..::Football III::..

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Ballon d'Or nomination date announced

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and the rest of the world's elite footballers will find out whether they are in the running for the Ballon d'Or when the nominations are announced on Tuesday October 28.

The Ballon d'Or is arguably the most prestigious individual award available to footballers and is currently held by Real Madrid's Ronaldo, ending a run of four straight years in which Messi came out on top.

The actual ceremony will not take place until mid-January but world football's governing body has revealed that supporters across the globe can get a taste of who the final three fighting for the award might be when they name the nominees at the end of the month.

"A 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or will be compiled by the Fifa Football Committee and a group of experts from France Football," a statement from Fifa read on Thursday. "It will be announced on October 28.

"This list will be reduced to three players, being announced at a later stage. From the final shortlists, journalists, national coaches and captains will vote for the winner of the Ballon d’Or."The winners of all of the awards will be revealed at the Fifa Ballon d’Or gala as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 12, 2015."

The Ballon d'Or has been a Fifa-branded award since 2010 when it merged with the organisation's World Player of the Year but, prior to that, had been a prestigious accolade organised by French news outlet France Football since 1956.

Past winners of the Ballon d'Or include Alfredo Di Stefano, Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Kaka and Zinedine Zidane. The only non-Barcelona or Real Madrid player to be named in the final trio since the Fifa merge for 2010's edition is Franck Ribery.

Major competitors for holder Ronaldo are expected to be Barca duo Messi and Neymar, World Cup winners Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm, and the German duo's Bayern Munich team-mate Arjen Robben.

 

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Mehsareth Ballon D'Or 1ka Ronaldo gani​

 

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Borini: I could star for Liverpool

Liverpool forward Fabio Borini is confident that he can be prolific for the Reds if given the chance to start regularly by manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 23-year-old spent 2013-14 on loan at Sunderland, scoring 10 goals, and was widely expected to leave Anfield in the close-season, but he turned down the chance to join the Black Cats on a permanent basis while also reportedly rejecting an approach from QPR.

The Italian has made only three appearances so far this season after stating his wish to fight for a starting berth at Liverpool but retains a belief that he can impress and enhance his international prospects.

Asked about his goals for the season by the club's official website, Borini replied: "Step by step, to get into the team as soon as possible and as much as possible.

"After that, I want to stay in the team, score goals and break my scoring record in the Premier League and perform. I haven't changed my personality [since going out on loan] but I have improved my game.

"I can offer hard work in performances every week and goals, as I did in the past. For Sunderland, I did very well and scored important goals.

"I can do the same here; with better players around me, it could probably be easier and with better results. I want to get back in the national team as well because that's a big aim.

"With a new manager [Antonio Conte], a new system and a new structure to the Italian national team, that can be a really good target for me, to get into the team and stay there as long as possible."

 

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Osvaldo and Motta withdraw from Italy squad

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Thiago Motta have withdrawn from Italy's squad for their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying double header.The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on their official website on Thursday that Inter forward Osvaldo has suffered an adductor injury.

It is not yet known how long the 28-year-old will be out of action, but reports suggest he could be sidelined for up to a month.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Motta is also unavailable to coach Antonio Conte for the matches against Azerbaijan on Thursday and Malta next Monday as he is suffering with tendinitis.The FIGC confirmed that both players will now to return to their clubs for treatment.

The news is a further blow to Conte, who already lost Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura to a thigh injury, while Empoli defender Daniele Rugani earned his first call-up to the national team but later returned to Italy's Under-21 squad to cover for the injured Alessio Romagnoli.

Italy are looking to build on a 2-0 win over Norway in their Group H qualifying opener last month.

 

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Injury scare forces Koscielny out of France squad

Laurent Koscielny has been released from the France squad due to an Achilles problem in the latest injury scare to hit Arsenal over the international break.

The Germany national team announced on Wednesday that Mesut Ozil would miss up to three months with a knee injury and Koscielny has now also returned to London for treatment.

Arsenal regard the Frenchman's condition as minor and expect him to play in their next Premier League match against Hull City despite the persistence of a problem that he has carried all season.

