ENGLAND can move to the verge of World Cup qualification with victory in Kazakhstan tomorrow.
A win on their first-ever visit to Kazakhstan's Almaty Central Stadium would take Fabio Capello's side to within six points of a guaranteed place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Although England are without several players through injury, the
squad still expect victory and then another at home to Andorra on Wednesday.
"With all due respect to Kazakhstan and Andorra, these are games we should win so we need to approach them with the right attitude and get the job done," said midfielder Steven Gerrard. "If we win these two games, we will be three points away from qualification with three games to play. That puts us, basically, in the driving seat."
With Croatia idle on Wednesday, England could be eight points clear after their next two matches and on course to compensate in some way for their failure to reach last year's European Championships.
With Kazakhstan having taken just three points from their five games so far, the biggest obstacles for England could be the unfamiliar surroundings and fatigue at the end of a season that for some players started in July.
"It can be difficult if you think negatively or you think you are tired – if you are thinking about the end of the season," said Gerrard. "But, for me, there are still two big games to play to get seven wins out of seven."
Even the less experienced squad members are trying to stay focused despite the 3,491-mile journey to a country England have played only once, in a 5-1 win at Wembley last year.
"It's part and parcel of the international stage," said England defender Glen Johnson. "You go to places sometimes that not too many people know too much about."
Gerrard is likely to start on the left of midfield but swap with deep-lying forward Wayne Rooney through the match. "We've worked on it a lot," said Rooney. "We're getting involved. We're scoring goals, making goals. Hopefully that can continue."
With Wes Brown injured and Gary Neville barely playing this season, Johnson is almost certain to keep his place at right back for a fifth straight game.
Injuries to David James and Ben Foster mean that Rob Green is likely to start in goal for the first time after just two appearances as a substitute.
There is also the possibility that Peter Crouch may keep his place up front after scoring for an injury-hit side in a 2-1 win over Ukraine in April.
