English expats won’t need reminding that ol’ Blighty failed to qualify for Euro 2008. Now, with a new manager helming the ship, will they make it to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? One of the first hurdles is Kazakhstan, a decent team that would like to add to its country’s principal claim to fame – comic character Borat – by scalping the country that spawned his creator, Sacha Baron Cohen. Stiffen that upper lip and hope the country that invented the game doesn’t repeat its nowinfamous trick of grasping defeat from the jaws of victory.

Kick-off 12.15am. Star Sports, Channel 24