Euro 2012 Qualifying Preview: Groups A-D

Group A	KO	Group F	KO
Kazakhstan - Austria	1800	Malta - Israel	1900
Germany - Belgium	1900	Georgia - Greece	1900
Turkey - Azerbaijan	1900
Group B		Group G
Macedonia - Slovakia	1945	Bulgaria - Wales	2005
Rep. Ireland - Armenia	1945	Switzerland - Montenegro	2015
Russia - Andorra	1945
Group C		Group H
Italy - Northern Ireland	2045	Denmark - Portugal	2015
Slovenia - Serbia	2045	Norway - Cyprus	2015
Group D		Group I
France - Bosnia	2100	Lithuania - Czech Republic	2045
Albania - Romania	2100	Spain - Scotland	2045
Group E
Hungary - Finland	2000
Moldova - San Marino	2000
Sweden - Netherlands	2015

GROUP A
Kazakhstan	vs	Austria

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Loginovskiy Kirov, Mukhtarov, Nurdauletov, Rozhkov K'yev, K'povich, S'metov, Y'neev, Muzhikov Khizhnichenko		Grunwald Dag, Scharner, Prodl, Fuchs  Baumgartlinger, DragovicArnautovic, Ivanschitz, Alaba Janko
KEY FACTS
Neither side can now reach Euro 2012 after poor campaigns. Kazakhstan will want to take revenge for a 2-0 defeat to Austria in September, after being hit with two late strikes.		Austria ended a three-match winless run on Friday against Azerbaijan. Their previous qualifier against the Kazakhs was their first-ever meeting.

Germany

vs

Belgium

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Fresh from their convincing victory in Kazakhstan, Belgium face a steep task to rubber-stamp their place in the Euro 2012 play-offs by bettering Turkey's result against Germany, who have a 100 per cent record in qualification.

Turkey

vs

Azerbaijan

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Demirel Gonul, Cetin, Korkmaz, Balta M. Aurelio, Inan Altintop, Turan, Sarioglu Yilmaz		Agayev Nabiyev, Sadygov, Allahverdiyev, Huseynov  Aliyev, A'guliyev, Budak, Ismayilov Javadov Nadirov
KEY FACTS
Turkey's hopes of featuring in the play-offs took a blow with a 3-1 loss to group winners Germany. They must hope Belgium don't pick up three points against Germany in order to still have a chance of progression. Even if Turkey draw in the event of Belgium not winning, they will still progress in second place due to a better head-to-head record.		Azerbaijan have won just once in eight matches with their Turkish neighbours; a 1-0 victory in Euro 2012 qualifying, courtesy of captain Rashad Sadygov. However the Azeris are yet to score a goal on Turkish soil. Before their 3-2 win over Kazakhstan in September, they had not won in eight, losing seven consecutively.

GROUP B		Table/Results
Russia	vs	Andorra

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Malafeev Anyukov, V. B'skiy, Ignashevich, Zhirkov Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov Dzagoev, Pavlyuchenko, Arshavin		Gomes Martinez, Lima, E. Garcia, Bernaus Vieira, Sonejee, Ayala, Pujol Silva, Moreno
EY FACTS
Russia's 1-0 win over Slovakia puts them in touching distance of qualification. Although a routine win would seal their status as Group B winners, a draw would also be enough, as they possess a better head-to-head record against Ireland. Russia have won all five of their past encounters with Andorra.		Andorra are seeking their first points in European Championship qualifying after 39 matches. They have not scored in their last three meetings with the hosts. However, they almost caused an upset in November 2007, where Russia had to fight for a 1-0 win over their Andorran counterparts to qualify for Euro 2008.

Republic of Ireland

vs

Armenia

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Given O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, O'Dea McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff Long, Doyle		Berezovsky A'sanyan, H'petyan, Hovsepyan, Yuspashyan Edigaryan, Mkrtchyan, Pizzelli, Mkhitaryan Movsisyan, Ghazaryan
KEY FACTS
Robbie Keane is a major doubt for the hosts, with one of Shane Long, Simon Cox and Jonathan Walters ready to replace him. Stephen Ward is out through suspension, but Richard Dunne is welcomed back into the fold after missing the Andorra victory. Giovanni Trapattoni's side need just a point to make the play-offs, but could yet qualify as champions if Russia lose to Andorra and they win.		Armenia must win to reach the play-offs, but cannot qualify as champions of Group B, even if Russia somehow lose. Vardan Minasyan's side are on a three-game winning streak, scoring 11 goals against Andorra, Slovakia and Macedonia. Armenia have never played at the Aviva Stadium, nor its predecessor Lansdowne Road.

Macedonia

vs

Slovakia

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Bogatinov Popov, Sikov, Noveski G'vski, M'rem, Gjurovski, Demiri, M. Ivanovski F. Ivanovski, Trickovski		Mucha Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan Karhan, Kucka Stoch, Hamsik, Jendrisek Holosko
KEY FACTS
Macedonia will want to finish on a winning note, despite already confirming fifth place in Group B. They have never beaten Slovakia on five occasions, losing both ties in Skopje and failing to score in the last two.		Slovakia's hopes of featuring in successive major tournaments ended after their 1-0 loss to Russia. They have not won in their last three, losing their last two while failing to register a single goal. Before their two wins over Andorra in March and June, their last qualifying win came on the second matchday.

GROUP C		Table/Results
Italy	vs	Northern Ireland

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With nothing to play for at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday, it should prove to be a good workout for Cesare Prandelli's Group C winners against Northern Ireland, who blew their chances of qualification with defeat to Estonia.

Slovenia

vs

Serbia

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Handanovic Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic Birsa, Bacinovic, Radosavljevic, Ilicic Vrsic, Matavz		Jorgacevic Ivanovic, Subotic, Rajkovic, Kolarov Stankovic, Ninkovic, Petrovic Krasic, Pantelic, Tosic
KEY FACTS
Slovenia have lost three of their first four home games in Group C. They have drawn all five previous meetings with Serbia and past incarnations, including twice in Slovenia. Before their win over Faroe Islands in June, Slovenia's last qualifying win was in October 2010.		Serbia must beat Slovenia to progress to the Euro 2012 play-offs, as their head-to-head with Estonia is inferior. They are unbeaten in their past five qualifiers, with their last defeat coming in their abandoned encounter with Italy back in October. Serbia have never won in Ljubljana.

GROUP D		Table/Results
France	vs	Bosnia

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Despite both teams already qualifying for the play-offs, it promises to be a titanic bout in Paris as the winner will be given the Group D crown and progress directly into next year's showpiece.

Albania

vs

Romania

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Ujkani Vangjeli, Lila, Cana, Dallku Muzaka, Lika, Hyka, Roshi Duro Salihi		Pantilimon Matel, Moti, Tamas, Rat Torje, Bourceanu, Lazar, Cristea Mutu, Marica
KEY FACTS
Albania have not won at home to Romania in 65 years, their last triumph a 1-0 win in 1946. Accordingly, they have lost their last five home meetings with the Romanians. Albania have nothing to play for, with fifth place already confirmed.		Romanian hopes of Euro 2012 participation ended on Friday, after drawing 2-2 versus Belarus. Like their hosts, their finishing position has also been pre-determined, as they will finish in third spot. Romania have won 10 times against Albania from 14 meetings, with a 6-1 victory during Euro 2008 qualifying their most emphatic.