Jovetić absence overshadows Welsh visit

Zlatko Kranjčar admitted that Stevan Jovetić's absence had undermined Montenegro's Group G plans, but maintained his side still had "enough quality to get a positive result against Wales".Montenegro and Wales met for the first time in a friendly in Podgorica last year but will be doing it for real in their opening UEFA EURO 2012 Group G qualifier, with a place in the finals in Poland and Ukraine the dream.

Team news
• Montenegro will be without ACF Fiorentina playmaker Stevan Jovetić, who has been ruled out for between six and eight months with a serious knee injury, making life difficult for coach Zlatko Kranjčar. "Jovetić was one of the most important players in my plans," he said. "It is a different team with and without him, but we have enough quality to get a positive result against Wales. And a positive result is victory; nothing else."
• Montenegro squad
Goalkeepers: Mladen Božović (Videoton FC), Srdjan Blažić (R. Standard de Liège), Ivan Janjušević (FK Mogren Budva)

Defenders: Marko Baša (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Savo Pavićević (FC Kavala), Miodrag Džudović (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Milan Jovanović (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Stefan Savić (FK Partizan), Luka Pejović (FK Mogren Budva), Draško Božović (FK Mogren Budva), Žarko Tomašević (CD Nacional), Radoslav Batak (FK Mogren Budva)

Midfielders: Elsad Zverotić (FC Luzern), Ivan Fatić (Genoa CFC), Milorad Peković (SpVgg Greuther Fürth), Mitar Novaković (FC Amkar Perm), Vladimir Božović (FC Rapid Bucureşti), Simon Vukčević (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Nikola Drinčić (FC Spartak Moskva), Branko Bošković (DC United), Mladen Kašćelan (Jagiellonia Białystok)

Forwards: Mirko Vučinić (AS Roma), Radomir Djalović (HNK Rijeka), Fatos Bećiraj (FK Budućnost Podgorica), Andrija Delibašić (Rayo Vallecano de Madrid), Dejan Damjanović (FC Seoul)
• Central defenders James Collins and Danny Gabbidon have both been named in the Wales squad even though both were ruled out of their club's start to the season through injury. Collins has been struggling with a calf injury while Gabbidon is attempting another comeback after a succession of groin problems.
• Manager John Toshack's squad of also includes Craig Bellamy, who has dropped out of the Premier League after agreeing a season-long loan with Cardiff City FC from Manchester City FC, and Steve Morison, who made his debut in the 5-1 win over Luxembourg in last week's friendly international. Toshack said: "Although he [Morison] didn't score [against Luxembourg] his presence was important while the others flitted around him and he can be pleased with his debut."
• Wales squad

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion FC), Jason Brown (Blackburn Rovers FC)

Defenders: Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest FC), Neal Eardley (Blackpool FC), Darcy Blake (Cardiff City FC), Craig Morgan (Preston North End FC), Ashley Williams (Swansea City FC), James Collins (Aston Villa FC), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham United FC), Sam Ricketts (Hull City AFC), Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur FC)

Midfielders: Andrew Crofts (Norwich City FC), David Cotterill (Swansea City FC), Andy Dorman (Crystal Palace FC), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Andy King (Leicester City FC), Brian Stock (Doncaster Rovers FC), Joe Ledley (Celtic FC) David Vaughan (Blackpool FC)

Forwards: Craig Bellamy (Manchester City FC), Simon Church (Reading FC), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest FC), Ched Evans (Sheffield United FC), Steve Morison (Millwall FC)
Match background
• Montenegro's record in one game against Wales reads W1 D0 L0 (W1 D0 L0 at home).
• The nations' only previous meeting produced a 2-1 victory for Montenegro on 12 August 2009, when a Stevan Jovetić penalty and a Radomir Djalović strike on the stroke of half-time put the hosts ahead before Sam Vokes pulled one back after the break.
• This game will be Montenegro's first UEFA European Championship qualifier as an independent nation. The Football Federation of Montenegro (FSCG) was not granted full UEFA membership until January 2007.
• Montenegro's home record in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying was W1 D3 L1, with that lone defeat a 2-0 reverse against then reigning world champions Italy. Wales's away record in the same tournament was W2 D0 L3

San Marino first up for the Netherlands

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group E minnows San Marino are the Netherlands' first competitive opponents since the Oranje lost the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. Beaten finalists at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands will look to vent some of their frustration in their Group E opener against section minnows San Marino.

