Road to Rio - England & Ireland in play NEWS
The next week will see some vital games in the quest for qualification for next year's World Cup, with both England and Ireland well placed to make it to Brazil 2014.
At almost the half way point in the qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 only England and the Republic of Ireland of the home nations are still in with a shout of at least securing a playoff position, all of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being massive long shots to progress.
England are currently second in their group, just behind their forthcoming opponents, Montenegro, and have a fantastic chance of leap frogging them should they win in Podgorica.
England should be confident of a six point return from their two games even if they are depleted defensively with the loss of Rio Ferdinand, Gary Cahill and Michael Dawson. Wayne Rooney, the subject of much recent speculation about his Man Utd future, has the chance to add to his 33 international goals.
Ireland currently lie third in their group behind unbeaten Germany and Sweden, who enjoyed(?) a 4-4 draw when they played in October, and with both games against Sweden to come the Irish very much have their destiny in their own hands, although recent results tend to indicate that they'll need to improve if they are to overcome the Swedes.
Scotland and Wales, unfortunate to have been drawn in the same group, meet again on Friday with Wales having taken the honours in their first meeting. With two and three points respectively so far, neither nation has a realistic chance of going through, but pride and an eye on future championship qualification should mean that both teams will try and finish as high up the group as possible.
The Scots have talked of the need to shackle Gareth Bale the scorer of both goals the last time they met. That's easier said than done, although the loss of Joe Allen means the Scots can give the Spurs star more focus.
Northern Ireland, fourth in Group F, have home games against the top two, and so have a chance of denting the hopes of those teams, even if their own are extremely slim.
With just under half of the qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 gone here's a quick summary of how the European groups stand: -
Group A - Belgium and Croatia are joint leaders and both are unbeaten with their only dropped points coming in a draw between the two teams. It's tough to call who will finish top and who will have to brave the playoffs but there's little chance of anyone else threatening. Scotland and Wales are playing for pride and a better seeding position in future draws.
Group B - Italy are top, four points ahead of Bulgaria and five ahead of the Czech Republic who have only played three matches. As ever it's difficult to see beyond Italy and the battle for second spot seems to be restricted to Bulgaria and the Czechs who drew 0-0 in their last meeting.
Group C - Germany on top (as ever) with ten points with Sweden three points behind and Ireland also in the mix on six points. Sweden may fancy they can top this group after drawing 4-4 with Germany but they'll need to be as equally ruthless when playing the smaller nations. The two games between Sweden and Ireland will be key in this group as will the re-match between the Germans and Swedes.
Group D - this is a really competitive group. Holland with a 100% record are in the lead but hot on their heels are Hungary and Romania, both of who have only lost once each - to Holland. Turkey are fourth on three points and are capable of taking points off anyone so, whilst they may be out of contention themselves, they could have something to say about who does qualify.
Group E - perhaps the weakest European group is headed by Switzerland who lead by three points from Norway, who themselves are only a single point above Albania and Iceland. This group could go any number of ways with any of those four teams winning it.
Group F - Russia, who have a 100% record, currently top the group from Israel and Portugal who each have seven points from four games. Northern Ireland are fourth on three points and they host both Russia and Israel in their next two games so they could help shape how the group looks. Russia look strong and Portugal have a habit of qualifying even when they've made qualification difficult for themselves.
Group G - Bosnia Herzegovina and Greece are joint top with ten points apiece (they drew 0-0 when they met) closely followed by Slovakia on seven points. Its seem to be between those three teams in another of the weaker groups.
Group H - Montenegro lead the group from England by two points but Roy Hodgson's men will be looking to change that on Tuesday. Poland are still handily placed in third and Ukraine, although fifth, are too good a team not to have an impact on who wins the group. England should top the group, probably followed by Poland.
Group I - reigning World and European champions Spain are joint top with France and this group seems sewn up between the two nations, who drew 1-1 when they clashed, with Belarus in third.
Here's BritEvents preview of the forthcoming games involving the home nations: -
Friday 22 March
Group A
Scotland V Wales - 8pm ko at Hampden Park. The return fixture between the two teams Wales winning the first meeting 2-1 courtesy of who else but Gareth Bale. Bale has been nursing an ankle knock picked up during Spurs' defeat to Fulham but he is expected to be fit, unlike Liverpool's Joe Allen who has now been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Wales are favourites for the game simply because they are regarded as the better team with greater individual quality. However, new Scotland manager Gordon Strachan is a canny operator and he shouldn't be underestimated. He's sure to have a plan to nullify the threat bale poses that involves denying him time and space. Whether the rest of the Wales team can then take advantage of the resultant space afforded them remains to be seen. I foresee a physical, typically furious British encounter with Wales edging it narrowly.
