Ledi17
06-08-2008, 10:55 AM
1. Austria - Croatia
Last 5 matches for Austria:
Austria - Malta 5-1
Austria - Nigeria 1-1
Austria - Netherlands 3-4
Austria - Germany 0-3
Austria -Tunisia 0-0
Team news: Emanuel Pogatetz is expected to be available after suffering a calf injury in training, manager Hickersberger saying there was only a small chance he wouldn't be fit in time to face Croatia. But Hickersberger was forced to make a late change to his squad when goalkeeper Helge Payer suffered a blood circulation problem. Payer was replaced by Ramazan Ozcan, but the coach was coy about whether Alex Manninger or Jurgen Macho would be his first-choice goalkeeper. He was keeping his players on their toes during the week, saying in midweek that although he had a team in his head to play against Croatia, he wanted to use the remaining training sessions for the players to show their best.
Last 5 matches for Croatia:
Hungary - Croatia 1-1
Croatia - Moldavia 1-0
Scotland - Croatia 1-1
Croatia - Netherlands 0-3
England - Croatia 2-3
Team news: Slaven Bilic has named his strongest team to face Austria, and said he will be keeping to the same formation he used in Croatia's recent friendlies against Moldova and Hungary. That suggests the team will be: Stipe Pletikosa; Vedran Corluka, Robert Kovac, Josip Simunic, Danijel Pranjic; Darijo Srna, Niko Kovac, Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar; Mladen Petric, Ivica Olic. Bilic added that, "The mood is excellent, but the nerves are increasing – a positive nervousness. Be sure we'll give everything we can; we'll be a top team. We'll be better than Austria as we're capable of controlling the match. Like in Formula 1, a good start is so important in the first game. All the best to women, but football is the most beautiful thing in the world."
Prediction: 2(:congrats:WON)(2.00 - Betsense)
2. Germany - Poland
Last 5 matches for Germany:
Germany - Wales 0-0
Austria - Germany 0-3
Switzerland - Germany 0-4
Germany - Belarus 2-2
Germany - Serbia 2-1
Team news: Joachim Löw has intimated that he may play Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski on the left hand side of midfield in what will be the only real surprise in his line-up. Mario Gomez looks to have won the battle to partner Miroslav Klose up front with Marcell Jansen to play at left back with Bayern team mate Philipp Lahm on the other flank.
Probable starting: Lehmann, Lahm, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Jansen, Frings, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Gomez, Klose
Last 5 matches for Poland:
Poland - Estonia 2-0
Poland - USA 0-3
Poland - Macedonia 1-1
Poland - Albania 1-0
Poland - Denmark 1-1
Team news: Poland’s preparations have been hit after Dortmund midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski suffered a hamstring injury which means he will miss the finals. However, there is better news regarding defender Michal Zewlakow, who has recovered from a leg injury and will be ready for his country’s opening game in Group B. The other late injury news concerns third-choice keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who has suffered a back injury and is also out of the tournament.
Probable starting: Boruc, Zewlakow, Wawrzyniak, Bak, Wasilewski, Lewandowski, Lobodzinski, Murawski, Dudka, Smolarek, Zurawski
Prediction: 1(:congrats:WON)(1.57 - Ladbrokes)
Good Luck!!!
Last 5 matches for Austria:
Austria - Malta 5-1
Austria - Nigeria 1-1
Austria - Netherlands 3-4
Austria - Germany 0-3
Austria -Tunisia 0-0
Team news: Emanuel Pogatetz is expected to be available after suffering a calf injury in training, manager Hickersberger saying there was only a small chance he wouldn't be fit in time to face Croatia. But Hickersberger was forced to make a late change to his squad when goalkeeper Helge Payer suffered a blood circulation problem. Payer was replaced by Ramazan Ozcan, but the coach was coy about whether Alex Manninger or Jurgen Macho would be his first-choice goalkeeper. He was keeping his players on their toes during the week, saying in midweek that although he had a team in his head to play against Croatia, he wanted to use the remaining training sessions for the players to show their best.
Last 5 matches for Croatia:
Hungary - Croatia 1-1
Croatia - Moldavia 1-0
Scotland - Croatia 1-1
Croatia - Netherlands 0-3
England - Croatia 2-3
Team news: Slaven Bilic has named his strongest team to face Austria, and said he will be keeping to the same formation he used in Croatia's recent friendlies against Moldova and Hungary. That suggests the team will be: Stipe Pletikosa; Vedran Corluka, Robert Kovac, Josip Simunic, Danijel Pranjic; Darijo Srna, Niko Kovac, Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar; Mladen Petric, Ivica Olic. Bilic added that, "The mood is excellent, but the nerves are increasing – a positive nervousness. Be sure we'll give everything we can; we'll be a top team. We'll be better than Austria as we're capable of controlling the match. Like in Formula 1, a good start is so important in the first game. All the best to women, but football is the most beautiful thing in the world."
Prediction: 2(:congrats:WON)(2.00 - Betsense)
2. Germany - Poland
Last 5 matches for Germany:
Germany - Wales 0-0
Austria - Germany 0-3
Switzerland - Germany 0-4
Germany - Belarus 2-2
Germany - Serbia 2-1
Team news: Joachim Löw has intimated that he may play Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski on the left hand side of midfield in what will be the only real surprise in his line-up. Mario Gomez looks to have won the battle to partner Miroslav Klose up front with Marcell Jansen to play at left back with Bayern team mate Philipp Lahm on the other flank.
Probable starting: Lehmann, Lahm, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Jansen, Frings, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Gomez, Klose
Last 5 matches for Poland:
Poland - Estonia 2-0
Poland - USA 0-3
Poland - Macedonia 1-1
Poland - Albania 1-0
Poland - Denmark 1-1
Team news: Poland’s preparations have been hit after Dortmund midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski suffered a hamstring injury which means he will miss the finals. However, there is better news regarding defender Michal Zewlakow, who has recovered from a leg injury and will be ready for his country’s opening game in Group B. The other late injury news concerns third-choice keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who has suffered a back injury and is also out of the tournament.
Probable starting: Boruc, Zewlakow, Wawrzyniak, Bak, Wasilewski, Lewandowski, Lobodzinski, Murawski, Dudka, Smolarek, Zurawski
Prediction: 1(:congrats:WON)(1.57 - Ladbrokes)
Good Luck!!!