Pijpers ponders selection problems

A combination of injury and suspension has reduced the options available to Kazakhstan coach Arno Pijpers, who has named a 23-man squad for his team's final two UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group A fixtures away to Serbia and Armenia.

Selection problems
Pijpers is without key defender Samat Smakov and midfielder Andrei Karpovitch for the trip to Belgrade to play Serbia on 17 November, although both are in the squad and should return to face Armenia in Yerevan four days later. Defenders Dmitri Lyapkin and Daniyar Mukanov and midfielder Eduard Sergienko are also included although all are struggling with minor injuries. Kazakhstan are seventh in the eight-team section with seven points, two more than Azerbaijan.

Kazakhstan squad
Goalkeepers: David Loria (Halmstads BK), Aleksandr Mokin (FC Ordabasy Shymkent), Zhasulan Dekhkanov (FK Aktobe).

Defenders: Samat Smakov (FK Aktobe), Yegor Azovskiy (FC Ordabasy Shymkent), Dmitriy Lyapkin (FC Khimki), Aleksandr Kuchma (FC Astana), Maksim Zhalmagambetov (FC Astana), Kairat Nurdauletov (FC Tobol Kostanay), Farkhadbek Irismetov (FC Tobol Kostanay), Daniar Muhanov (FC Tobol Kostanay).

Midfielders: Andrei Karpovitch (FC Dinamo Moskva), Kairat Ashirbekov (FK Aktobe), Sergey Skorykh (FC Tobol Kostanay), Sergey Ostapenko (FC Tobol Kostanay), Denis Rodionov (FC Alma-Ata), Sergey Larin (FC Alma-Ata), Maksim Azovskiy (FC Alma-Ata), Eduard Sergienko (FC Astana), Anton Chichulin (FC Astana).

Forwards: Murat Suyumagambetov (FC Astana), Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev (FC Tobol Kostanay), Smitriy Byakov (FC Alma-Ata).