Cyprus Vs Switzerland Prediction 22/03/2013

Cyprus - Switzerland 6.00 - 1.65

The once feared Cyprus are mostly disappointing these days. They are 1-0-3 in this group and their win was at home to Iceland (1-0). You expect Switzerland to finish on top of this rather “easy” group and so far it has gone the favourites way, although they disappointed at home to Norway in October (1-1).
Y Sommer will replace their suspended goal keeper Benaglio for this game and Emeghara (Siena) and P Senderos are recalled to their squad. Could be that three Napoli players, Behrami, Inler and Dzemali will line up for this game. Likely away win.

Moldova Vs Montenegro Prediction 22/03/2013

Moldova - Montenegro 6.78 - 1.66

How cool will they be, the Montenegrins, tomorrow only days ahead of their big home game against England? Motivated question, is it not? Underestimating Moldavia could prove dangerous.
Both the Montenegin midfielders B Boskovic and Drincic will miss this game. Could prove to be a problem, but I guess Montenegro rely wholeheartedly on Jovetic and Vucinic for success. Why not! They are both in form. Basa and Savic, important Montenergin defenders.
Moldova are close to being a decent home side, but their best chance tomorrow is probably achieving the 0-0 draw. X2 game.

Poland Vs Ukraine Prediction 22/03/2013

Poland - Ukraine 2.20 - 3.77

Both the Euro 2012 hosts are rather desperate for points, especially Ukraine, winless after three group games. Their potential is strong as demonstrated away to England (1-1), but their home loss against Montenegro was a big let down. Poland also drew with England, they also drew away to the group leaders Montenegro. Ukraine have demonstrated fresh form winning friendlies against Norway and Bulgaria.
The Borussia Dortmund trio, including Lewandowski, will of course line up for Poland, Obraniak, the Torino defender Glik, Wasilewski and then I noticed the Nottingham midfielder Majwski in their squad.
Ukraine rely on home based players with one exception, Tymoshchuk from Bayern Munich. I was surprised to find so many players from Dnipro in their squad. Then again, to be in the squad is not the same thing as being in the starting line up. These teams can ill afford losing this game. Backing the draw.

Bosnia Vs Greece Prediction 22/03/2013

Bosnia - Greece 2.00 - 4.30

There is nothing better than the Bosnian offence, (Dzeko and Ibisevic) but at the same time it is common knowledge how difficult it is to defeat Greece. Both are 3-1-0 in this group and the draw took place in Greece between these teams (0-0).
The Roma midfielder Pjanic will most likely be missing for the home side, Salihovic for sure. No K Papadopoulos, defender, for Greece, but it looks like Torosidis will be fit to play. The outcome? I do not know, but I like the way Bosnia go about their football. Backing the home win.

Northern Ireland Vs Russia Prediction 22/03/2013

Northern Ireland - Russia 7.95 - 1.55

Russia are these days are coached by F Capello I look upon this 1.55 on the away win as quite acceptable odds. He is not the one to neglect any qualification game and I do not have to tell anyone how superior Russia are to N Ireland.
The home team has to manage without two suspended regulars, C Baird and K Lafferty. W Grigg, supposed to come in for Lafferty upfront, is injured and he has been ruled out. M Paterson, Burnley forward, could start instead. Very likely away win.

Slovenia Vs Iceland Prediction 22/03/2013

Slovenia - Iceland 1.83 - 5.30

Nowadays we always have to remember that Iceland is coached by L Lagerbäck, the former Swedish manager, and automatically we should know that Iceland are extremely well organised, clever defensively and hard to beat in general. Now Iceland also have some pretty exciting players like their striker Finnbogason and the Tottenham ace G Sigurdson in their squad. Unfortunately they have to manage without players like R Gislasson, K Arnasson and G Steinsson tomorrow and Iceland look a bit weakened.
Birsa is an injury doubt for Slovenia relying on players like T Matavz, Dedic and Novakovic. Not to forget their great goal keeper Handanovic. Not the first game on my betting list, but I would go for the outsider.

