08.06. (Wed) 21:30 Uruguay - Netherlands

DID YOU KNOW?

Uruguay have won only one out of their last six games against European opposition.

With 74 international appearances so far, Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan is the most experienced Uruguay player in Wednesday's game.

Not a single teenager has been included in the South Americans' roster for the Oranje clash.

Uruguay last won a big trophy when they lifted the Copa America in 1995.

Ajax midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is the only player in the Uruguay squad who currently plies his trade in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Netherlands have not lost a single match since their 1-0 loss against Spain in the final of the 2010 World Cup.

At the age of 31, Hamburg's Joris Mathijsen is the oldest player in the squad for this week's friendly.

Feyenoord youngster Georginio Wijnaldum is one of three Dutch players who could make his international debut on Wednesday.

Netherlands have met Uruguay five times before and were beaten on three occasions. Their only wins came in 2010 and 1974.

Schalke hitman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar sits ninth in the list of all-time Oranje goalscorers with 26 goals.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Uruguay (4-3-1-2)
Muslera; Caceres, Lugano, Godin, M. Pereira; Gargano, Perez, A. Pereira; Forlan; Cavani, Suarez

Head coach Oscar Tabarez could field the same eleven players who featured in the 2-1 friendly loss against Germany last week as he does not have too many injury worries. Sevilla's Martin Caceres was plagued by problems in the last weeks of the domestic season, but appears to be ready in time for the rematch of last World Cup's semi-final.

Goalscorers from that day Diego Forlan and Maxi Pereira are both present in the squad, as they look to banish memories of the 3-2 reverse in front of their own fans.

Netherlands (4-2-3-1)
Krul; Van der Wiel, Bruma, Mathijsen, Pieters; De Jong, Strootman; Robben, Afellay, Elia; Huntelaar

Netherlands tactician Bert van Marwijk will be without several regulars on Oranje's South America trip as Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Mark van Bommel, Demy de Zeeuw, Theo Janssen, Michel Vorm and Maarten Stekelenburg have all stayed behind in Holland.

Shot-stopper Tim Krul made his debut against Brazil at the weekend and the Newcastle man is likely to start again. Nevertheless, Van Marwijk could make some changes compared to the team that locked horns with Brazil and Jeffrey Bruma, Eljero Elia and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could all start on Wednesday.

Prediction

Uruguay will be keen to get a good result against Netherlands after their World Cup semi-final loss last year, but it will not be easy for the Charruas. They start the match as favourites as they are in full preparation for the Copa America, whereas Oranje's season is already over. Their recent record against European opposition is far from impressive though, while the Dutch have not lost a single game since their defeat against Spain in July 2010. 

Uruguay 1-1 Netherlands

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08.06. (Wed) 02:50 Brazil - Romania

DID YOU KNOW?

Brazil and Romania first met in Group 3 at the 1970 World Cup, when a Pele brace, the first from a thumping free-kick, and a close-range Jairzinho effort earned the South Americans a 3-2 win. In the teams’ only other encounter, the Selecao emerged 2-0 victors courtesy of strikes by Edu and Leivinha, the uncle of Liverpool midfielder Lucas.

Romania reached a personal best of third on the Fifa ranking in September 1997. With the likes of Gheorghe Popescu, Gheorghe Hagi, Viorel Moldovan and Adrian Ilie shining, they had won their last six matches.

Ronaldo will be making his 98th and final appearance for Brazil, and consequently becoming their joint-fifth all-time record appearance holder, level with Djalma Santos and behind Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Lucio and Taffarel. The 34-year-old has never played against Romania previously.

Brazilians Eric and Wesley finished second and third respectively on the 2010-11 Romanian top flight’s scoring chart behind Ianis Zicu.

Otelul Galati last month became Romanian champions for the first time in their 47-year-old history. They are coached by Dorinel Munteanu, Romania’s most-capped player. Fluminense ended a 26-year wait for Campeonato Brasileiro gold in December.

Gheorghe Hagi is widely regarded as Romania’s greatest-ever player. Pele called the former playmaker, whom he named in his 100 greatest living footballers in 2004, “a joy to watch.”

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Brazil (4-3-1-2)
Victor; Maicon, Lucio, David Luiz, Andre Santos; Sandro, Henrique, Elias; Robinho; Neymar, Fred.

Mano Menezes released Julio Cesar, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Ramires from his squad following the 0-0 draw with the Netherlands on Saturday, in order to afford them more rest ahead of the Copa America. The Brazil coach will introduce Ronaldo on the half-hour mark, to give the iconic striker a 15-minute run-out and his farewell appearance for his country, so Leandro Damiao and Nilmar are hopeful they will begin the second half.

