xtremer11
09-08-2007, 01:03 PM
Italy - France
TEAM NEWS
Italy
The only doubt for Roberto Donadoni is Luca Toni, but even if he does not make it, the Azzurri can rely on the ever prolific Filippo Inzaghi to score the all important goals.
The Italian national team coach seems destined to play Barzagli at the centre of the defence along with Cannavaro, considering that Materazzi is not available due to injury. However it is yet unclear who will partner Toni or Inzaghi upfront, even though during the latest training sessions Cristian Lucarelli seemed the most in-form striker.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati (Club Atlético de Madrid), Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US CittÃ* di Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Alessandro Gamberini (ACF Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona)
Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari Calcio), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Cristiano Lucarelli (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München)
France
Patrick Vieira is set to play for Les Bleus despite the worry of Inter due to his injury which he has not recovered completely from. The former Juventus player is set to play alongside Makelele, Ribery and Malouda in a four-man midfield.
On the other hand, Domenech seems to have trouble in defence as William Gallas injured himself during Friday's training session. In attack France will rely on the Anelka-Henry duo to beat Gianluigi Buffon.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sébastien Frey (ACF Fiorentina), Mickaël Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Ulrich Ramé (FC Girondins de Bordeaux).
Defenders: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), François Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Julien Escudé (Sevilla FC), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), William Gallas (Arsenal FC), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona).
Midfielders: Alou Diarra (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Chelsea FC), Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC), Samir Nasri (Olympique de Marseille), Jérémy Toulalan (Olympique Lyonnais), Patrick Vieira (FC Internazionale Milano).
Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers FC), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyonnais), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC), Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München), David Trezeguet (Juventus).
This is a much more important game for Italy because they are in need of points and because France have beaten them in the first game at home. I think that the called players for Italy aren't the best of choises and if they want to win they have to attack, something that the Italian aren't good in. France on the other hand will go in this game with the best the have, they are strong in defence and they have very fast players which will be deadly on couterattacks- Ribery, Nasri, Henry, Malouda.Expect another Man of the match performance from the DURACELL powered :) Ribery.France will be playing with the central midfield pair: Vieira-Makelele which is very experienced and i think that with these players they will control the centre of the field, and control the game.
I expect an away win here, pick: x2, 2 AH 0:0, 2 AH +0,25
Wales - Germany
Wales Squad:
Hennessey (Wolves), Collins (West Ham), Gabbidon (West Ham), Nyatanga (loan at Barnsley); Ricketts (Hull), Robinson (Toronto), Davies (Fulham), Koumas (Wigan), Bale (Totteham Hotspur); Bellamy (West Ham), Eastwood (Wolves), Price (Derby), Coyne (Tranmere), Evans (Wrexham), Morgan (Peterborough), Crofts (Gillingham), Fletcher (Crystal Palace), M Jones (Wrexham), Ledley (Cardiff), Llewellyn (Wrexham), Earnshaw (Derby).
Germany Squad:
Robert Enke (Hanover 96), Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal),Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Christian Pander (Schalke 04), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV), David Odonkor (Real Betis), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich).
I watched Wales in their last friendly against Bulgaria and although they won the game, the didn't play well. Now they are in some transition (playing without Giggs), the new coach is trying some new young boys ( Freddy Eastwood, Gareth Bale). Germany are again without many of their injured stars -Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski, Phillip Lahm and Bern Schneider, but we saw them playing well without them against England (2-1).
My pick : Away win, AWay win AH -1
Netherlands - Bulgaria
TEAM NEWS
Netherlands
There’s stellar news for van Basten on the injury front, only Rafael van der Vaart, who had to pull out with a calf problem, causes a problem.
The main concern for the coach is who to pick as his starting XI. The match dictates a game focused on pace and skill, so the likes of van Persie, Huntelaar and Babel will almost certainly see action at some point.
The big question mark hangs over whether Ruud van Nistelrooy can secure a starting place in his first competitive match since the 2006 World Cup, and if he does, how he will perform under van Basten.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: van der Sar (Manchester United), Stekelenburg (Ajax), Timmer (Feyenoord).
Defenders: Boulahrouz (Sevilla), Bouma (Aston Villa), Emanuelson (Ajax), Heitinga (Ajax), Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).
Mifdielders: Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), de Jong (SV Hamburg), Landzaat (Wigan Athletic), Seedorf (AC Milan), Sneijder (Real Madrid), van der Vaart (SV Hamburg), de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).
Forwards: Babel (Liverpool), Huntelaar (Ajax), Kuyt (Liverpool), van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), van Persie (Arsenal), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).
Bulgaria
After a short period on the sidelines through injury, Tottenham striker and all-round Bulgarian hero Dimitar Berbatov makes a return to action. During his few appearances in the Premiership this season he’s looked a forlorn character, so all eyes will be on him to see if he’s up to the task.
Rising star of Bulgarian football, Valeri Bojinov, is not available for selection for more or less 5 months, after being involved in a heavy challenge with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. The knee ligament damage he sustained means that Bulgaria will have to qualify without him.
