Kazakhstan may have climbed just a place in August's FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, however that single-rung move saw them continue to make history by reaching a new high of 96, having achieved their best-ever ranking of 97 the previous month. The world's largest landlocked country have, indeed, maintained their amazing run on the global ladder since the start of this year, soaring 36 places over the past eight months.
They began at a gentle pace with a single-place move to 131 in February, before ascending six further spots the following month. After moving just two further positions, the eastern Europeans exploded with another five-place rise in June, before hitting their best ranking last month.
Their impressive upward spiral came as little surprise considering the team's undefeated record this year. Under Talgat Baysufinov, Kazakhstan began with a 1-0 defeat of Azerbaijan in a friendly in March, before drawing 1-1 against Georgia three days later. The Hawks went on to register another solitary-goal friendly win away against China PR last month, a spirited result which provides them with a timely boost ahead of September's opening European qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
Memorable campaigns The former Soviet republic have never made it to world football's greatest extravaganza, though they have been known to pull off a surprise or two, results from which they can still take heart ahead of their home outing against group favourites Poland next month.
Following gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan entered their first World Cup qualification for France 1998 - then as a member of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation). The first-timers sent shock waves across the continent by winning their group in the first stage, including beating Mexico 1986 finalists Iraq home and away. Meanwhile, needless to say, they enjoyed a strong showing on the global ladder, with their 2-1 away win against the Iraqis helping them soar 25 places to 136 in June 1997.
However, hopes of an unlikely World Cup berth were dashed as Kazakhstan collected the wooden spoon in a final-stage group which included Korea Republic, Japan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. They did, however, draw against both the Koreans and the Japanese, and inflicted a 3-0 home victory on the UAE. When the dust settled, they had also reached a then all-time high of 107.
Kazakhstan came close to emulating the feat on the road to Korea/Japan 2002. Pitted against strongly favoured Iraq once again, Kazakhstan twice drew against their rivals and finished level with the Iraqis on points only to be edged on goal difference. Despite the failure to progress to the final round, they were again rewarded for their brilliant performances with an 18-place move to 106 in May 2001. And they finished that year by storming into the top 100 for the first time when they hit 98 in December.
Progressing in Europe Life has been made more difficult for Kazakhstan since their switch to UEFA. However, their aspiration for progress has continued as they have occasionally sprung upsets. Notably, they stunned Serbia 2-1 at home in their maiden qualifying for the 2008 UEFA EURO, a result which led to a 27-place move to 116 - their best-ever leap.
Kazakhstan's efforts for progress also bore fruit at club level, as Astana became the first team from the country to qualify for last year's UEFA Champions League group stage. Not surprisingly, the two-time Kazakh league winners have been the biggest providers for the national team. As many as six players from the young club featured in the squad that beat China 1-0, with captain Samat Smakov the most notable.
"In our country, football is the number one sport," said Football Federation of Kazakhstan (KFF) president Yerlan Kozhagapanov. "Eighty per cent of people who practice sport play football. It really is a nationwide sport. Therefore, we are looking for ways to develop football further.
"We have ambitious aims. I think the successes of Kazakhstan football are in front of us. They will happen in the future, because our young footballers want to become famous champions, famous sportsmen.”
It remains to be seen whether Kazakhstan can make a real breakthrough in their quest for Russia 2018 in a group which also features Romania, Denmark, Montenegro and Armenia. But as history has proven, they are a squad that no team can afford to underestimate.