Romania (4-4-2)
Tatarusanu; Rapa, Gardos, Papp, Oros; Muresan, Bourceanu, Torje, Sanmartean; Marica, Surdu

Razvan Lucescu unexpectedly quit the Romania reins on Saturday following a victory, a 3-0 one at that, over Bosnia and Herzegovina. His assistant Stefan Iovan, along with U-21 coach Emil Sand, will take charge for the game in Sao Paulo, though they will be unable to call upon Cristian Sapunaru, Gabriel Tamas, Razvan Rat and Adrian Mutu, who have been released from the squad. Romania are likely to field a very inexperienced team.

Prediction

Romania’s first-choice XI would face an uphill struggle away to Brazil. Without key players, the Europeans have a mountain to climb to take anything from the match. The South Americans will be desperate to win convincingly after losing two and drawing one of their last four outings, and they should keep a clean sheet, dominate possession and emerge with a big victory.

Brazil 5-0 Romania

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07.06. (Tue) 22:30 Venezuela - Spain

DID YOU KNOW?

Venezuela's football team is nicknamed La Vinotinto (The Red Wine) because of the burgundy colour of their shirts.

Venezuela is the only national team from Conmebol to have never qualified for a World Cup.

Venezuela's all-time top goalscorer - with 20 - is Giancarlo Maldonado, who had a spell at Xerez last season.

Another Venezuela forward, Salomon Rondon, plays in Spain with Malaga and has been compared to former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert.

While football is growing in popularity in Venezuela, baseball remains the country's most popular sport.

Spain could have faced Venezuela in this summer's Copa Ameria, but the world champions decided to turn down the invitation to play in Argentina.

Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta, who has been called up by Spain but remains uncapped, is eligible to play for Venezuela.

Barcelona forward Jeffren Suarez is also eligible to represent Venezuela, but says he has chosen Spain and has represented La Roja at under-21 level.

Spain have won the only two previous meetings between these two sides.

In the 4-0 win over USA on Saturday night, Fernando Torres became Spain's joint fourth-highest goalscorer with 27, the same amount as former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


Venezuela (4-4-2):
Morales; Rincon, Vizcarrondo, Rosales, Fuenmayor; A. Flores, Chourio, F. Flores, Arango; Fedor, Maldonado

Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon is unfit to start this match after picking up an injury late in the season with Malaga.

Rondon, who scored 14 goals in 29 appearances to help the Andalusian side avoid relegation, is expected to be fit enough to make a late cameo appearance from the bench.

Coach Cesar Farias is set to name a strong side for the visit of the world champions, with former Mallorca favourite Juan Arango included in midfield.


Spain (4-4-2):
Casillas; Ramos, Pique, Albiol, Iraola; Bruno, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta, Silva; Torres, Llorente

The president of Spain's football association (RFEF), Angel Maria Villar, promised a strong line-up for this friendly last month, as part of the terms agreed in the contract.

Coach Vicente del Bosque could hand a start to Fernando Torres up front after the Chelsea striker scored as a substitute in Saturday night's 4-0 win over USA.

With many of the players tired following a long journey to Venezuela and the match on Saturday, Del Bosque is likely to freshen up his side by bringing in the likes of Andres Iniesta, Fernando Llorente and Andoni Iraola.

Meanwhile, either Pepe Reina or Victor Valdes could get an opportunity from the bench.

Prediction

After their squashbuckling performance in the 4-0 win against USA on Saturday night, it is hard to see Spain achieving anything other than a convincing victory in this match.

It will be a strong side from La Roja and Venezuela, although improved in recent years, will not be able to live with the World Cup winners - even if Vicente del Bosque's side men play in second gear.

Venezuela 0-3 Spain

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07.06. (Tue) 20:45 Italy - Ireland

DID YOU KNOW?

Italy are undefeated in Euro 2012 qualifying and have a five-point lead over second-placed Slovenia.

Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli played under current Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni at Juventus.

The Nazionale beat Ukraine 2-0 in their last international friendly.

Giuseppe Rossi has scored in his last two games for Italy.

Republic of Ireland have outscored their opponents 8-0 in their last three competitive fixtures.

Robbie Keane passed the 50-goal mark after netting a brace in the 2-0 win over Macedonia on Saturday.

The Boys and Green played out a 2-2 draw in their last match against Italy in a World Cup qualifier in October 2009.