In Bojinov’s absence coach Dimitar Peney will call on the services of youngster Ivelin Popov who’s been in good nick with Litex Lovech of late.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ivankov (Kayzerispor), Petkov (Levski Sofia).
Defenders: Nikolov (Litex Lovech), Angelov (Energie Cottbus), Tunchev (CSKA Sofia), Kishishev (Leicester), Wagner (Levski Sofia), Tomasic (Levski Sofia), Milanov (Levski Sofia), Zanev (Celta Vigo).
Midfielders: Petrov (Aston Villa), Dimitrov (CSKA Sofia), Yankov (Hannover 96), Telkiyski (Levski Sofia), Peev (Amkar Perm), Popov (Litex Lovech).
Forwards: Petrov (Manchester City), Berbatov (Tottenham), Kushev (Amkar Perm), Yovov (Levski Sofia).
Robin van Persie, the leading goalscorer for Holland is back along with Ruud van Nistelrooy and they will form a deadly attack. In the first game here in Bulgaria, we were very lucky to get the point 1 because most of the time the game was played in our half ad we were totaly outplayed by Holland. Of course i will be backing my national team but i'm a realist and i think that we will be smashed by Holland by couple of goals.
My pick Home win, Home win -1 AH
Sweden - Denmark
Team news
Sweden
Swedish skipper and West Ham player Freddy Ljungberg (pictured) is injured and will not play against Denmark, which leaves Sweden without a natural left-winger. Another player that will probably miss the match is Manchester city goalkeeper Isaksson, who is just returning from a six week old injury.
Denmark
Denmark has two big holes to fill in the midfield. Fiorentina player Jörgensen is injured and Sevilla player Poulsen is still not eligible after the sending off against Sweden. Together they have 127 caps for their national team, and will surely be missed. Another veteran that will probably see the match from the bench is Danish goalkeeper Sörensen. He has not played in three months because of injury.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
Sweden
Shaaban - Edman, Mellberg, Hanson, Nilsson - Wilhelmsson, Linderoth, Källström, Alexandersson - Ibrahimovic, Elmander
Denmark
Cristiansen - Jensen, Agger, Laursen, Helveg - Andreasen, Kahlenberg, Jensen - Grönkjaer, Tomasson, Rommerdahl
Denmark HAVE to win this game if they want to play on the Euro 2008, because they are in very difficult position in their qualification group with 10 points from 6 games , but this will be very hard task against the strong-performing home team. Denmark should be attacking more, so there will be free spaces for Ibra and Elmander, and we know what they can do with the ball in their legs. Expect another Ibra-Cadabra :)
Pick: Home win, Over 2,5 goals
TEAM NEWS
Italy
The only doubt for Roberto Donadoni is Luca Toni, but even if he does not make it, the Azzurri can rely on the ever prolific Filippo Inzaghi to score the all important goals.
The Italian national team coach seems destined to play Barzagli at the centre of the defence along with Cannavaro, considering that Materazzi is not available due to injury. However it is yet unclear who will partner Toni or Inzaghi upfront, even though during the latest training sessions Cristian Lucarelli seemed the most in-form striker.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati (Club Atlético de Madrid), Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US CittÃ* di Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Alessandro Gamberini (ACF Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona)
Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari Calcio), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Cristiano Lucarelli (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München)
France
Patrick Vieira is set to play for Les Bleus despite the worry of Inter due to his injury which he has not recovered completely from. The former Juventus player is set to play alongside Makelele, Ribery and Malouda in a four-man midfield.
On the other hand, Domenech seems to have trouble in defence as William Gallas injured himself during Friday's training session. In attack France will rely on the Anelka-Henry duo to beat Gianluigi Buffon.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sébastien Frey (ACF Fiorentina), Mickaël Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Ulrich Ramé (FC Girondins de Bordeaux).
Defenders: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), François Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Julien Escudé (Sevilla FC), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), William Gallas (Arsenal FC), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona).
Midfielders: Alou Diarra (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Chelsea FC), Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC), Samir Nasri (Olympique de Marseille), Jérémy Toulalan (Olympique Lyonnais), Patrick Vieira (FC Internazionale Milano).
Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers FC), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyonnais), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC), Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München), David Trezeguet (Juventus).
This is a much more important game for Italy because they are in need of points and because France have beaten them in the first game at home. I think that the called players for Italy aren't the best of choises and if they want to win they have to attack, something that the Italian aren't good in. France on the other hand will go in this game with the best the have, they are strong in defence and they have very fast players which will be deadly on couterattacks- Ribery, Nasri, Henry, Malouda.Expect another Man of the match performance from the DURACELL powered :) Ribery.France will be playing with the central midfield pair: Vieira-Makelele which is very experienced and i think that with these players they will control the centre of the field, and control the game.
I expect an away win here, pick: x2, 2 AH 0:0, 2 AH +0,25
Wales - Germany
Wales Squad:
Hennessey (Wolves), Collins (West Ham), Gabbidon (West Ham), Nyatanga (loan at Barnsley); Ricketts (Hull), Robinson (Toronto), Davies (Fulham), Koumas (Wigan), Bale (Totteham Hotspur); Bellamy (West Ham), Eastwood (Wolves), Price (Derby), Coyne (Tranmere), Evans (Wrexham), Morgan (Peterborough), Crofts (Gillingham), Fletcher (Crystal Palace), M Jones (Wrexham), Ledley (Cardiff), Llewellyn (Wrexham), Earnshaw (Derby).
