Kazakh coach Beranek not setting the bar high

Kazakhstan’s Czech coach Miroslav Beranek has a novel take on World Cup Group C, suggesting that, like some unholy trinity, it’s really three groups in one.

“The first is of course Germany,” he says, “in the second group is Sweden, Ireland and Austria, and the third group is our team and the Faroe Islands. And I want to make the difference between group three and group two not so big.”

Which might not seem like he’s setting the bar too high for his team tonight, but then there’s no escaping the fact Kazakhstan are ranked 145th in the world and finished rock-bottom of their last European Championship qualifying group. So perhaps Beranek is only being realistic when he adds that he would consider a draw against Ireland “a success” for a team which draws its players mainly from the Kazakh league and the ranks of Club Astana whom he also manages.