This week, club football takes a back seat across Europe and South America in particular as after a break of several months, international football makes a return to the schedule with a number
of friendly games for South American sides, plus a number of crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers being played across Europe.
In this article, we are going to take a look at how the four home nations, plus the Republic of Ireland, are shaping up and how tough each of their fixtures are this week.
England v Lithuania (7.45pm – Friday 27th March)
Roy Hodgson’s men have a commanding six point lead and a 100% record at the top of Group E and have also played arguably their toughest game (Switzerland away). This week’s home game against Lithuania should not pose an unduly difficult task for the Three Lions.
England have been hit by the withdrawal of several players through injury but the inclusion of in-form Tottenham striker Harry Kane into the squad is seen as a bright move for the future. Wayne Rooney will certainly continue to captain the team and with Daniel Sturridge ruled out by injury, it remains to be seen if Kane will start, or whether Hodgson will elect to keep faith with Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck.
Lithuania are an improving team and have won two of their four games so far, but England should be more than capable of coming away from this game with another win here. The bookmakers have England as the strong 1/8 favourites and that looks about right here.
Tip: There’s no value in backing England for the win, but you can get 3/1 on Wayne Rooney being the first goalscorer and that looks a solid choice here.
Israel v Wales (5pm – Saturday 28th March)
This is a crucial clash for Wales in Group B, victory here would put them on top of the table above their opponents and inflict Israel’s first defeat of the qualification stages, as well as heaping pressure on the likes of Belgium and Bosnia Herzegovina who were arguably the two obvious choices to qualify from this group.
Of course, Wales will be heavily reliant on Gareth Bale who will be wanting to put his disappointing club form behind him and get back to winning ways with Wales. The Welshman, who had his car vandalised by Real Madrid fans following their 2-1 defeat to Barcelona at the weekend, will find a warmer reception from the travelling band of Welsh supporters.
Israel though are certainly not to be underestimated. Striker Omer Damari has scored five goals in three Euro 2016 qualifiers and he will be a real threat to the Wales defence. Israel have won away in Cyprus and Andorra as well as beating Bosnia Herzegovina 3-0 at home, so this is a real test for Chris Coleman’s Wales side.
Tip: Israel are the favourites here but Wales have the trump card in Gareth Bale. A Wales win may be asking too much but you can get 12/5 on them earning a point which looks a good value option here.
Scotland v Gibraltar (5pm– Sunday 29th March)
In arguably one of the most difficult qualifying groups, Scotland have made a great start, currently on seven points, equal with Germany and Republic of Ireland after four games against the better teams in the group, which means that the Scots should be able to expect a comfortable victory against the minnows of Gibraltar.
Gordon Strachan will know that it isn’t enough for his team to win, but that they have to win well in a group where goal difference could eventually play a key role. Nothing short of a several goal victory here will be enough for Scotland against a team that are one of the worst in the world.
Scotland are a massive 1/50 for the win and it’s not difficult to understand why. Gibraltar are 66/1 for the win and 16/1 for the draw, but to be honest, they are massively hopeful bets.
Tip: Forget backing the winner here, my tip is to back Everton’s industrious star Steven Naismith at 7/2 to score the first goal of the game.
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Northern Ireland v Finland (5pm – Sunday 29th March)
Northern Ireland have made a fantastic start to their Group F campaign, winning their opening three games before losing narrowly in Romania last time out. Michael O’Neill’s men however have a chance to put the pressure back on the group leaders if they can win their home game with Finland.
The Finns started the campaign well taking four points from their opening two games, but have lost their last two games. With Northern Ireland’s confidence sky high after their best start to a qualifying campaign in many years, this could be a real chance to claim another three points and put themselves in with a chance of qualifying for their first major finals since the 1986 Mexico World Cup.
That said, it won’t be an easy game for Ireland; Finland have some excellent individual players, particularly the central defender Moisander, and the striker Riski who has netted two goals already in Euro qualifying.
That said, Northern Ireland have confidence and momentum and they’ll know a win here is vital, especially with Romania likely to win given they play the Faroe Islands at home.
Tip: Northern Ireland are 7/4 for the win here and that seems a good price. Michael O’Neill has his team playing better than the sum of its parts and I think they’ll pinch a narrow win at Windsor Park.
Republic of Ireland v Poland (7.45pm – Sunday 29th March)
The final game of this week’s selection is arguably the toughest to predict and comes from Group D where surprise leaders Poland, who stunned Germany by defeating them back in the Autumn, face a trip to the Aviva Stadium to take on the Republic of Ireland.
Martin O’Neill’s men lie in fourth place in the group at present, but know a win here could catapult them into real contention.
Poland however are an excellent team, with some outstanding individual players, such as Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, and Ireland will have to be at their very best if they are to emerge from the game with the three points.
On the flip side, if Poland can take the victory, that would move them six points ahead of Ireland, which would certainly make Ireland’s task of qualifying automatically from the group extremely difficult.
However, having won the Six Nations Rugby Tournament at the weekend, Irish eyes will be smiling and it will be a packed Aviva Stadium on Sunday night hoping to see their heroes in green earn another big national win.
Tip: This really is a tough one to call, Poland have a very good side and have beaten Germany in the qualifiers. However Ireland look a better organised outfit under Martin O’Neill and I think the atmosphere at the stadium could play a key role. I’m backing Ireland to snatch the win here.