Netherlands team news
• Following Giovanni van Bronckhorst's retirement, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is on the lookout for a new team captain, though he insisted that the choice of team leader for the San Marino game might be a "temporary captain". Without the injured Arjen Robben, the coach has left out Ryan Babel, Edson Braafheid, Sander Boschker, André Ooijer and Stijn Schaars from the side he took to the FIFA World Cup, with Vurnon Anita, Theo Janssen, Jeremain Lens, Hedwiges Maduro, Erik Pieters, Piet Velthuizen and Ron Vlaar given the chance to shine in their place.

• Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AFC Ajax), Piet Velthuizen (Hércules CF), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)
Defenders: Vurnon Anita (AFC Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton FC), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (AFC Ajax)
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (FC Bayern München), Theo Janssen (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia CF), Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid CF), Demy de Zeeuw (AFC Ajax)
Forwards: Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool FC), Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven) en Robin van Persie (Arsenal FC)
Match background
• San Marino's record in four games against the Netherlands reads W0 D0 L4 (W0 D0 L2 at home, though one of those matches was played in Bologna, Italy).
• In their four fixtures against the Oranje, San Marino have yet to score a goal, with the aggregate scoreline a somewhat punishing 23-0 in the Netherlands' favour.
• All four of their meetings have come in World Cup qualifiers, the sides having been pooled together in the run-up to the 1994 and 1998 finals.
• Being the home team has yet to spare San Marino against the Netherlands as their home losses (7-0 and 6-0) have been heavier than their away defeats (6-0 and 4-0).
• The 7-0 outcome in Bologna on 22 September 1993 remains the Netherlands' biggest win against San Marino. John Bosman scored a hat-trick in that game.
• Bosman also registered one of the goals when the nations met in Serravalle on 30 April 1997, with his four strikes overall making him the Oranje's most prolific scorer against San Marino, ahead of Frank de Boer with three.
• The 1998 tournament qualifiers marked an improvement of sorts for San Marino, who managed to keep the half-time deficit down to 1-0 on both occasions

Estonia out to end Italy streak

Estonia will host Group C rivals Italy keen to record a first positive result against the Azzurri − who have called up four uncapped players − having lost all four previous meetings

With over 15 years having passed since the sides' last meeting, Estonia can only hope that they are maturing with age as they prepare to come up against Italy for a fifth time in their opening UEFA EURO 2012 Group C qualifier.

Italy team news
Cesare Prandelli has called up four uncapped players, all defenders, selecting Luca Antonelli, Cesare Bovo, Lorenzo De Silvestri and Daniele Gastaldello. The Azzurri coach is, however, without Manchester City FC striker Mario Balotelli (knee), though Andrea Pirlo – who missed the 1-0 friendly loss to Ivory Coast on 10 August – is back in the fold after being passed fully fit following his pre-FIFA World Cup injury.
• Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Antonio Mirante (Parma FC), Salvatore Sirigu (US Città di Palermo), Emiliano Viviano (Bologna FC)
Defenders: Luca Antonelli (Parma FC), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Cesare Bovo (US Città di Palermo), Mattia Cassani (US Città di Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (ACF Fiorentina), Daniele Gastaldello (UC Sampdoria), Cristian Molinaro (VfB Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Andrea Lazzari (Cagliari Calcio), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (ACF Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (UC Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
Forwards: Antonio Cassano (UC Sampdoria), Alberto Gilardino (ACF Fiorentina), Giampaolo Pazzini (UC Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Juventus), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal CF)
Match background
• Estonia's record in four games against Italy reads W0 D0 L4 (W0 D0 L2 at home).
• The nations first met in a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Trieste on 14 April 1993, when Roberto Baggio and Giuseppe Signori both registered in a 2-0 win for Italy. Baggio scored twice more in the return fixture in Tallinn – the first a penalty – either side of a Roberto Mancini strike as the visitors prevailed 3-0.
• As fate would have it, the two teams were pooled together again in EURO '96 qualifying. This time Christian Panucci and Pierluigi Casiraghi scored in a 2-0 win for Italy in Tallinn, before two efforts from Gianfranco Zola and one apiece for Demetrio Albertini and Fabrizio Ravanelli made it 4-1 in the second encounter.
• Martin Reim's strike in that game remains the only goal Estonia have managed in 360 minutes of football against Italy, during which they have conceded 11 times.
• Estonia's home record in 2010 World Cup qualifying was W2 D1 L2. Italy's away record in the same campaign read W3 D2 L0.

