Euro 2012 Qualifying Preview
The second round of the Euro 2012 qualifiers is about to get under way. Who has the edge in these crucial encounters?
Most eyes will be on England and more specifically, on Wayne Rooney after lurid details about his private life were splashed all over the English media over the weekend.
The striker showed good form against Bulgaria on Friday, playing just behind Jermain Defoe and proving to be pivotal in his side's 4-0 thrashing of the Eastern Europeans. How the media frenzy impacts his game against the Swiss remains to be seen.
Laurent Blanc's France will also be under the scanner after their appalling showing against Belarus. Portugal, another side under fire, will face Norway after an astonishing 4-4 draw against minnows Cyprus on Friday.
Italy will once again be looking to Antonio Cassano to inspire them against Faroe Island. Germany, The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland will all be looking to build on their opening qualifier wins.
Group A
Austria vs Kazakhstan
Austria play their opening qualifier against Kazakhstan and they will be looking to put down a marker in the group.
Germany-based Stefan Maierhofer and David Alaba will be available, along with Christoph Leitgeb and Veli Kavlak, after the quartet missed last month's 1-0 friendly defeat to Switzerland.
Germany vs Azerbaijan (Full Preview)
World Cup captain Philipp Lahm will continue to deputise for Ballack when Germany play their second European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday night.
Left-back Marcell Jansen is the only casualty from the team that beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels in Friday's qualifying opener.
Germany will be expected to steamroll Azerbaijan, as they did when the sides last met a year ago.
Turkey vs Belgium
Guus Hiddink's Turkey are already looking like being Germany's main rivals in the group following Friday night's 3-0 win over Kazakhstan.
Tomorrow sees them take on Belgium looking to maintain Hiddink's 100% record since taking charge.
Gokham Gonul (shoulder) and Semih Senturk (thigh) both missed Friday's game and remain doubtful.
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet replaces Glenn Verbauwhede in the Belgium squad having missed the Germany defeat while on under-21 duty.
Group A First Qualifying Round Results
Group B
Republic of Ireland vs Andorra (Full Preview)
Andorra's visit to Dublin for Ireland's first competitive game at the Aviva Stadium represents a glorious opportunity for Keane to take a significant step towards reaching 50 goals for his country.
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has resisted the temptation to make changes tomorrow, while defender Darren O'Dea has returned to Ipswich after being ruled out with a knee injury.
Jesus Alvarez's first competitive game in charge of Andorra on Friday ended in a 2-0 defeat against Russia, whose own manager was making his competitive debut in the dugout.
Russia vs Slovakia
Dick Advocaat got his new side's Group B campaign off to a winning start which he will be looking to maintain at home to Slovakia tomorrow.
Russia welcome Chelsea's Yuri Zhirkov back from suspension for the match in Moscow.
Slovakia, who needed an injury-time winner to beat FYR Macedonia on Friday, will be without Stanislav Sestak and Tomas Oravec through injury, while Jakub Sylvestr has headed off for duty with the under-21s.
Macedonia vs Armenia
Macedonia host Armenia hoping striker Aco Stojkov recovers from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Slovakia defeat.
Armenia are set to draft in Hovhannes Hambardzumyan for Artak Edigaryan at left-back after the FC Pyunik defender picked up an injury in Friday's 1-0 loss to Ireland.
Group B First Qualifying Round Results
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia
Group C
Italy vs Faroe Islands (Full Preview)
Cesare Prandelli will be expected to maintain his 100% start to competitive action when Italy host minnows Faroe Islands in their second Euro 2012 Group C clash in Florence.
The Azzurri had to come from behind to win 2-1 in Estonia, which was Prandelli's first victory since replacing coach Marcello Lippi after the World Cup when the holders were knocked out of the group stages, having drawn with New Zealand.
Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi is a concern, because of an ankle injury, while goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu could get the nod ahead of Bologna's Emiliano Viviano.
Faroe Islands coach Brian Kerr, the former Republic of Ireland manager, will have uncapped defender Pol Johannus Justinussen available following suspension.
Tranmere's former Manchester City goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, Ross County defender Atli Gregersen and Newcastle forward Joan Simun Edmundsson are also in the squad.
Serbia vs Slovenia
Serbia beat Faroe Islands 3-0 on Friday, and will be confident of another victory when they entertain Slovenia in Belgrade - the first meeting of the teams as independent nations.