Group C
Sweden v Republic of Ireland - 7.45pm ko at the Friends Arena. A really important game for both teams as they bid to keep pace with group leaders Germany who should beat Kazakhstan to retain their top spot. Swedish confidence will be sky-high after their 4-4 draw with Germany in October, a game in which they came back from a 4-0 deficit. As ever Zlatan Ibrahimovich, a world class striker on his day, will be the Swede's main threat to an Irish back four who conceded six against the same Germany team. Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni should have Jonathan Walters fit fir selection despite a knock in training, although Shane Long is also an option up front as is the evergreen Robbie Keane. Its hard to see Ireland getting the win they badly need as Sweden are a well organised and talented outfit, Sweden by the odd goal.
Group F
Northern Ireland v Russia - 7.45pm ko at Windsor Park. Michael O'Neill has been dealt a blow ahead of the game against Russia with the withdrawal of striker Will Grigg, who was tipped to play as the lone striker with the suspension of Kyle Lafferty. Martin Patterson is now likely to get the selection nod. Elsewhere O'Neill is able to select the same team who laboured to a 0-0 draw in Malta and he acknowledges that his team are likely to be up against it facing an opposing team full of quality individuals who have won each of their four qualifying games so far. Northern Ireland managed to frustrate Portugal away and that's probably the best they can hope for in this game, although the odds are in favour of a Russia win.
Group H
San Marino v England - 8pm ko at the Stadio Olimpico. San Marino are still one of international football's true minnows and they have never won a competitive match in their history. They lost 5-0 at Wembley last year and their ambitions will not extend beyond limiting the scale of their defeat. When the two sides met at Wembley it took England a long time to break down the dogged resistance of the largely amateur San Marino players and this time around patience will again be the name of the game. England's line-up for this game will probably reflect the standard of the opposition with a more offensive look, particularly out wide, where Hogdson will look to stretch San Marino and get crosses in for Rooney and whoever is chosen to accompany him. With Jack Wilshere missing through injury Michael Carrick will probably partner captain Steven Gerrard in central midfield with two of Ashley Young, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and James Milner out wide. This will be a routine win with little to stir the imagination. Tuesday will be another matter.
Tuesday 26 March
Group A
Serbia v Scotland - 7.30pm ko at the Karadorde Stadium. These two teams played out a goalless draw last September and since then neither has made much of an impression in a group dominated by Belgium and Croatia. Serbia face neighbours Croatia the same night Scotland face Wales so both could arrive at this game having lost to a neighbouring country. Serbia have a better chance of catching one of the top two and have shown flashes of their ability in beating Wales 6-1, but they've also lost to Macedonia and were well beaten by the Belgians. The teams seem quite well matched although the Serbians perhaps have the edge in quality, especially in defence where Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic has been excellent this season. I expect Serbia to win, unless their result against Croatia sees them thrashed or lose important players.
Wales v Croatia - 7.45pm ko at the Liberty Stadium. Like the Scotland game it's somewhat difficult to call this game without first seeing how Friday's games pan out. On paper you would reckon both should earn a victory going into their meeting and that Croatia will be favourites to take three points in Swansea. Croatia are level on points with Belgium although they lag on goal difference, and they appear confident of at least taking second pot and a playoff place. They have a technically gifted squad with stars such as Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Everton's Nikita Jelavic that should be too accomplished for Wales, whether Gareth Bale is on song or not. I can see Wales putting up a good fight but ultimately Croatia should win.
Group C
Republic of Ireland v Austria - 7.45pm ko at Lansdowne Road. If Ireland manage to get something from their visit to Sweden I can see them harnessing that momentum to beat a handy Austrian team. However, should they lose in Stockholm the dent to their qualification chances would be such that Austria may just heap more misery on Trapattoni's mean. Austria aren't out of the qualification race themselves having only lost to Germany so far in qualification, although the 0-0 draw in Kazakhstan wasn't a great result. Austria should arrive in Dublin with three points from their match against the Faroe Islands so a tough, tight game appears on the cards whatever. Ireland aren't quite the team of old and Austria have some decent players - Austria win, although it pains me to say it.
Group F
Northern Ireland v Israel - 7.45pm ko at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland haven't won in an age and with Russia up on Friday that's unlikely to have changed by the time Israel take to the field at Windsor Park. Michael O'Neill's team have been well organised and difficult to break down but they now need wins not draws and, in taking the initiative, as they need to do against Israel, they will leave themselves more open to counter-attacks. Unfortunately all I can see for them is a valiant narrow defeat.
Group H
Montenegro v England - 8pm ko at the Podgorica City Stadium. This will be a much tougher game for England than the San Marino one on Friday. Montenegro, the world's newest international team, lead the group from England after two wins against the minnows of San Marino, an away win in Ukraine and a draw against Poland. That said, England may perhaps relish being away from Wembley, where they've recently been poor in competitive matches, allowing the impatience of the fans to undermine their confidence. Its probable that Roy Hodgson will change is line-up from Friday, perhaps introducing more experience and deploying Wayne Rooney behind a lone striker in an advanced midfield role. England should have too much class for Montenegro and, after beating Brazil last time out, they shouldn't lack confidence. But, this is England and whenever have they followed the script. I think they'll win, but will have their share of scares.
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