Mathieu Debuchy is currently unavailable due to an ankle injury and Calum Chambers will miss the game against the Tigers through suspension after collecting yellow cards.

That leaves Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, youngster Hector Bellerin and left-backs Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal as Arsene Wenger's available defensive options.

David Ospina, Mikel Arteta, Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Yaya Sanogo complete the lengthy injury list with which Arsenal are currently contending.

As Euro 2016 hosts, France are not involved in competitive qualifying fixtures but Koscielny will miss les Bleus' friendlies against Portugal and Armenia.

 

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Martino: They don’t come any bigger than Argentina vs Brazil

Gerardo Martino says there is no bigger game in international football than Brazil vs Argentina.

Former Barcelona coach Martino succeeded Alejandro Sabella as national team boss following the World Cup and began his tenure with an impressive 4-2 victory over world champions Germany in Dusseldorf last month.

The Albiceleste landed in Beijing this week for Saturday’s Gillette Superclasico de las Americas and Martino is hoping to see more of the same from his side at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

“We will try to do what we did against Germany,” he said.“Brazil won’t change their tactics, although the new coach called up a lot different players.“Argentina against Brazil is the most important derby between national teams. It doesn’t matter where the match is held, it’s always important for the history between us and now also for the players.”

Saturday’s clash will be the first since the Superclasico de las Americas’ 2011 reincarnation that the trophy will be decided in a single game with no restriction on those who can take part.

In 2011 and 2012 the match was played over two legs in which only players currently for clubs in one of the two counties involved were eligible for selection.
Brazil won the 2011 edition with a 2-0 aggregate score and retained the title the following year by way of a penalty shootout.

 

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Inter want a new stadium, but not just for football - Thohir

Erick Thohir says Inter are in talks with AC Milan about the future of San Siro, with plans to move into a new stadium depending on the viability of filling the venue for more than just football.

The Nerazzurri owner and president has told the Sports Business Summit in London that there are positives and negatives behind their joint agreement with Milan to rent the world-famous Giuseppe Meazza from the city council, but there is a clear will to build a new arena.

"There is a disadvantage and an advantage to owning your own stadium, or to sharing a stadium," explained Thohir.

"If we understand Major League Soccer, the media is not there yet, the sponsors are not there yet, so the major income for Major League Soccer is the stadiums.

"In Inter, we have incomes from other business areas – from merchandise, from media and so on. We want to have our own stadium, but there are 365 days in a year – how many days we can fill it up?"

Both Milanese clubs have been linked with possible moves to new facilities in recent times and Thohir is unsure what more can be made of the world-famous San Siro despite its recent selection to host the 2016 Uefa Champions League final.

"San Siro has an 80,000 capacity, so how many concerts can fill that up per year? When you own the stadium it is very important to ensure that in 365 days you will have a minimum of 50 per cent of those with the stadium filled," he continued.

"When we built the DC United Arena, we made sure that the stadium was designed not only for football, but also for concerts, for lacrosse, for college football and for rugby. We wanted to make sure the stadium would be filled up for a lot of days of the year.

"To share San Siro with AC Milan is good, because we have no such worries. But it is a matter of the strategy for each club. We are having discussions with AC Milan at this moment to see what their plans are.

"Of course, as a big club you want a stadium. But it is a matter of filling the stadium."

 

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Manchester United players in awe of Di Maria’s skills, admits Blackett

Tyler Blackett admits he and his Manchester United team-mates are in awe of the skills Angel Di Maria displays during training.

The Argentina international moved to Old Trafford from Real Madrid for a British-record fee of £59.7 million in August and has adapted quickly to the Premier League, scoring three goals and registering three assists in five games.

And Blackett, who was handed his first-team debut by Louis van Gaal this season, says he has been impressed with the "special" winger’s introduction at United.

“He’s been amazing,” Blackett told Match of the Day Magazine.

“He’s one of the world’s best players and the things that he does in training really make us stop and stare.

“The dribbling, the close control, these are things that a lot of players would like to have, but that not everybody’s got. He really is special.”