Goals from Danko Lazovic, Dejan Stankovic and Nikola Zigic were enough for them to collect maximum points .
However, with Italy looming on the horizon, Serbia cannot afford to drop any points at home if they intend to make the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Slovenia lost their opening game of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign on Friday as Northern Ireland defeated them 1-0. A Corry Evans goal in the second-half was enough for the Green and White Army to collect maximum points, meaning that Matjaz Kek's side will have it all to do in Serbia in order to save their qualification chances.
Group C First Qualifying Round Results
Group D
Albania vs Luxembourg
This fixture will be a clash between two very poor travellers, and Albania will be glad that they are playing at home. Luxembourg have lost their last four matches away, while Albania have lost six of their last seven away matches themselves.
With such poor form, as well as the fact that neither side has faced each other in a competitive fixture before, anything could happen in this fixture.
Belarus vs Romania
Belarus host Romania in Minsk, while the group's two expected whipping boys clash in Tirana where Albania host Luxembourg.
Sergei Kislyak's late goal secured a famous 1-0 win in Paris, but Belarus coach Bernd Stange is not getting carried away, believing his side will still need maximum concentration to get a good result in this fixture.
Romania surprisingly could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Albania but captain Cristian Chivu returns from suspension.
Coach Razvan Lucescu maintained the squad must stay positive rather than become despondant about their qualification chances.
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs France (Full Review)
Bosnia-Herzegovina are out to heap more misery on France in Tuesday night's Group D Euro 2012 qualifier in Sarajevo.
Les Bleus suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Belarus at the Stade de France on Friday, as Laurent Blanc's squad failed to lift the gloom following their farcical World Cup campaign. Loic Remy, Guillaume Hoarau and Everton striker Louis Saha have all been ruled out, but Karim Benzema is fit following an ankle injury.
Bosnia-Herzegovina opened their Euro 2012 campaign with a 3-0 win over Luxembourg.Coach Safet Susic almost took his side to the World Cup, losing out to Portugal in a play-off, and intends to pull off a shock against his heralded opponents.
Group D First Qualifying Round Results
Luxembourg 0-3 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group E
Hungary vs Moldova
Moldova face a Hungary side that is eager to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat by Sweden.
Despite the result, coach Sandor Egervari saw enough to suggest his team are on the right track, and will hope to get a good result from this fixture.
However, with both the Netherlands and Sweden looking in fine fettle, this may be a clash of the also-rans in this group.
Netherlands vs Finland (Full Preview)
Holland coach Bert van Marwijk wants to see an improved display when European Championship qualifying resumes against Finland.
The Dutch thumped San Marino 5-0 to launch their Group E campaign in rampant fashion but van Marwijk was far from satisfied, even though substitute Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrated his first Dutch appearance for two years by firing his 34th international goal.
Finland, hoping to beat Holland in a competitive fixture for the first time, are missing their suspended captain side Sami Hyypia.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Hyypia was sent off in the 37th minute of the 2-0 defeat by Moldova for pulling down Viorel Frunza.
Sweden vs San Marino
Sweden have an impressive record under coach Erik Hamren and are likely to secure their seventh successive victory against Group E whipping boys San Marino.
The Swedes will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing San Marino, who have leaked 19 goals in their last three games.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ended his self-imposed international exile so is back in action but keeper Andreas Isaksson is out with a groin injury so Daniel Orlund starts.
Midfielder Anders Svensson has a thigh injury and is rated doubtful but Johan Elmander is expected to play.
Group E First Qualifying Round Results
Group F
Georgia vs Israel
Georgia host Israel in their first Euro 2012 qualifier on home soil in what will also be their first competitive match against Israel.
Temuri Ketsbaia, the Georgia coach, was pleased with last weekend's 1-1 draw in Greece, and will hope that his side can do better than last week and come away with a win in this tightly-matched group.
Malta vs Latvia
The opening round of fixtures pointed to a long qualifying campaign for Malta and Latvia with both sides suffering three-goal defeats to Israel and Croatia respectively.
Both sides are traditionally whipping boys for the favourites, and this fixture in Ta' Qali will be their first competitive fixture.
Malta coach John Buttigieg saw pleasing aspects in the 3-1 defeat by Israel and refuses to throw in the towel against Latvia, and will look to try to get a good result against the Latvians to nab a shock qualifying spot in this group.
Croatia vs Greece (Full Preview)
Luka Modric could start Croatia's European Championship qualifier against Greece. The Tottenham playmaker missed the 3-0 victory over Latvia with a thigh problem but is in line to return for the second round of matches in Group F.
