30.03. (Wed) 04:00 Costa Rica - Argentina

DID YOU KNOW?

* Costa Rica coach Ricardo La Volpe is a former Argentina international who won the 1978 World Cup as a reserve goalkeeper.

* The Tricolor drew 2-2 with China in their last friendly international encounter last week.

* Costa Rica’s previous game too had ended in a 2-2 draw. It was against South American opposition Venezuela.

* Argentina have suffered defeat just once since Sergio Batista took over - to Asian powerhouse Japan.

* Apart from that defeat and last week’s 1-1 draw with the USA, the South American giants have won all their games under their new manager, including those against Spain, Brazil and Portugal.

* 11 of the 24 players included in the current squad by Batista are 24 years of age or under.

LAST MEETING

January 27, 2010: Argentina 3-2 Costa Rica

Jose Sosa gave Argentina the lead after just 12 minutes but eight minutes later Michael Barrantes restored parity for Costa Rica. Giullermo Burdisso put the former world champions into the lead before the break, and although Diego Madrigal equalised on 76 minutes, moments later Franco Zara found the target to win the match 3-2 for his side.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Costa Rica: Navas; Mora, Umana, G. Martinez, Marshall; Oviedo, Borges, Bolanos, Barrantes; Ruiz, Saborio

Argentina: Andujar; Angeleri, Garay, Fazio, Rojo; Banega, Mascherano, Biglia; Gaitan, Messi, Pastore

Prediction

Just like the USA last week, Costa Rica will be up for a good and competitive game and will push Argentina hard. However, it is likely that the South Americans will emerge victorious in this encounter.

Costa Rica 0-2 Argentina

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29.03. (Tue) 19:45 Romania - Luxembourg

DID YOU KNOW?

* Romania captain Cristian Chivu will miss the match with a calf injury.

* The Tricolori have only two points from their first four qualifying matches.

* Romania haven't lost to Luxembourg in their last four games.

* Luxembourg have conceded 16 goals in their last four meeting with Romania.

* Luxembourg have failed to score a single goal in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

* Luxembourg sit dead last in Group D with one point to their name.

LAST MEETING

October 17, 2007: Luxembourg 0-2 Romania

Romania ran out comfortable 2-0 winners over Luxembourg in a Euro 2008 qualification match. Florentin Petre netted the opener just before the half-time interval before Ciprian Marica put the match to bed on the hour mark.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Romania: Pantilimon; Rapa; Tamas, Goian, Rat; Torje, Alexa, Florescu, Deac; Marica, Mutu

Luxembourg: Joubert; Hoffmann, Blaise, Laterza, Schnell; Payal, Mutsch, Leweck, Bettmer, Gerson; Joachim

Prediction

Romania have too much firepower upfront for Luxembourg to handle and should pick up their first win of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against the perennial European doormats.

Romania 2-0 Luxembourg

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29.03. (Tue) 19:05 Israel - Georgia

DID YOU KNOW?

* Israel have two wins in five competitive matches against Georgia (W2 D2 L1).

* Yossi Benayoun leads the team in scoring in Euro 2012 qualifying but will miss Tuesday's match due to injury.

* Israel can leapfrog Georgia in Group F with a win in Tel Aviv.

* Georgia have nine points from five games in the group.

* Georgia are undefeated in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

* David Siradze leads the team in scoring with two goals.

LAST MEETING

September 07, 2010: Georgia 0-0 Israel

The goalkeepers were the stars of the show as they stood tall and proud in the scoreless draw in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Tbilisi.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Israel: Aouate; Ben Haim, Gershon, Cohen, Ziv; Refaelov, Natcho, Twatha, Kayal' Barda, Damari

Georgia: Revishvili; Salukvadzc, Khubutia, Kaladze, Amisulashvili; Khizanishvili, Kankava, Kobiashvili, Daushvili; Dvalishvili, Iashvili,

Prediction

Both teams are coming off big wins on Saturday and will be eager to add more points to their tally. A score draw seems the likely outcome in Tel Aviv.

Israel 1-1 Georgia

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29.03. (Tue) 19:00 Sweden - Moldova

DID YOU KNOW?

* Sweden have scored nine goals in their last two matches against Moldova.

* Sweden are missing three first team regulars in defence.

* Zlatan Ibrahimovic has two goals in three Euro 2012 qualifying matches.

* Moldova are level on points with Sweden (7).

* Anatolie Doros and Alexandru Suvorov have two goals each in the current qualifying campaign.

* Captain Alexandru Epureanu will miss the match with a thigh injury.

LAST MEETING

June 6, 2001: Sweden 6-0 Moldova

Sweden brushed Moldova aside thanks to four goals from Henrik Larsson in the 2002 World Cup qualifier in Gothenburg. Niclas Alexandersson and Marcus Allback added single efforts in an easy win.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Sweden: Wiland; Lustig, Granqvist, J. Olsson, Wendt; Wernbloom, Kallstrom; Larsson, Elmander, Wilhelmsson; Ibrahimovic

Moldova: Namasco; Golovatenco, Boret, Armas, Bolohan; Andronic, Cojocari, Suvorov, Gatcan; Bugaev, Frunza

Prediction

Sweden should hardly break a sweat against Moldova and will pick up all three points in convincing fashion on Tuesday.

Sweden 3-0 Moldova

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