Veteran gets Kazakh call-up

Oleg Kornienko could win his first cap at the age of 34 after being named in the Kazakhstan squad for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Serbia on 24 March.

Surprise call
The FC Shakhtyor Karagandy defender has been recalled by coach Arno Pijpers after impressing in a recent friendly tournament and is hoping to finally get off the bench after several near misses. "To be honest, I was not expecting a call-up," he said. "I will do my best on the pitch. As for the Serbians, I can assure you they will not have an easy time in Almaty."

Kazakhstan squad
Goalkeepers: David Loria (FC Astana), Yuriy Novikov (FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan), Zhasulan Dekhkanov (FK Aktobe).

Defenders: Samat Smakov (FK Aktobe), Aleksandr Kuchma (FC Astana), Maksim Zhalmagambetov (FC Astana), Farkhadbek Irismetov (FC Tobol Kostanay), Yegor Azovskiy (FC Astana), Oleg Kornienko (FC Shakhtyor Karagandy).

Midfielders: Ruslan Baltiev (FC Tobol Kostanay), Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev (FC Tobol Kostanay), Andrei Karpovitch (FC Dinamo Moskva), Eduard Sergienko (FC Astana), Anton Chichulin (FC Astana), Kairat Utabayev (FC Alma-Ata), Kairat Ashirbekov (FK Aktobe), Zhambyl Kukeyev (FC Astana), Dias Kamelov (FC Astana), Sergey Skorykh (FC Tobol Kostanay), Peraly Aliyev (FC Astana).

Forwards: Dmitriy Byakov (FC Alma-Ata), Andrey Finonchenko (FC Shakhtyor Karagandy), Murat Suyumagambetov (FC Astana), Murat Tleshev (FC Astana).