 

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Roma are stronger than Juventus, insists Pallotta

Roma president James Pallotta believes the Stadio Olimpico side are stronger than Serie A titleholders Juventus.

Rudi Garcia's men were beaten 3-2 by the reigning Italian champions in Turin on Sunday, but Pallotta believes that the tight and controversial nature of the game merely underlined that the Giallorossi are now on the Bianconeri's level.

"For me, we are stronger than Juventus. Sunday's games was further proof of this, even if we eventually lost the game," Pallotta told La Gazzetta dello Sport."Juventus are a strong team, but we have players at the same level - if not better. And we are still without key players such as Davide Astori, Kevin Strootman and Daniele De Rossi, who are all decisive players.

"Why shouldn't we be confident? I never got the impression that we are inferior to Juventus during the game in Turin."We can win the Scudetto. We are very strong and have some great talents. We can only get better."

Roma currently sit second in Serie A with 15 points from six games, trailing leaders Juventus by three points.

 

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Ferguson backs Van Gaal’s overhaul at Manchester United

Alex Ferguson has backed Louis van Gaal’s overhaul at Manchester United and believes the Dutchman is “doing the right thing” by building his own side.

Van Gaal’s arrival sparked six new first-team signings including Angel Di Maria - a €75 million British record transfer from Real Madrid - and the season-long loan of Radamel Falcao from Monaco.

Among those Van Gaal allowed to leave Old Trafford this summer, either on temporary or permanent deals, were Nani, Wilfried Zaha, Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, and Ferguson has praised the 63-year-old’s start to his role as United manager.

“Louis van Gaal has made a lot of changes and, thinking about that, actually maybe he’s doing the right thing, to clear the decks and build his own team,” the former United boss told MUTV.

“Because he’s got the experience and coaching ability to do that. The way he’s approached it I think has been brilliant.”

Ferguson brought the curtain down on his hugely successful 27-year stay at Old Trafford in 2013 and was replaced at the helm by David Moyes, who failed to last a season at the helm before being replaced on a temporary basis by Ryan Giggs.

Van Gaal was then given the full-time job this summer after leading Netherlands to a third-placed finish at the World Cup in Brazil.

 

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Di Maria: Ronaldo a big influence on my move to Manchester United

Angel Di Maria says that Cristiano Ronaldo convinced him to join Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer.

United spent a British-record €75 million to acquire the Argentina international, with his move bringing an end to a successful four years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The winger has now revealed that Ronaldo had a huge say in his decision to move to Old Trafford, with the Portugal international having won the Ballon d'Or during his own spell at the club.

"Before we knew I was coming to Manchester, he told me it's a massive club, I would be very happy here and it would be good for me," Di Maria told United's official website when asked about Ronaldo's influence.

"At that time we didn't know for sure that I was coming or not so we didn't go into great detail but what he did say helped me greatly to make my decision."

Ronaldo wore the iconic No.7 shirt at Old Trafford and Di Maria has subsequently been afforded the same privilege, with the 26-year-old expressing his pride at being assigned the number.

"It is a source of motivation," he said. "When you wear a shirt that's been worn by the likes of David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, it's something you're always going to be pleased about.

"The fact that the club have chosen to give me that shirt number also gives me a huge confidence boost so that's why I'm very happy to have this number."

Louis van Gaal oversaw a complete revamp of the United squad in the summer, with the likes of Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera all joining the club and Di Maria gets on "very well" with the Dutch manager, who has overseen three wins from his opening seven Premier League games in charge.

"We get on very well; he was one of the reasons I came here," explained the Argentina star. "I'm very grateful to him because he wanted to sign me. That makes me happy.

"Also, he's a person who wants to win all the time and to take the club back into the Champions League as quickly as possible, so the focus is very much on that. In every training session and every match we want to give 100 per cent."

 

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Immobile & Ramos need time, says Watzke

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke believes Ciro Immobile and Adrian Ramos are being unfairly criticised following their stuttering starts to life at Signal Iduna Park.

BVB brought in the Italy international and the Colombian attacker following the departure of last season's top scorer, Robert Lewandowski, for Bayern Munich but the summer signings have thus far struggled for goals.

