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The Dutch have to win without 12 players

Kazakhstan are playing to make their fans proud, while the Dutch have to win in order to keep their hope of reaching spot three alone. But things are very complicated since they are not masters of their own destiny and coach Blind cannot count on 12 his players today

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Kazakhstan didn't win a single qualifier in this cycle but they put up a few rather good performances, among them the one in Amsterdam over a year ago. They took an early lead back then and had the game under control for over an hour. Who know how everything would have turned out if forward Dzolchiev wasn't send off 64 minutes into the game.

He is out with an injury today and when it comes to other Kazakhstan's players, only Kukeyev is questionable, but he's never in the lineup anyway. Even though the home team lost any chance of qualifying to Euro a lot time ago, they refuse the idea that this game is not important to them.

- I've been noticing an increased interest for the home team with every new game. hat means we have made progress over the last year, especially in defense. We prepared for the Dutch in peace, this is out final home game and we want to do well. They are the favorite but we cannot use the phrase 'We've got nothing to lose' as a pretext forever - coach Krasnozhan said, while team captain Smakov added:

- The practice sessions went great, we all know what we're in for today and we'll do anything to make our fans happy. It would be interesting to put our ability to a test against one of top European teams, especially now that they so desperately fight for the Euro qualification. 

Following a crushing 0-3 loss in Istanbul, the Dutch are in a very tough situation regarding their bid to finish third in this group. Only two wins, over Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic, and Turkey not getting more than three points in the last two matches can see the Dutch reach the additional playoff for the Euro. That means they are no longer masters of their own faith. 

Guus Hiddink started dragging Oranje towards the bottom but his sacking and Danny Blind taking over did nothing for the Dutch to make progress. That defeat to Turkey cold easily turn out to be crucial if world's No. 3 team doesn't make it among 24 teams at Euro.

Football truly is a strange and unpredictable game. The Dutch, however, do still have hope that something unpredictable can happen either today or in 4 days, only this time it has to be in their favor. The first next task is to beat Kazakhstan, which is a realistic outcome of that game, but can hope for anything anymore when Germany, Argentina and Brazil (last World Cup semifinals and finalists) lost their recent qualifiers. 

- The pressure is no greater than normal, even though we know we have to win. It's important to show what we can do. I'm not afraid of Kazakhstan - the Dutch coach Blind said confidently. Confidence might not be a problem but the fact he is without 12 players from his list definitely is.

The entire defense line is out (defenders Bruno Martins Indi, Gregory van der Wiel with suspensions, and Daryl Janmaat, Stefan de Vrij, Jetro Willems, Ron Vlaar), midfielders Davy Klaassen, Nigel de Jong, Jordy Clasie and Leroy Fer, forward Promes and the greatest Dutch star Arjen Robben. 

Blind will have to make a lot of changes to the lineup for this match. He will have to experiment but Wijnaldum, Sneijder, Van Persie, Huntelaar, Depay and others should guarantee the Dutch domination in offense, which is after all the most important thing for the Dutch. Blind will put some younger players from great clubs like Bruma, Riedwald, Tete and some others in defense.

- We are to play on an artificial pitch in Astana but I don't see that as a problem since most of my players has experience with that surface. There can be no pretexts for us and we have to start fiercely to get three points - Danny Blind said.