After witnessing Barcelona’s exquisite triumph in last Saturday’s Champions League attention on the playing front now turns to this weekend’s Euro 2012 and African Nation’s qualifier’s with no fewer than five Villa players expected to represent their countries games across the globe. The Villa front 3 of Ashley Young, Stuart Downing and Darren Bent will be a potent weapon as England face Switzerland and all 3 should see gametime. In the same group Stiliyan Petrov will again lead Bulgaria in their tie away to Montengro . Finally the improving Eric Lichaj will probably feature at some point against Spain and has also been included in their impending regional CONCACAF Gold Cup Squad – a tournament that United States host and where Mexico represent the only genuine threat. Richard Dunne (suspended) and Ciaran Clark both miss the Republic of Ireland’s game in Macedonia while Jean Makoun will also sit-out Cameroon’s African Nation’s Cup qualifier against Senegal with injury

For those who are interested I’ve highlighted a few of the, what I think will be, crucial clashes this weekend from across the qualifying groups.

Group A

Austria v Germany: A chance for Germany to all but cement their place in next year’s final’s in familiar surroundings and I see no fit reason to suggest they won’t get maximum points in Vienna. We all saw how German football has evolved and progressed at last year’s WC and their youthful, attacking and dare-i-say sometimes cavalier (well compared to German teams past) approach is backed on solid foundations with Neuer between the sticks.

Belgium v Turkey: Potentially the game of the night in Brussels as both jostle for 2nd spot and a foothold in the group. Belgium are one of Europe’s up and coming nations and a team I fancy to be at major tournaments again very soon. The most improved team in Europe and any team that features the likes of Defour, Hazard, Kompany, Vermaelen and Lukaku among others has to be respected. Turkey will be no pushover however knowing a win for them will leave them ahead of their rivals and with a game in hand. Expect a few goals.

The final game see’s pointless Kazakhstan entertain (if that’s the word) Azerbaijan, still basking in their recent Eurovision win. Not a classic with little evidence of goals in either team.

Group B

Macedonia v Rep.Ireland: Vital game here also, and exactly the type of trip where Ireland (my boys) have tripped up in recent campaigns and hampered by player withdrawals, injury and suspension Ireland look vulnerable again to some. Both Ciaran Clark will sit-out this game against opponents who Ireland failed to kill off in Dublin and an improved performance and victory is essential with Russia (v Armenia) and Slovakia (v Andorra) both fancied at home to group also-rans. I fancy Ireland to sneak it, again not really impressing, but a vital win nonetheless and with all teams currently level on 10 points this group is expected to go to the final games.

Group C

Two rather straightforward looking games here with both Italy (home v Estonia) and Slovenia (away v Faroes) expected to pick up maximum points. Italy currently sit top and look unopposed in that position, Slovenia are hoping to squeeze out Serbia for 2nd place so 3 points against group fodder could be precious all the more so following Serbia’s forfeited game v Italy following crowd disturbance.

Group D

France could be as many as 7 points clear Saturday night providing they win away in Minsk v Belarus and Romania v Bosnia also ends all square. France should have enough about them to complete their part of the deal improving with each game under Laurent Blanc. Bosnia will look to their front two of Ibisevic and Dzeko to shoot them to victory in Bucharest – I would expect a tight game here and a draw is quite probable as it keeps both sides in contention for the runner-up spot.

Group E

Not the most thrilling looking set of fixtures as Sweden travel to Moldova hoping to further boost their chance of finishing as runner up (ahead of Hungary) to runaway group leaders the Netherlands. I expect they’ll get their win although it won’t be pretty I imagine. In the groups other game Finland are at pointless and goal-less San Marino. Away win.

Group F

A tight group with 4 teams within a point of each other at the top sees current leaders Greece at home to lowly Malta and 2nd placed Croatia facing fourth placed Georgia in Zagreb. Both are expected to win and their matchup next October in Athens should decide group honours. Israel are also in contention.

Group G

England v Switzerland: A group which England should win with something to spare against a dull yet efficient Swiss side (no stereo-typing there then). Having already beaten the Swiss 3-1 in the reverse fixture, England expects as the latest (fools) gold-en generation look to gain a points advantage over 2nd placed Montenegro. Young, Bent and Downing should all figure and another victory by at least 2 goals seems likely – Switzerland are not renowned for scoring many so I expect Joe Hart will be as under-employed as Victor Valdes was the week previous.
Montenegro v Bulgaria: Montenegro have been something of a surprise to date co-leading with England on 10 points and having looked the better team for long spells at Wembley. With Vucinic and the probing Stevan Jovetic in attack and having already beat Bulgaria in Sofia, they have enough to record a third successive campaign home victory against a Bulgaria side who were all kinds of poor against England. Sloppy, dis-organised and impotent in that game there will need to be some improvement this time out if they are to get a win – failure to do so effectively rules out any outside chance they harbor of qualifying.

Group H

Saturday sees 2nd placed Portugal facing shock group leaders Norway in a vital clash in Lisbon. Having already lost home points in drawing with Cyprus (4-4), Portugal currently trail Norway by 3 points and Norway have already beaten them in Oslo’s reverse fixture. Portugal will be confident however on home soil and a win here would put them joint top with 10 points. Denmark are also expected to reach 10 points on Saturday in their away game in Iceland (currently bottom) so it could well be a three way tie for first in a group that should go to the last round. Cyprus have no game are out of contention but can prove tricky if underestimated.

Group I

Only one game here as the bottom nation Liechtenstein host currently next to bottom Lithuania in a game which has little impact on runaway group leaders and reigning champions, Spain. Lithuania should get the win that will lift them above Scotland in the group standings and they still may hold some lingering hope of pipping Czech Republic for runner up spot having beaten them already in Vilnius.

Bozzy’s Bankers: My beer money this week is kindly being sponsored by the below nations. Those who have a flutter will be aware that decent prices can be difficult to find on international games however England (-1) v Switzerland @ 11/10 seems like buying money. Add to this Rep. Ireland (11/10), Croatia (3/10), Germany (2/5) and Portugal (4/11) and Russia (1/5) and you will be roughly 120 in profit for your starting tenner.

A week is a long time in politics and the very same period feels equally as long in football (and football politics for that matter). Since witnessing the great scenes of Barcelona’s Champions League triumph the ugly side of footballs head reared amid allegation and FIFA corruption tales. At villa Park – its been equally as long yet another impending managerial change at Aston Villa

Leave a Reply