However, Watzke feels it's only a matter of time before both summer signings prove their worth.

"The future will show whether Immobile and Ramos are right for Dortmund. It's too soon to judge them now. And let's not forget that they have already scored 15 goals in official games together with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. That's a good return," Watzke told Kicker."Lucas Barrios and Robert Lewandowski initially struggled as well when they joined Dortmund. It wouldn't be normal to expect a new signing to fit in perfectly within six weeks. We play a different game than what they were used to.

"It would be unfair if we gave Robert a year to adapt and now start questioning Immobile and Ramos after just a few weeks."And let's not forget that they have already scored some important goals. They are not performing below expectations. You shouldn't look at how much someone cost."

Immobile, who joined from Torino, has scored three goals in nine games in all competitions so far, while former Hertha Berlin man Ramos has netted five times in 10 appearances.

 

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European Championship Qualifying Group Stage Fixtures 2014.10.10

European Championship Qualifying Group Stage Fixtures 2014.10.10

Group A

Latvia Vs Iceland

Netherlands Vs Kazakhstan

Turkey Vs Czech Republic

Group B

Belgium Vs Andorra

Cyprus Vs Israel

Wales Vs Bosnia

Group H

Bulgaria Vs Croatia

Italy Vs Azerbaijan

Malta Vs Norway​

 

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International Friendly Fixtures 2014.10.10

International Friendly Fixtures 2014.10.10

Japan Vs Jamaica

Uzbekistan Vs Baharain

Saudi Arabia Vs Uruguay

Colombia Vs El Salvador

South Korea Vs Paraguay

Oman Vs Costa Rica

Chile Vs Peru

China Vs Thailand

UAE Vs Australia

USA Vs Ecuador​

 

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Spain

 

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Spain

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Belgium 6-0 Andorra: De Bruyne and Mertens bag doubles in record-equalling win

Belgium equalled their highest-ever European Championship qualifier victory with a 6-0 annihilation of Andorra on Friday.

Kevin De Bruyne gave the visitors a taste of the battering they were in for when he struck the woodwork in the first minute, beginning a string of attacks which Andorra somehow remained unscathed from.The Wolfsburg winger turned potential provider in the 15th minute, crossing for forward Divock Origi, who made a light connection eight yards from goal but the ball clipped the post before being forced behind goal to temporary safety.

The wave of Belgian attacks showed no signs of stopping, but Andorra kept clinging on to the clean sheet. Origi smacked the post much harder with his second woodwork-thwarted effort five minutes later, again from a De Bruyne ball from the left wing.

Fewer than sixty seconds had passed before it took a goalline clearance from Andorra's David Maneiro to keep the visitors level. Dries Merten's dribbled his way into the box from the left flank and saw his deflected, dinked ball ricochet off an opposition body towards the net.

But, when Josep Ayala was deemed to have hauled down Mertens in the box with a third of the game gone, De Bruyne began the inevitable by firing in from the penalty spot.A few minutes later, De Bruyne doubled the lead, taking Origi's pass into his stride, powering in the box and burying into the bottom corner.

Nacer Chadli scored the third of the night – and the third in the space of seven minutes – by scurrying away from his marker at the back post and converting Jan Vertonghen's fine cross.

The second half began in muted fashion, with Belgium's momentum sapped during the break and the hosts seemingly happy to ease up a gear with a three-goal lead in the bag. But that ceasefire was short-lived.On loan at Lille from Liverpool this season, Origi scored the goal he had been threatening to score all evening. He controlled on the edge of the 18-yard box, marauded sideways and finished with aplomb past the flailing frame of Andorra goalkeeper Ferran Pol.

Mertens , another top performer, had team-mate Toby Alderweireld to thank for his goal, with the right-back's weaving run ending with a superb chipped cross to the back post, which the Napoli star calmly converted.Mertens ' second goal at the Stade Roi Baudouin on Friday as all his own creation, though, cutting inside the box and lashing a fierce effort home in the 69th minute.

