11.11. (Fri) 23:00 Uruguay - Chile

PROBABLE LINEUPS

URUGUAY   Muslera Caceres, Godin, Lugano, A. Pereira Gonzalez, Perez, Arevalo, Ramirez Suarez, Cavani

CHILE Bravo  O. Gonzalez, Ponce, Contreras Isla, Diaz, Medel, Mena Fernandez Sanchez, Suazo

Oscar Tabarez's men face an injury crisis heading into the game. Strikers Diego Forlan and Abel Hernandez, midfielders Alvaro Fernandez and Walter Gargano, and defender Jorge Fucile are all out with injury. In addition, Maximiliano Pereira is absent due to suspension.

As usual, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez will start in attack. Instead of playing a midfielder directly behind the strikers, Tabarez will place Gaston Ramirez on the left wing to shore up the midfield. In defence, Diego Godin and Diego Lugano will be paired together in the centre.

Claudio Borghi is facing a similar crisis, but not due to injury. On Wednesday, the former Boca Juniors coach suspended Arturo Vidal, Jorge Valdivia, Jean Beausejour, Gonzalo Jara and Carlos Carmona, all of whom were punished for missing curfew on Tuesday night as they attended a party to celebrate the baptism of Valdivia's child.

With numerous changes needing to be made, the coach called upon Universidad de Chile's Marcelo Diaz to replace Vidal in the middle of the pitch, while Diaz's club team-mate Osvaldo Gonzalez replaces Jara to solidify the defence. Up top, Alexis Sanchez, who injured his hamstring in September while playing for Barcelona, will start after declaring himself fit to play and will work alongside Humberto Suazo in attack.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Uruguay currently sit top of the table in the Conmebol qualifiers with four points from two games. The Copa America champions defeated Bolivia and drew with Paraguay.

• Tabarez's men have not lost in their last 11 games.

• The two-time World Cup winners will play Italy early next week. With nine teams in qualifying due to Brazil's automatic bid as hosts, the rotation of teams having an open fixture sees Uruguay's break in the fourth round of matches.

• Chile are a point back of their opponents on Friday in the qualifiers, having defeated Peru after losing to Argentina.

• With their win over the Peruvians in the second game of qualifying in October, the 2010 World Cup participants halted a stretch of five games without victory.

• The two teams tied in their last meeting, a 1-1 draw in the group stage of this past summer's Copa America.

Prediction

There is a reason why Uruguay haven't lost since May. The continent's top team should continue their form on Friday.

Editor's Prediction

Uruguay 2-0 Chile

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11.11. (Fri) 22:30 Morocco - Uganda

منتخب المغرب لكرة القدم (Morocco)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MOROCCO Mohamedina Basser, Boukhriss, Benatia, Kaddouri Belhanda, Kharja Taarabt, Boussoufa, Assaidi Chamakh

UGANDA Onyango Masaba, Kalungi, Isinde, Guma Wasswa, Kayizzi, Oloya Mwejje, Mudde Mutyaba

With his team in preparation mode for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Eric Gerets has called up a full-strength squad for the LG Cup, which begins on Friday. Wydad representative Nadir Lamyaghri is a notable absence. The starting goalkeeper for Morocco suffered a shoulder injury that will deprive him of participation in the second leg of the 2011 Caf Champions League final against Esperance on Saturday and also threatens his availability for the upcoming continental showpiece in January. Meanwhile, Abdelfettah Boukhriss has been called up to replace the injured Abdelhamid El Kaouatari.
The Cranes arrived in Morocco without their head coach, Bobby Williamson. Assistant coach Jackson Mayanja will take his place for the entire tournament according to reports out of Uganda. The east Africans have called up nine players from the Olympic side for this tournament.

DID YOU KNOW

• The Ugandans won the only previous encounter between the two sides in Kumasi by the score of 3-0 back in 1978.

• Morocco are back at the Africa Cup of Nations after missing out on the 2010 edition.

• Uganda were desperately close to qualifying for their first Afcon since 1978 but lost out to Angola after failing to defeat Kenya at home in their final match.