Israel eager for winning start

Having handed chances to some "new, hungry players", Israel's French coach Jean Fernandez is eager to make a flying start in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying at home against Malta. Israel will kick off their bid for a place at UEFA EURO 2012 with a home outing against Malta, and while they have never lost to their Group F rivals they could only draw against them on the road to UEFA EURO 2004.

Team news
• Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC's Eliran Atar and Yoval Avidor received their first senior Israel call-ups after scoring in their side's 4-3 UEFA Europa League play-off win over national-team boss Luis Fernandez's old club, Paris Saint-Germain FC, while Hapoel Akko FC 30-year-old goalkeeper Dudu Goresh also has a first chance to impress. Fernandez said: "We have a very good, deep squad and we want to hand chances to new, hungry players who want to prove themselves."
• Israel squad
Goalkeepers: Dudu Aouate (RCD Mallorca), Ohad Levita (RKC Waalwijk), Dudu Goresh (Hapoel Akko FC)
Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (West Ham United FC), Dekel Keinan (Blackpool FC), Yoav Ziv (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Dedi Ben Dayan (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Dani Bondar (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC)
Midfielders: Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea FC), Tamir Cohen (Bolton Wanderers FC), Almog Cohen (1. FC Nürnburg), Biram Kayal (Celtic FC), Avihai Yadin (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Eran Zahavi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Gil Vermouth (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Eyal Golasa (Maccabi Haifa FC), Lior Rafaelov (Maccabi Haifa FC), Maor Melikson (Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC)
Forwards: Shlomi Arbeitman (KAA Gent), Etey Schechter (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Ben Sahar (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Yuval Avidor (Maccabi Tel-Aviv) FC, Eliran Atar (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC)
• Malta coach John Buttigieg is eager to make a bright start in Group F, as his side prepare for their trip to Israel, saying: "These are two big matches for us. I reckon Israel and Latvia are at about the same level. Our lack of match practice worries me since our league has not kicked off yet."
• Malta squad
Goalkeepers: Anthony Curmi (Tarxien Rainbows FC), Andrew Hogg (Valletta FC), Mario Muscat (Hibernians FC)
Defenders: Andrei Agius (AS Melfi), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta FC), Clayton Failla (Sliema Wanderers FC), Massimo Grima (Hamrun Spartans FC), Edward Herrera (Hibernians FC), Carlo Mamo (Marsaxlokk FC), Emmanuel Muscat (Wellington Phoenix FC), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara FC)
Midfielders: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara FC), Roderick Briffa (Valletta FC), Trevor Cilia (Birkirkara FC), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara FC), Ryan Fenech (Hamrun Spartans FC), Jamie Pace (Valletta FC), Kevin Sammut (Valletta FC), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk FC)
Forwards: Daniel Bogdanovic (Sheffield United FC), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians FC), Michael Mifsud (no club), Ivan Woods (Sliema Wanderers FC)
Match background
• Israel's record in six games against Malta reads W4 D2 L0 (W2 D2 L0 at home).
• The teams last met in Antalya on 10 September 2003, when the hosts needed a late Pini Balili equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw and deny Malta a famous victory. Michael Mifsud and David Carabott had earlier fired the visitors into the lead following Haim Revivo's first-half opener.
• That proved to be Malta's sole point in their bid for a place at the UEFA EURO 2004 finals in Portugal. Israel, who also prevailed 2-0 in Ta' Qali on 12 October 2002 thanks to efforts from Balili and Revivo, could only finish third in qualifying Group 1.
• Malta's other draw against Israel came on opposition soil as well, the two sides recording a 1-1 stalemate in Haifa on 2 December 1987• That encounter was sandwiched between a pair of home victories for Israel, Malta losing the very first meeting between the nations 2-1 in Jerusalem on 6 September 1984 and then succumbing 2-0 in Beersheba on 18 October 1988.source http://www.uefa.com/

Finland striving to change course of history

The Netherlands have been the dominant force in meetings with Group E rivals Finland, so much so that the Nordic nation have not defeated the Oranje in six decades.

