Germany on song

The visitor was heavy favourites to despatch the minnow but with the match scoreless at half-time there will no doubt have been some nerves in the Germany ranks.

Miroslav Klose finally got his side on the scoresheet three minutes into the second half, while Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski also found the target to give a more comfortable look to the scoreline.

Thomas Muller and Podolski both tested home goalkeeper Andrey Sidelnikov as Germany looked to establish itself early in the game.

Muller should have drawn a save with his second effort and then teed up Klose to head wide in the 16th minute.

It took 20 minutes for the first glimmer of a Kazakhstan opportunity to arise, but Heinrich Schmidtgal's shot was quickly closed down by Per Mertesacker.

That aside the game continued to go in Germany's favour, Sami Khedira linking up with Toni Kroos, only for the latter to head over.

Germany was now looking a little wasteful, Kroos and Mesut Ozil both failing to exercise Sidelnikov as the half-hour mark approached.

Kroos warmed to his task as the half drew to a close, first drawing a parried save from 20 yards only for Ozil to fluff the rebound, then forcing the keeper into a diving save in the closing seconds.

Khedira went closest in the 41st minute when he headed against the crossbar after a Sidelnikov punch.

The breakthrough came with 48 minutes on the clock, Podolski breaking down the left and finding the prolific Klose, who poked home from six yards.

Schmidtgal missed with his second attempt of the match moments later but produced a much better effort in the 56th minute when his volley required a good reaction save from Manuel Neuer.

The floodgates failed to open for Germany at the other end but a second eventually came with 14 minutes remaining.

Ozil played the role of creator, laying the ball to substitute Gomez, who beat Sidelnikov from 12 yards.

Kazakhstan came out of its shell after that, opening up a couple of half-chances but its reward was a third goal conceded, Podolski slotting home from close range.