striker, with midfielder Mario Götze operating as the most advanced player. Intriguingly, coach Joachim Löw has suggested that could continue to be the case here, though with the team’s best pure striker Maro Gómez an injury doubt, he may not have much of an option.
For the hosts Gómez and Benedikt Höwedes both have thigh strains, and probably won't play despite staying with the squad. Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss out after he picked up a booking in Astana on Friday, and will have his place taken by İlkay Gündoğan. Julian Draxler has been declared unfit to play after he suffered concussion in the last match, and Marco Reus will probably slot right into his place after returning from suspension, ahead of Arsenal's Lukas Podolski.
As for Kazakhstan, domestic-based midfielder Tanat Nuserbaev will return from suspension to play, while they are set to make a few changes to their starting lineup. FC Astana duo Valeri Korobkin and Ulan Konysbayev are both expected to come into the starting eleven.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday 26th March 2013 8:45 p.m. local, 3:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Grundig-Stadion, Nürnberg, Germany
TV: ARD Das Erste, ARD Broadband, RTL Television (Germany) ESPN3, Gol TV USA, Univision Deportes (U.S.)
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