Finland will travel to the Netherlands for their UEFA EURO 2012 Group E qualifier looking for a first victory against the Oranje in 60 years and their sole success against the hosts in a competitive fixture.

Match background
• The Netherlands' record in 12 matches against Finland reads W9 D2 L1 (W4 D1 L0 at home).
• The sides have met three times before in Rotterdam, with the Netherlands winning the two most recent contests and drawing the other.
• They last met in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, when the Netherlands triumphed 3-1 in Amsterdam on 13 October 2004 and 4-0 in Helsinki on 8 June the following year. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dirk Kuyt, Phillip Cocu and Robin van Persie grabbed the goals in the Finnish capital.
• Nine of their 12 meetings have been competitive fixtures, with the two sides also drawn together in qualifying for the 1976 and 1992 UEFA European Championships and the 1990 World Cup.
• Their most recent encounter in UEFA European Championship qualifying came in Helsinki on 5 June 1991 and ended in a 1-1 draw as Erik Holmgren cancelled out Frank de Boer's opener for the visitors.
• Prior to that outing, the Netherlands won the home fixture 2-0 at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium thanks to efforts from Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit.
• Johan Cruyff struck twice and Johan Neeskens once during a 3-1 victory for the Oranje in their 1976 UEFA European Championship qualifier in Helsinki on 25 September 1974. Willy van der Kuijlen then hit a hat-trick in the return fixture in Nijmegen as the hosts ran out 4-1 winners. Finland had opened the scoring in both matches.
• Finland's only win against the Netherlands was a 4-1 victory in a friendly in Helsinki on 11 June 1950.
• The first match between the sides was the bronze medal game at the 1912 Olympics; Jan Vos plundered five goals in a 9-0 success for the Netherlands in Solna on 4 July.

Germany prepare to welcome former coach Vogts

Germany entertain Berti Vogt's Azerbaijan in qualification Group A almost a year to the day since Joachim Löw's team defeated their opponents 4-0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Germany and Azerbaijan met on the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and they will lock horns again in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A, with the latter keen to record a first point against their rivals.

Match background
• Germany's record in two games against Azerbaijan reads W2 D0 L0 (W1 D0 L0 at home).
• Joachim Löw's charges secured a 2-0 success in the teams' first encounter in Baku on 12 August last year, when Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose made the difference either side of the interval.
• Klose then plundered two more efforts in the return match in Hanover on 9 September the same year, sandwiching his strikes between a Michael Ballack penalty and a Lukas Podolski goal in a 4-0 triumph for Germany.Source http://www.uefa.com/

EURO qualifying to start in earnest

Having taken a back seat as Estonia and the Faroe Islands kicked off UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying on Wednesday, the rest of the 49 countries in the race to reach Poland and Ukraine enter the fray next month.

Estonia triumphed 2-1 in Tallinn against their Group C rivals thanks to added-time goals from Kaimar Saag and Raio Piiroja in the first game on the road to the final tournament. Qualifying starts in earnest, however, on Friday 3 September – this follows a decision by FIFA in September 2009 to change the days of double dates in the international match calendar from Friday or Saturday and Wednesday to Friday or Saturday and Tuesday. Holders and FIFA World Cup winners Spain get their Group I campaign under way with a trip to Liechtenstein while the Netherlands, beaten finalists in South Africa, go to Serravalle to take on San Marino.
Germany, who lost to Spain in the World Cup semi-finals having succumbed to the same opponents in the UEFA EURO 2008 showpiece, launch their quest for a fourth European title by visiting Brussels to play Belgium. Laurent Blanc and Cesare Prandelli undertake their first competitive engagements as the new coaches of France and Italy with games against Belarus and Estonia respectively. New Greece coach Fernando Santos commences his attempt to emulate Otto Rehhagel's remarkable feat at UEFA EURO 2004 with a home fixture against Georgia in Group F.
Elsewhere that night, England and Portugal will look to kick-start their revivals after unexpectedly early World Cup exits when they entertain Bulgaria and Cyprus respectively. Indeed, of the 13 European teams who reached the World Cup, all bar Switzerland and Denmark see action on 3 September, those two countries kicking off their schedules with home matches on Tuesday 7 September.