Germany Squad:
Robert Enke (Hanover 96), Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal),Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Christian Pander (Schalke 04), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV), David Odonkor (Real Betis), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich).
I watched Wales in their last friendly against Bulgaria and although they won the game, the didn't play well. Now they are in some transition (playing without Giggs), the new coach is trying some new young boys ( Freddy Eastwood, Gareth Bale). Germany are again without many of their injured stars -Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski, Phillip Lahm and Bern Schneider, but we saw them playing well without them against England (2-1).
My pick : Away win, AWay win AH -1
Netherlands - Bulgaria
TEAM NEWS
Netherlands
There’s stellar news for van Basten on the injury front, only Rafael van der Vaart, who had to pull out with a calf problem, causes a problem.
The main concern for the coach is who to pick as his starting XI. The match dictates a game focused on pace and skill, so the likes of van Persie, Huntelaar and Babel will almost certainly see action at some point.
The big question mark hangs over whether Ruud van Nistelrooy can secure a starting place in his first competitive match since the 2006 World Cup, and if he does, how he will perform under van Basten.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: van der Sar (Manchester United), Stekelenburg (Ajax), Timmer (Feyenoord).
Defenders: Boulahrouz (Sevilla), Bouma (Aston Villa), Emanuelson (Ajax), Heitinga (Ajax), Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).
Mifdielders: Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), de Jong (SV Hamburg), Landzaat (Wigan Athletic), Seedorf (AC Milan), Sneijder (Real Madrid), van der Vaart (SV Hamburg), de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).
Forwards: Babel (Liverpool), Huntelaar (Ajax), Kuyt (Liverpool), van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), van Persie (Arsenal), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).
Bulgaria
After a short period on the sidelines through injury, Tottenham striker and all-round Bulgarian hero Dimitar Berbatov makes a return to action. During his few appearances in the Premiership this season he’s looked a forlorn character, so all eyes will be on him to see if he’s up to the task.
Rising star of Bulgarian football, Valeri Bojinov, is not available for selection for more or less 5 months, after being involved in a heavy challenge with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. The knee ligament damage he sustained means that Bulgaria will have to qualify without him.
In Bojinov’s absence coach Dimitar Peney will call on the services of youngster Ivelin Popov who’s been in good nick with Litex Lovech of late.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ivankov (Kayzerispor), Petkov (Levski Sofia).
Defenders: Nikolov (Litex Lovech), Angelov (Energie Cottbus), Tunchev (CSKA Sofia), Kishishev (Leicester), Wagner (Levski Sofia), Tomasic (Levski Sofia), Milanov (Levski Sofia), Zanev (Celta Vigo).
Midfielders: Petrov (Aston Villa), Dimitrov (CSKA Sofia), Yankov (Hannover 96), Telkiyski (Levski Sofia), Peev (Amkar Perm), Popov (Litex Lovech).
Forwards: Petrov (Manchester City), Berbatov (Tottenham), Kushev (Amkar Perm), Yovov (Levski Sofia).
Robin van Persie, the leading goalscorer for Holland is back along with Ruud van Nistelrooy and they will form a deadly attack. In the first game here in Bulgaria, we were very lucky to get the point 1 because most of the time the game was played in our half ad we were totaly outplayed by Holland. Of course i will be backing my national team but i'm a realist and i think that we will be smashed by Holland by couple of goals.
My pick Home win, Home win -1 AH
Sweden - Denmark
Team news
Sweden
Swedish skipper and West Ham player Freddy Ljungberg (pictured) is injured and will not play against Denmark, which leaves Sweden without a natural left-winger. Another player that will probably miss the match is Manchester city goalkeeper Isaksson, who is just returning from a six week old injury.
Denmark
Denmark has two big holes to fill in the midfield. Fiorentina player Jörgensen is injured and Sevilla player Poulsen is still not eligible after the sending off against Sweden. Together they have 127 caps for their national team, and will surely be missed. Another veteran that will probably see the match from the bench is Danish goalkeeper Sörensen. He has not played in three months because of injury.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
Sweden
Shaaban - Edman, Mellberg, Hanson, Nilsson - Wilhelmsson, Linderoth, Källström, Alexandersson - Ibrahimovic, Elmander
Denmark
Cristiansen - Jensen, Agger, Laursen, Helveg - Andreasen, Kahlenberg, Jensen - Grönkjaer, Tomasson, Rommerdahl
Denmark HAVE to win this game if they want to play on the Euro 2008, because they are in very difficult position in their qualification group with 10 points from 6 games , but this will be very hard task against the strong-performing home team. Denmark should be attacking more, so there will be free spaces for Ibra and Elmander, and we know what they can do with the ball in their legs. Expect another Ibra-Cadabra :)
Pick: Home win, Over 2,5 goals