Coach Slaven Bilic admits Croatia's self-belief dipped after they failed to qualify for the World Cup but believes they are now on the right track, which bodes well for their chances against the Greeks.
On the other hand, new Greece coach Fernando Santos experienced a frustrating competitive debut as after his team were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Georgia in the opener.
Group F First Qualifying Round Results
Group G
Bulgaria vs Montenegro
Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar is looking to consolidate his side's second place in the group when they face Bulgaria, with Kranjcar admitting he would be satisfied with a draw at Sofia.
On the other hand, victory is paramount for Bulgaria after their 4-0 spanking by England, and they will need all the points they can get to progress to the next round of the competition.
Switzerland vs England (Full Preview)
England coach Fabio Capello is backing striker Wayne Rooney to produce another good performance against Switzerland on Tuesday.
The Manchester United forward currently has to contend with the off-field distraction of allegations about his private life but Capello is confident the player will shrug those off to help his country extend their 100% record in Euro 2012 qualifying.
Capello also confirmed Rooney will play in the same position behind the central striker where he was so effective against Bulgaria on Friday.
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld does not believe Rooney will be affected come kick-off, and will feel quietly confident that his side's traditional defensive obduracy could prove to be England's undoing.
Group G First Qualifying Round Results
Group H
Norway vs Portugal (Full Preview)
Portugal's stand-in captain Ricardo Carvalho has called on his side to show their surprise 4-4 draw with Cyprus on Friday was just a blip when they take on Norway in Oslo on Tuesday night.
The build-up to the opening Euro 2012 qualifier had been overshadowed by the six-month suspension handed out to coach Carlos Queiroz for disrupting an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup.
Portugal were also without regular skipper Cristiano Ronaldo because of injury but it was at the back where they were really exposed, with Cyprus hitting back from 3-2 and 4-3 down to grab a point.
Portugal had only conceded four goals in their previous 19 games, and Carvalho believes that the last game's poor display was an aberration rather than the norm for his side.
Norway are the early pacesetters in Group H after a 2-1 victory over Iceland on Friday but manager Egil Olsen knows his team must up their game if they are to beat Portugal for the first time in nine attempts.
Norway could be boosted by the return of John Carew, who missed the Iceland win with a knee injury, but Fabio Coentrao (thigh) will miss out for Portugal.
Denmark vs Iceland
Denmark enter the fray as they take on Iceland in Copenhagen.
Past meetings between the sides suggest a home victory, with Denmark having won 14 of their 17 matches, including both games in qualifying for the last European Championships.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen must decide who will replace Nicklas Bendtner up front, with the striker sidelined by a groin problem, while Christian Poulsen will captain the side following the retirement of Jon Dahl Tomasson.
For Iceland, Gretar Steinsson is a doubt due to a knee injury.
Group H First Qualifying Round Results
Group I
Scotland vs Liechtenstein (Full Preview)
Scotland boss Craig Levein has warned his side that their finishing in front of goal must improve as they look to record the first win of their Euro 2012 Group I qualifying campaign against Liechtenstein at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
Scotland created a slew of chances in their opening group game against Lithuania in Kaunas on Friday, but failed to convert any of them as they were held to a disappointing goalless draw.
That display followed on the back of last month's comprehensive 3-0 friendly defeat in Sweden, and Levein knows his side cannot afford to take the visitors lightly tomorrow night.
Scotland will be without Kirk Broadfoot (ankle) and will wait on the fitness of Steven Whittaker, Scott Brown, Lee Wallace and Kevin McNaughton.
His opposite number Hans-Peter Zaugg will have Lucas Eberle and Yves Oehri available, despite the pair being forced off with injuries during Friday's 4-0 defeat to reigning champions Spain.
Czech Republic vs Lithuania
The Czech Republic begin their campaign by hosting Lithuania.
Coach Michal Bilek is expected to hand a first cap to 22-year-old Marek Suchy in defence after failing to coax Tomas Ujfalusi out of retirement with Tomas Sivok out injured.
Czech hopes of making a winning start to their campaign will be high as they have won all four of the previous meetings between the two sides, scoring 13 goals and conceding just three.
Coach Raimondas Zutautas is set to have Hearts midfielder Marius Zaliukas and striker Andrius Velicka available but Deividas Cesnauskis misses out again.
Group I First Qualifying Round Results
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