Marc Wilmots' men eased up once again in the final 20 minutes, crafting very few chances as they sat back and watched the clock tick down. The victory leaves Belgium second in Group B, having played one game, with Wales clinging to the top spot after their draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 

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Italy 2-1 Azerbaijan: Chiellini rescues late win following own-goal

Giorgio Chilellini went from hero to zero then back to hero again as Italy survived late drama to beat Euro 2016 qualification Group H minnows Azerbaijan 2-1 on Friday.

Much of the pre-match discussion had centered on Italy's striking options, with coach Antonio Conte calling up Graziano Pelle at Mario Balotelli's expense for the Euro 2016 qualifying Group H clash at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo.

However, Chiellini stole the show for both positive and negative reasons, having initially opened the scoring late in the first half when he headed in Andrea Pirlo's corner. Chiellini made an altogether more unwanted contribution when he mistakenly bundled the ball into his own net from a corner with 13 minutes remaining - the first goal conceded by Italy under Conte's tenure.

However, the 30-year-old made amends with what proved to be the winner as he powered a header past Kamran Agayev with eight minutes left on the clock.
It capped off an eventful evening, both for Chiellini and Italy, but maintained Conte's winning start to life with the national side.

Keeping the ball well, Italy began brightly as Simone Zaza failed to connect with Mattia De Sciglio's cross from the left just four minutes in.Claudio Marchisio was next to go close, as Ciro Immobile beat Rashad Sadygov and cut the ball back - only for the Juventus man to scoop his effort over the crossbar.

The hosts' dominance in possession continued but Conte's side had to wait until the 26th minute for their next sight on goal when an unmarked Leonardo Bonucci stooped to head at goal.His effort was comfortably saved by Agayev, with Andrea Ranocchia next to go close with a headed effort from Pirlo's cross.

However, Italy's aerial threat eventually paid off two minutes before the break when Chiellini nodded home Pirlo's corner, after Agayev had failed to collect the cross.

Zaza's audacious acrobatic effort early in the second half almost doubled Italy's advantage and the Sassuolo man was among the action soon after when he put Alessandro Florenzi's cross wide.Chiellini's own-goal, under pressure from Rauf Aliyev, looked set to deny Italy the three points their dominance warranted.

However, the Chiellini's relief was evident when he got himself and Italy out of trouble late on with a header from a corner from substitute Sebastian Giovinco - who himself hit the woodwork in the dying seconds of the match from long distance - to maintain Italy's 100 per cent start to their qualifying campaign.

 

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Wales 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Coleman's men maintain unbeaten start

Gareth Bale drew a rare blank for Wales as Bosnia-Herzegovina battled hard for a goalless draw at Cardiff City Stadium in Euro 2016 qualifying.

The flying winger had scored 11 times in his last 16 international matches and went into Friday's game having netted five goals and provided as many assists for Real Madrid this term.

However, Everton defender Muhamed Besic was one of the Bosnia players who kept him under wraps and Wales were grateful for a sterling display by Wayne Hennessey at the other end to claim a point.

Miralem Pjanic, Vedad Ibisevic and Haris Medunjanin all made the Crystal Palace goalkeeper work hard, but he held firm under pressure for a well-deserved clean sheet.Bale and skipper Ashley Williams did have late chances to snatch it for Wales, but overall the hosts will be satisfied with the result.

Chris Coleman's side survived a scare when prevailing 2-1 at Andorra in their opening Group B match - Bale on target twice late on last month - and this result keeps them in the hunt to qualify for their first major tournament since 1958 ahead of Monday's home clash with Cyprus.

Bosnia suffered a surprise reverse against Cyprus in front of their own supporters last month and may have wanted more from Friday's clash before facing a tough test against Belgium next.Midfield duo Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen were the major absentees for Wales, with Emyr Huws pulling out this week to make it 10 injury victims in total.

Bosnia, meanwhile, had problems at the back and were forced to select an inexperienced centre-half pairing of Anel Hadzic and Toni Sunjic.

Bale had an early chance to strike but failed to connect with a fine near-post cross from Chris Gunter, while Hennessey had to be alert to keep out a deflected Pjanic strike.

