Euro 2008 Qualifiers: Scotland Vs. Italy (Preview)

I can easily tell you that this is the match most people will be watching, even they are not Italy or Scotland fans. This fixture just has all the excitement a football fan would love. This is the most important match is Scotland’s history of playing the game, thats not only my opinion, it the media around the world. and It’s true.

Scotland has the opportunity today not only to qualify to Euro 2008, but to disqualify Italy. Can you imagine this. It will always be recorded in history that Scotland disqualified Italy. Italy is praying now that history does not repeat itself, back when Italy won the World Cup in 1982, Italy didn’t just disqualify from the Euro 1984, they did not even win any matches for around 18 months since their win in the world cup in Spain.

Analysis & Prediction & Video’s after the Jump.

One more thing that might give even more hope for the Scots, Italy never won a match in Scotland!!, and Scotland has a nice record of upsetting big teams. But on the other hand Italy’s record against Scotland is their side, and the last match which they won 2-0 just last March in this competition.

Of-course no body expect Italy to be pushovers but they will be facing some difficulties today for sure. The only injuries in Italy are the defender Matterazi who picked a thigh injury back in august and Massimo Oddo who got injured while training. Scotland does not have any reported injuries.

Here is how this will work, Scotland will qualify if they win Italy, obviously, and if they got a draw they still have hope, if France lose to Ukraine and/or Italy loses against Faroe Island. Italy qualifies if they win Scotland, and if this draw with the Scots they either win or draw against Faroe Islands, or they lose to Scotland, and Win against Faroe Islands and France loses to Ukraine.

If Italy lose to Scotland, and France win or draw Ukraine, or Italy draw with Scotland and they lose to Faroe Island (highly unexpected), they will not qualify.

Scotland is expected to play 4-5-1 (just being careful), the squad consists of: Craig Gordon, David Marshall, Allan McGregor, Graham Alexander, Gary Caldwell, Christian Dailly, Alan Hutton, Jay McEveley, Stephen McManus, Gary Naysmith, David Weir, Scott Brown, Barry Ferguson, Darren Fletcher, Paul Hartley, Lee McCulloch, Stephen Pearson, Barry Robson, Gary Teale, Craig Beattie, Kris Boyd, James McFadden, Shaun Maloney, Kenny Miller, Garry O’Connor.

Italy on the other hand might mix their formation between 4-1-4-1 to 4-3-3 when they attack, their squad consists of: Amelia, Buffon, Curci, Barzagli, Bonera, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso, Panucci, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Camoranesi, De Rossi, Gattuso, Perrotta, Pirlo, Di Natale, Gilardino, Iaquinta, Lucarelli, Palladino, Quagliarella, Toni.

I expect the match to go like this, Scotland will score first, by the end of the first half Italy will equalize, and in the second half Italy will score another goal making the scoreline be 1-2 in Full Time. With the slight possibility of the Scots successfully defending to keep the score 1-1.

Here are the goals Italy score on Scotland last March:

Comments November 17th, 2007

CL: Olympiakos Vs. Real Madrid (Preview)

  Real Madrid will be playing their 4th match in the Champions League Group C, nicely standing top of the table with 7 points, while Olympiakos is playing at home and is 2nd place with 4 points.

As we can recollect, Robinho played a very important role in the last match which ended 4-2 for Real Madrid, the match was sensational really made us all be on edge. Real Madrid players showed their real spirit in that match and showed how much they want to win this season.

One weird observation is that Real Madrid lost a match before meeting Olympiakos, in the first match they lost 2-1 to Espanyol and now they just got a 2-0 loss against Sevilla. But i still expect Real Madrid to focus in this match and just put whatever past wins and losses aside.

Wingers Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuaín and the backup goal keeper Jerzy Dudek are still injured but the central defender Pepe and midfielder Wesley Sneijder are back and going to be traveling with their team mates but not sure if any of them would be able to play full 90 minutes.

Olympiakos will be missing injured defender Paraskevas Antzas and Vassilis Torossidis who was sent off in the previous match. Michal Zewlakow is back from injury and might feature in the match, although i seriously doubt he could play a full match.

My eyes will be locked on 3 main players today, ofcourse Robinho especially after his great show against Olympiakos although he wasn’t able to do much against Sevilla in the Spanish league but still its going to be different here. Another Real Madrid player to watch would be Wesley Sneijder that is if he played any part in the game. From Olympiakos the amazing midfielder Predrag Djordjevic who is 35 years old and plays as if he is 25 amazing speed and dribbling.

Real Madrid expected formation (4-1-3-2): Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Heinze,  Diarra,  Sneijder, Guti, Robinho – Raúl, van Nistelrooy 

Olympiakos expected formation (4-5-1): Nikopolidis, Patsatzoglou, Julio Cesar, Zewlakow, Bravo, Archubi, Ledesma, Djordjevic, Stoltidis, Galleti, LuaLua

I expect a win for Real Madrid, maybe 2-1, in the worst situations i would expect a draw 1-1 or 2-2. But i believe we will win tonight.

Comments November 6th, 2007

CL: Real Madrid Vs. Olympiakos (Quick Preview)

Real Madrid will be playing their 3rd match in Champions League Group C, 2nd in the table with 4 points playing against Olympiakos who is 1st with 4 points. Real Madrid is suffering from a number of injuries specially the left wing with heinze and robben out between 3 to 6 weeks. Schuster has a tricky game here, Olympiakos is in good shape with no serious injuries and the winner here will be top of the table. I believe schuster needs Robinho’s services tonight in the left wing and they should just put the alleged partying issue and returning late mistake to be dealt with later and focus on this game. Personally I will be watching Olympiakos striker Lua-Lua, he already scored 3 goals in 5 matches in the local league. I believe he will have his Champions League first goal this season tonight.

The expected formation (4-1-3-2): Casillas, Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Marcelo, Diarra, Robinho, Guti, Sneijder, Raul, Van Nistelrooy.

I expect a 3-1, 3-2 for Real Madrid by Full Time.

Comments October 24th, 2007