Giovanni Trapattoni had a four-year stint as Italy's national team coach from 2000-04.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Italy (4-3-1-2)
Viviano; Cassani, Gamberini, Chiellini, Criscito; Nocerino, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Rossi, Pazzini

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be unable to call on Mario Balotelli, Thiago Motta or Alberto Aquilani on Tuesday evening while Daniele De Rossi was excluded from the squad for breaching the Azzurri tactician's code of conduct.


Republic of Ireland (4-4-2)
Forde; McShane, St Ledger, O'Dea, Ward; Coleman, Andrews, Foley, Lawrence; Keogh, Long

Aiden McGeady will miss the match after the winger was summoned back to Russia by Spartak Moscow. Robbie Keane, Kevin Kilbane, Shay Given, Keith Fahey and John O'Shea were all given permission to be excused from the squad.

Prediction

Ireland are missing a slew of first-team regulars while Italy are coming off an impressive win over Estonia. Look for the Azzurri squeak out a slim victory in Liege on Tuesday.

Italy 2-1 Ireland

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07.06. (Tue) 19:30 Russia - Cameroon

Shaking up for the rest of the Euro qualifiers

Fresh from a sound 3-1 win over Armenia in their most recent Euro 2012 qualifier, Russia are keen to build upon that momentum. After being unable to win their two previous games against Qatar (1-1) and Armenia (0-0) during the last three months, and then losing to Iran (1-0) and Belgium (2-0) earlier on, the Russians will look to build on their victory with another.

Placed second in Group B of the Euro 2012 qualification table with 13 points – shared with group leaders Slovakia and third-placed Republic of Ireland – Russia are playing host to Macedonia in early September to hopefully consolidate their group status, and a friendly against one of Africa’s top teams will be a positive test for them.

Both teams have met twice at the Fifa World Cup finals in 1990 and 1994, with Europeans always triumphing big, but generations have long changed and the Sbornaya are conscious of the fact that the Indomitable Lions now float a number of sparkling talents who ply their trade in top European clubs.

How to make up for the black Saturday

Cameroon’s chances of reaching the 2012 African Cup of Nations now hang by a thread after they failed to win at home against Senegal on Saturday, ending the clash in a scoreless draw and letting the visitors share the spoils to push near qualification.

With an entire nation still ruing the fluffed opportunity of reviving the central Africans’ campaign for next year’s continental showpiece, especially after a wasted last minute penalty kick by captain Samuel Eto’o, how necessary is a friendly match that comes barely three days after the black Saturday?

Coach Javier Clemente will likely strive to squeeze out some consolation for the FA and authorities, but will hardly pacify millions of local fans who now feel it is all over for the Indomitable Lions and that they will not see them compete in their backyard of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early next year. What’s the need of a friendly match against Russia?

FORM GUIDE

Russia

4/6/2011 Russia 3-1 Armenia (Qualifier)

29/3/2011 Qatar 1-1 Russia (Friendly)

26/3/2011 Armenia 0-0 Russia (Qualifier)

09/2/2011 Iran 1-0 Russia (Friendly)

17/11/2010 Russia 0-2 Belgium (Friendly)

Cameroon

04/6/2011 Cameroon 0-0 Senegal (Qualifier)

26/03/2011 Senegal 1-0 Cameroon (Qualifier)

09/2/2011 Macedonia 0-1 Cameroon (Friendly)

09/10/2010 Cameroon 1-1 DR Congo (Qualifier)

04/09/2010 Mauritius 1-3 Cameroon (Qualifier)

TEAM NEWS

Russia

Dick Advocaat has announced that Zenit St. Petersburg midfielders Roman Shirokov and Alexei Ionov have been dropped from the squad.

Probable starting XI:
Akinfeev, Zhirkov, Ignashevitch, Berezoutski, Anyukov, Torbinski, Zyrianov, Denisov, Semshov, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko

Cameroon

Arsenal’s Alex Song is the only known withdrawal from the squad for now due to injury but it is still unclear if all the players who played against Senegal will make the Austrian trip, according to local sources.


Probable starting XI:
Kameni, Assou-Ekotto, Mbia, N'Koulou, Bassong, Chedjou, Enoh, Aboubakar, Eto'o, Emana, Webo

PREDICTION

Russia will tend to impose their historic advantage over Cameroon, but the Central Africans have a mission more than just winning here, but to roll out a performance good enough to wipe the tears of Saturday’s faux pas against Senegals from the faces of home fans.

Russia 1-1 Cameroon

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