HiyaVata
09-07-2007, 08:59 PM
Scotland v Lithuania
The positives for Scotland are their current form and that they are at home.
They are a confident team at the moment and the managerial changeover from Walter Smith to Alex McLeish does not look like it has had any adverse impact.
Scotland have been good and Hampden has got its roar back.
It may be more difficult for them than the fans thinks, but if they keep doing the things they have been doing they will be OK.
Lithuania may look at it as a game in which they have a chance to come away with something by playing on the counter-attack.
Scotland manager Alex McLeish said his side were determined to pick up three points against Lithuania in the Euro 2008 qualifier at Hampden on Saturday.
"We never say it's must-win or do or die. We've prepared really well for this game and the three points is something we're very, very capable of getting," said McLeish.
"And we'll be going all-out to get the three points."
Scotland have won four of their five games under McLeish.
Prediction 2:0
England v Israel
A lot has been said about the injuries England have but they have still got a lot of good players.
The thing about England is that they get suckered into playing how other teams want them to play.
They don't play like they do in the Premier League - if they could replicate that then it would be difficult for any team to cope with them.
You can frighten teams when you play at 100mph with brains.
England are capable of doing that but they start playing balls back and across as well as long balls.
If you listen to all the foreign players who play in the Premier League they all comment about the speed of the game and, in a way, that is a back-handed compliment.
Width will be key for England and committing people is most important.
England squad for Euro 2008 Group E qualifiers against Israel on 8 September and Russia on 12 September:
Robinson, James, Carson; Richards, Ferdinand, A Cole, P Neville, Brown, Terry, Lescott, Shorey; Bentley, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Hargreaves, Gerrard, J Cole, Carrick, Downing; Smith, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Owen, Johnson, Young.
Prediction 2:0
Latvia v Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's campaign so far is a fantastic story.
This is one of four away games in their last five qualifiers and, looking at the toughness of the other games against Iceland, Sweden and Spain, they have to win this one.They have got playing at Windsor Park down to a tee with David Healy scoring for fun.They have taken on the mantle of favourites and Latvia may be bottom of the group, but winning away is really difficult.
I don't think they will create as many chances and they should win but, when you think that, it doesn't always go that way.
Prediction 1:1
Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland have been on a good run of late.They have not lost in their last eight games and, even though that has included San Marino twice, it is still a good stat.This is part of a double-header and it may seem funny to say this but it would be better if they beat their next opponents the Czech Republic.Germany are clear in the group while the Czechs are in danger of going away from the Republic.Unless Steve Staunton's side can avoid defeat against the Czechs then they are unlikely to qualify.I don't think it will be possible for them to win both as there is no great depth to the current squad.
Prediction: 1-1
:bath:
The positives for Scotland are their current form and that they are at home.
They are a confident team at the moment and the managerial changeover from Walter Smith to Alex McLeish does not look like it has had any adverse impact.
Scotland have been good and Hampden has got its roar back.
It may be more difficult for them than the fans thinks, but if they keep doing the things they have been doing they will be OK.
Lithuania may look at it as a game in which they have a chance to come away with something by playing on the counter-attack.
Scotland manager Alex McLeish said his side were determined to pick up three points against Lithuania in the Euro 2008 qualifier at Hampden on Saturday.
"We never say it's must-win or do or die. We've prepared really well for this game and the three points is something we're very, very capable of getting," said McLeish.
"And we'll be going all-out to get the three points."
Scotland have won four of their five games under McLeish.
Prediction 2:0
England v Israel
A lot has been said about the injuries England have but they have still got a lot of good players.
The thing about England is that they get suckered into playing how other teams want them to play.
They don't play like they do in the Premier League - if they could replicate that then it would be difficult for any team to cope with them.
You can frighten teams when you play at 100mph with brains.
England are capable of doing that but they start playing balls back and across as well as long balls.
If you listen to all the foreign players who play in the Premier League they all comment about the speed of the game and, in a way, that is a back-handed compliment.
Width will be key for England and committing people is most important.
England squad for Euro 2008 Group E qualifiers against Israel on 8 September and Russia on 12 September:
Robinson, James, Carson; Richards, Ferdinand, A Cole, P Neville, Brown, Terry, Lescott, Shorey; Bentley, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Hargreaves, Gerrard, J Cole, Carrick, Downing; Smith, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Owen, Johnson, Young.
Prediction 2:0
Latvia v Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's campaign so far is a fantastic story.
This is one of four away games in their last five qualifiers and, looking at the toughness of the other games against Iceland, Sweden and Spain, they have to win this one.They have got playing at Windsor Park down to a tee with David Healy scoring for fun.They have taken on the mantle of favourites and Latvia may be bottom of the group, but winning away is really difficult.
I don't think they will create as many chances and they should win but, when you think that, it doesn't always go that way.
Prediction 1:1
Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland have been on a good run of late.They have not lost in their last eight games and, even though that has included San Marino twice, it is still a good stat.This is part of a double-header and it may seem funny to say this but it would be better if they beat their next opponents the Czech Republic.Germany are clear in the group while the Czechs are in danger of going away from the Republic.Unless Steve Staunton's side can avoid defeat against the Czechs then they are unlikely to qualify.I don't think it will be possible for them to win both as there is no great depth to the current squad.
Prediction: 1-1
:bath: