Kazakhstan v Wales: How an away qualifier is planned

It is arguably the most awkward away fixture in European football.

For Wales, Kazakhstan away means 3,000 miles of travelling across six time zones for a match on an artificial pitch.

But when the end game is World Cup qualification, there is little room for excuses – which means plenty of planning.

Preparation is not only required for far-flung fixtures. The fact is every away day for an international association can be a challenge, with numerous staff members having to painstakingly pull out all the stops to make sure there are no hiccups away from home.

From having the right kind of balls to making sure baked beans are packed in the hold because "other nations cook them differently", there is much that goes in to getting an international team ready for an away fixture.

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