Gunter blasted a far-post volley over after a neat cross from fellow wing-back Neil Taylor and Pjanic fired another long-range effort just wide.

Wales were fortunate that Ibisevic's powerful header flew straight at Hennessey and Edin Dzeko just failed to get on the end of a superb Pjanic pass, but there were no goals in a fairly even first half.

The home fans were relieved to see Bale shake off a back problem and return for the second period, but it was Hennessey who was called into action soon after the break when blocking a close-range Medunjanin shot.Medunjanin was on target again after 55 minutes, this time from the edge of the area, only for Hennessey to get down well and deny him once more before Pjanic was narrowly wide with a curling free-kick.

Tempers flared when James Chester lunged in with a clumsy challenge on Besic, with team captains Williams and Dzeko also booked after an ensuing melee.Wales then had a great chance to go ahead after 78 minutes when Bale curled in a wicked free-kick cross and an unmarked Williams was left with his head in his hands after nodding over from eight yards out.

Hennessey was soon the hero again, though, when diving at full stretch to save a well-struck Pjanic free-kick, while Bale tested Asmir Begovic as the action swept from end to end.

Bale suddenly burst into life in stoppage time with a fiercely struck shot that Begovic only just got his fingertips to, but the match ended all square.

 

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Netherlands 3-1 Kazakhstan: Oranje leave it late against minnows

Netherlands had to wait until the dying minutes to get their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign back on track with a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan in Amsterdam on Friday.
The Dutch had started Group A with a 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic last month and coach Guus Hiddink expressed a desire to see his side produce a victory with a performance to match in the build-up to this fixture.However, Renat Abdulin's headed goal in the 17th minute threatened to subject the hosts to a humiliating defeat.

Netherlands tried their utmost to find a leveller, but it did not look to be their night until Klaas-Jan Huntelaar got his head to an Ibrahim Afellay cross in the 62nd minute.

Baurzhan Dzholchiev saw red for a reckless challenge soon after, and Hiddink's men eventually made their visitors pay through the influential Afellay, who found the net in the 82nd minute on his first international appearance since November 2012.
Robin van Persie completed the scoring in the closing stages from the penalty spot after being brought down by Dmitri Shomko.The late effort helped extend Netherlands' run of consecutive victories in home qualifiers to 18.

Hiddink switched to a 4-3-3 formation, having stuck with Louis van Gaal's favoured 3-5-2 for the defeat to the Czech Republic, as Gregory van der Wiel, Jeremain Lens, Afellay and Arjen Robben returned to the first-team fold.

And it was Lens who got the first real sight of goal in the 12th minute - his shot parried to Robin van Persie but the Manchester United forward's effort was ruled out for offside.

Kazakhstan took everyone by surprise five minutes later when Abdulin powered in a header off the crossbar from an Andrei Karpovich corner, although Bruno Martins Indi will feel he could have done better in defending the set-piece.

Van Persie headed over from a chipped Wesley Sneijder ball into the box as Netherlands desperately hunted a leveller, before Robben fired high and wide of the target on the half-hour mark.

The hosts continued to press and Van der Wiel's low ball across the six-yard box caused alarm among the Kazakhstan defence, but Lens' eventual shot went harmlessly wide of the left-hand post.

Afellay fired over as the beginning of the second half proved just as frustrating as the first for the home side, before Van Persie fired wide from a tight angle when substitute Huntelaar was primed to receive the ball in the six-yard box.

The hosts finally pulled level in the 62nd minute when Huntelaar, who looked to be in an offside position, got his head to an Afellay cross from the right.What looked like being a dream evening for Kazakhstan threatened to go downhill quickly when Dzholchiev was dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Afellay's calf.

Netherlands tried to make the most of the man advantage and hit the crossbar through Robben and Huntelaar saw a shot saved from point-blank range soon after.But it was Afellay who came up trumps for the home side - firing home a deflected effort from 25 yards – before Van Persie made absolutely sure of the points in the 89th minute.

Huntelaar saw an effort chalked off for offside in stoppage time, but everyone in Orange at the Amsterdam Arena breathed a sizeable sigh of relief at the final whistle.