Hungary Vs Romania Prediction 22/03/2013

Hungary - Romania 2.69 - 2.85

Special game with the Hungarians forced to play this game in an empty stadium. That is why you will get this 2.69 on the home win, but I am not really tempted. Leading Hungarian scorer Z Gera remains sidelined, defender R Juhasz as well. Szalai, the Mainz striker, will lead their offensive line tomorrow supported by, among others, Dzudzsak.
Mutu is back for Romania. This I can understand. He has looked strong playing for Ajaccio, very motivated, and he could play upfront tomorrow alongside Stancu, Keseru or Rusescu. Plenty of Steaua footballers in the Romania squad, but also European professionals like Tamas, R Rat, Radu, Torje and Maxim.
Right or wrong, in my opinion Hungary are the kind of team that thrive on support from their fans and this game has swung in favour of Romania.

Czech Republic Vs Denmark Prediction 22/03/2013

Czech Republic - Denmark 2.12 - 4.00

It certainly looks like the home side is in better form. They have impressed in their last two friendly games winning, without conceding, against Slovakia and Turkey. P Cech is of course back between the sticks and their key player, T Rosicky, is playing football again. A major boost for the Czechs, no doubt about that.
Denmark played three friendlies in a short spell in January/February, two wins and then their home loss against Macedonia 0-3. Nothing to make too much fuzz about, they had just arrived home from their tour abroad.
What could be a problem for the Danes is their lack of fire power. No N Bendtner for the time being and they look short upfront. It looks like young A Cornelius from FC Copenhagen will be their front man tomorrow. Their midfielder W Kvist will be suspended.
The Czechs also look a bit wanting upfront. I do not know if the Watford striker Vydra is ready for a big game like this one. My choice here will be the home win, but I would not fall off my chair should the match end in a 0-0 draw.

Scotland Vs Wales Prediction 22/03/2013

Scotland - Wales 1.90 - 5.00

Prestige, tons of prestige when these two British sides come together, but their situation in group A is quite hopeless. Wales, down 0-1 at half time, defeated Scotland in their first meeting, but since then Scotland has changed their manager and the fiery Gordon Strachan is now their boss. He has to manage without players like J Forrest, J Morrison, McCormack and D Fox. No problems there, in my opinion.
Wales will travel without the Liverpool midfielder J Allen and the Leeds striker S Morison. Allen would be a starter if fit, but G Bale, A Ramsey, C Bellamy, J Ledley and A Williams will all start for Wales.
For once Gareth Bale looked quite human playing for Tottenham at the weekend. On his way down in form, maybe, after a couple of sensational weeks? Assessing the odds I would hope for the opposite, G Bale still in form, and then this 5.00 could be worth backing.

Croatia Vs Serbia Prediction 22/03/2013

Croatia - Serbia 1.73 - 6.19

I do not approve of the odds on the home win, but what can you expect with Croatia six points ahead of Serbia in this group. Serbia have defeated Chile and Cyprus 3-1 in their most recent friendlies and they seem to be in good shape. Their defensive line looks close to impeccable, but they lack established offensive players. Very promising ones, yes, but will they take the final step?
Ivanovic, the Chelsea defender, was missing when Serbia lost to FYROM Macedonia 0-1, a FYROM side without their ace G Pandev. Anyway, Ivanovic will be back for this game, but his colleague Tomovic will sit out a suspension. Ljajic, Vidic, Stankovic and Matic refuse to play for their country or for their coach Mihajlovic, I cannot say.
Croatia have world class offensive players in their squad, L Modric, Mandzukic, Eduardo, Olic, Perisic, Jelavic and so on and they are likely to make the difference in this game. Sorry, the Wolfsburg midfielder Perisic will miss tomorrow’s game. Likely home win.

Macedonia Vs Belgium Prediction 22/03/2013

Macedonia - Belgium 5.65 - 1.73

Everybody is talking about Belgium these days, about their many young exciting players and about their rosy future. Partly I agree, but first I want to see the Belgians defeating some of the leading footballing nations and then I will be as pro Belgian as their hardcore fans.
Macedonia should be defeated, yes, but one must not forget that Macedonia have played some convincing games lately winning against Slovenia, Serbia and Denmark in their latest fixtures.
Kompany will not play in the Belgian defence and we will find Vermaelen and Van Buyten in their central defence tomorrow. The outstanding duo Hazard and Benteke will lead the Belgian offensive line.
Pandev, Ibraimi, Jahovic Trichowsky, Novesky, leading Macedonian footballers. Away win, I guess, but the odds will not do for this writer.