• The Atlas Lions’ Adel Taarabt was nominated by Caf for the 2011 African Player of the Year award while defender Ayoub Al Khaliqi was nominated for the 2011 African Domestic Player of the Year award.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Morocco 2-1 Uganda

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11.11. (Fri) 21:00 France - USA

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINEUPS

FRANCE Lloris Reveilliere, Kaboul, Rami, Evra Diarra, M'Vila Menez, Martin, Malouda Benzema

UNITED STATES  Howard Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Chandler Williams, Edu, Bradley, Shea Dempsey Altidore

France have been dealt a blow with the news that Samir Nasri has withdrawn from the squad after suffering from an inflamed tendon in his left knee. The Manchester City star has been replaced by uncapped Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, whose stellar performances in Ligue 1 have not gone unnoticed by Laurent Blanc.
Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye, Marseille's Loic Remy and Chelsea's Florent Malouda are all recovering from minor knocks, and could start from the bench on Friday evening.
Blanc has also confirmed that Eric Abidal will not play against the USA after reaching an agreement with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola regarding his involvement in a Copa del Rey game on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klinsmann will be without record scorer and talisman Landon Donovan after the forward opted to stay with club L.A. Galaxy in preparation for the MLS Cup final on November 20 rather than travel to Paris for the clash. The starting line-up will, however, more or less resemble the team from their last international game against Ecuador last month.

DID YOU KNOW?

• France secured a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina in their last international to qualify for Euro 2012. 

• Les Bleus are unbeaten in 15 internationals, stretching back to September 2010. 

• Karim Benzema has scored nine goals this campaign for Real Madrid, with Laurent Blanc hoping that the striker can lift a France side, who have mustered just seven goals in five games this season.

• The United States have only won one game since their Gold Cup defeat to Mexico in June.

• The 1-0 win over Honduras last month was also the Americans' only friendly international win since a narrow victory over South Africa last November.

• Jurgen Klinsmann's men are ranked 34th in the world by Fifa, 19 places below their Gallic opposition.

• Friday's clash at the Stade de France is the third meeting between the two sides. In 1979, Les Bleus recorded a 6-0 win in East Rutherford, before defeating the Americans again 3-0 in Paris later that year.

Prediction

With qualification for Euro 2012 secured, this match will act as a basis for those in Les Bleus squad whose places at the finals are far from assured, with stellar performances expected in front of the home crowd. A France victory looks likely, especially given the USA's poor run of form in international friendlies and their distinct lack of goals.

Editor's Prediction

France 2-0 United States

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11.11. (Fri) 21:00 Argentina - Bolivia

Messi - Argentina x Bolívia

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARGENTINA Andujar Zabaleta, Burdisso, Demichelis, Rodriguez Sosa, Mascherano, Gago Messi, Higuain, Aguero

BOLIVIA Arias Vargas, Mendez, Rivero, Gutierrez Rojas, Robles, Flores, Cardozo Escobar, Andaveris

Argentina are without the injured Angel Di Maria and Ever Banega, and welcome Fernando Gago and Sergio Aguero into the fold; while Javier Pastore once more starts from the bench. Boca Juniors star Clemente Rodriguez receives his first call-up since the World Cup in 2010, and comes in at left-back in place of the suspended Marcos Rojo.

Shakhtar Donetsk forward Marcelo Martins is likely to be the highest-profile absence for the away team, as coach Gustavo Quinteros looks set to pick Pablo Escobar and Augusto Andaveris of The Strongest and Aurora respectively. Playmaker Jhasmani Campos also starts from the bench, in a Verde line-up which favours defensive stability over creative spark.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Argentina have faced Bolivia 31 times, winning 22 whilst losing only six.

• The Verde have also struggled visiting their South American neighbours, never beating the Albiceleste on Argentine soil.

• The last victory, however, belongs to Bolivia. The team destroyed Diego Maradona's men 6-1 in La Paz on April 1 2009.

• The last clash between the two was in this year's Copa America, in the tournament's first game. Bolivia took the lead through Edivaldo Rojas before Sergio Aguero levelled proceedings.

• Bolivia have qualified just once for the World Cup, their only appearance coming in 1994 in the United States.

• Coach Gustavo Quinteros knows Friday's opposition well. He was born in Santa Fe, representing Talleres (RE) in his native land before becoming a Bolivian citizen and earning 26 caps for the Verde.

• The Andean nation are the only team yet to register a qualifying point, losing both of their opening games to Uruguay (4-1) and Colombia (2-1).

Prediction

The Albiceleste are expected to coast to a comfortable victory in the Monumental, and with the talent Alejandro Sabella can put on the field it is hard to see Friday's encounter going any other way.