RELATED INFORMATION

AustriaNext match: Austria v Kazakhstan 07/09/2010 20:30  
CyprusNext match: Portugal v Cyprus 03/09/2010
 EstoniaNext match: Estonia v Faroe Islands 11/08/2010 20:00
RussiaNext match: Andorra v Russia 03/09/2010 18:30
FranceNext match: France v Belarus 03/09/2010 21:00
GermanyNext match: Belgium v Germany 03/09/2010 20:15
GreeceNext match: Greece v Georgia 03/09/2010 20:45
Northern IrelandNext match: Slovenia v Northern Ireland 03/09/2010 20:45
SpainNext match: Liechtenstein v Spain 03/09/2010 20:45
NetherlandsNext match: San Marino v Netherlands 03/09/2010 20:45
San MarinoNext match: San Marino v Netherlands 03/09/2010 20:45
PolandFaroe IslandsNext match: Estonia v Faroe Islands 11/08/2010 20:00
TurkeyNext match: Kazakhstan v Turkey 03/09/2010 22:00
DenmarkNext match: Denmark v Iceland 07/09/2010 20:15
ArmeniaNext match: Armenia v Republic of Ireland 03/09/2010 20:00
SlovakiaNext match: Slovakia v FYR Macedonia 03/09/2010 20:30
ScotlandNext match: Lithuania v Scotland 03/09/2010 21:15

Source http://www.uefa.com/

International friendly results, 11 August 2010

Kazakhstan 3-1 Oman
Russia 1-0 Bulgaria
Lithuania 0-2 Belarus
Armenia 1-3 Iran
Azerbaijan 1-1 Kuwait
Finland 1-0 Belgium
Moldova 0-0 Georgia
Cyprus 1-0 Andorra
Turkey 2-0 Romania
Malta 1-1 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Sweden 3-0 Scotland
Czech Republic 4-1 Latvia
Albania 1-0 Uzbekistan
Austria 0-1 Switzerland
Denmark 2-2 Germany
Montenegro 2-0 Northern Ireland
Serbia 0-1 Greece
Slovakia 1-1 Croatia
Slovenia 2-0 Australia
Wales 5-1 Luxembourg
England 2-1 Hungary
Norway 2-1 France
Iceland 1-1 Liechtenstein
Source http://www.uefa.com/

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Argentina

A solitary goal from Ángel di María was enough to condemn the Republic of Ireland to a 1-0 defeat by Argentina in their opening game at the Dublin Arena.

The new 50,000-capacity stadium, built in place of Lansdowne Road, was staging international football for the first time ahead of Ireland's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers as well as the UEFA Europa League final in May. It was not to be a happy first outing for Ireland, though, Real Madrid CF summer signing Di María finding the net on 21 minutes.
Argentina, FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists in South Africa this summer, had begun in positive fashion in the Irish capital, with Lionel Messi first to threaten Shay Given's goal. The Manchester City FC goalkeeper was beaten midway through the opening period, Di María latching onto Romero's punt before executing a delightful lob over Given.

Argentina remained on top for much of the game, leaving Ireland captain Robbie Keane frustrated on his 100th international appearance. The Tottenham Hotspur FC forward did link up well with Damien Duff but the visitors stood firm. Ireland begin their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign in Armenia on 3 September before returning to Dublin to face Andorra four days later. Russia, Slovakia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are also in Group B.
Source http://www.uefa.com/

Mexico 1-1 Spain

World and European champions Spain needed a last-minute David Silva goal to salvage a draw in Mexico City.Captain Iker Casillas received rapturous applause from the local fans as he led La Roja on to the field holding the FIFA World Cup but any notions of a victory parade were swiftly stamped out at the Azteca Stadium. Manchester United FC forward Javier Hernández broke the deadlock on 12 minutes, firing in low at the near post and, aside from a Santi Cazorla shot that hit the crossbar midway through the first half, Mexico looked the more likely scorers. Xavi Hernández has seen it all before, however, and with time ebbing away he pounced on a defensive lapse before feeding Silva who lifted the ball into the far corner.

"It was a hard game as they were playing very well on the counterattack but in the end we got the draw we deserved," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, who started with just three of the XI that beat the Netherlands in Johannesburg a month ago. "I have to give ten out of ten to every player here; they all played well and I'm very happy for that." Spain begin their UEFA European Championship defence away to Liechtenstein on 3 September.
Source http://www.uefa.com/