Capello left in the dark by new-look Kazakhstan

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON COLNEY (Reuters) - England manager Fabio Capello said on Friday that he knew nothing about the Kazakhstan team he will face at Wembley after their new coach made wholesale changes to the squad.

While England began their World Cup Group Six qualifying campaign with away victories over Andorra and Croatia, Kazakhstan suffered defeats by Croatia and Ukraine, prompting the sacking of Dutch coach Arno Pijpers and the temporary appointment of German Bernd Storck.

He made an immediate impact by calling up a host of uncapped players from the under-21 team he formerly led and leaving out several regulars.

"I saw three games but it's all changed and now I know nothing," Capello told a news conference on the eve of Saturday's match.

"There are a lot of young players coming from under-21s and I know only four players.

"It's better if you can know everything about your opponent and it's always different against a new manager but it is impossible to change their style completely," said the Italian.

With England having been so impressive in Croatia, however, it should matter little who lines up against them for the former Soviet republic.

Similarly, the loss of captain John Terry to a back injury should be only a minor setback as most of the Wembley action should be taking place at the other end of the pitch.