Editor's Prediction

Argentina 3-0 Bolivia

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11.11. (Fri) 20:45 Ukraine - Germany

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

UKRAINE Rybka Butko, Kucher, Kryvtsov, Selin Tymoshchuk, Rotan Nazarenko, Konoplyanka, Yarmolenko Milevskiy

GERMANY Wiese Boateng, Mertesacker, Hummels, Aogo Khedira Muller, Gotze, Ozil, Podolski Gomez

Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin has a veritable scroll of injuries to cope with – 10 in total – which include all-time top scorer Andriy Shevchenko, former Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy and ex-Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin, who, in particular, will be missed due to his excellent club form this season with Dinamo Moscow.

Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, Oleksandr Aliyev, Oleh Husyev, Yevhen Khacheridi, Taras Mykhalyk, Denys Harmash, Oleksiy Gai make up the rest of the absentee list.

On the plus side, Blokhin will have the steel of Bayern Munich stalwart Anatoliy Tymoshchuk as well as Dynamo Kiev star Artem Milevskiy. Additionally, Voskla Poltava's up-and-coming forward Roman Bezus is likely to make his debut.

Germany coach Joachim Low looks set for some experimentation, stating that he would like to try out playing Borussia Dortmund prodigy Mario Gotze and Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil together. Veteran striker Miroslav Klose joins Marco Reus on the injury list, while Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer are likely to rejoin the squad on Saturday for the fixture against Netherlands next week.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Mario Gomez is on par with Cristiano Ronaldo in the European Golden Shoe table this season with 13 goals. Lionel Messi is one goal ahead.

• Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has played at Bayern Munich since 2009, winning the Bundesliga title in his first season at the Bavarian giants.

• Had Andriy Voronin been fit, his expertise in dealing with German footballers may have come in handy as he has played at a total of five Bundesliga clubs: Borussia Monchengladbach, Mainz, Koln, Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen.

• The last German team to line up in Kiev was Leverkusen, who played against Dynamo at the Lobanovsky in the 2004-05 Champions League. One of the two scorers for Leverkusen in their 4-2 loss was Voronin.

• Ukraine qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and reached the quarter-finals after winning a penalty shoot-out against Switzerland, only to then lose 3-0 to eventual winners Italy.

Prediction

In light of some of Germany's usual suspects being missing from their defence, miscommunication could cost Die Mannschaft a goal. However, depending on a number of factors - Gotze and Ozil's ability to play together being a possible candidate - do not be surprised if the visitors run riot for the majority of the game.

Editor's Prediction

Ukraine 1-3 Germany

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11.11. (Fri) 20:45 Poland - Italy

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

POLAND Szczesny Wasilewski, Perquis, Wawrzyniak, Piszczek Murawski, PolanskiBlaszczykowski, Mierzejewski, Peszko Lewandowski

ITALY Buffon Maggio, Ogbonna, Chiellini, Criscito De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio Balotelli, Pazzini, Pepe

Poland coach Franciszek Smuda will use the encounter against Italy to gauge the strength of his side ahead of the European Championship finals next year. Smuda will count on Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski to provide the firepower in attack as the duo have scored the team's last six goals.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be without several key players upfront for Friday's encounter. Antonio Cassano is recovering from heart surgery and is expected to miss four to six months while Giuseppe Rossi is sidelined with a serious knee injury and might miss the Euro 2012 finals. Sebastian Giovinco was sent home earlier in the week after tests showed he had suffered a muscle strain.

Angelo Ogbonna will likely make his debut for the Azzurri as Andrea Ranocchia and Andrea Barzagli are dealing with minor injuries and will not play. Alessandro Matri was recalled to the squad while Antonio Di Natale was omitted altogether.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Poland have scored eight goals in their last five encounters while keeping two clean sheets during that span. 

• The Euro 2012 co-hosts are unbeaten in their last five international friendlies, winning two and drawing three.

• Franciszek Smuda's side are currently 64th in the Fifa rankings.

• Italy went undefeated in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, earning 26 points from 10 games.

• The Azzurri finished first in Group C, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two.

• Cesare Prandelli's men have won two out of their last three friendlies including a 2-0 triumph over world champions Spain.

Prediction

Poland will be fired up in front of a capacity crowd and will give the Italians all they can handle in what will be more than a friendly for the home side.

Editor's Prediction

Poland 1-1 Italy

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11.11. (Fri) 20:45 Estonia - Ireland

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

ESTONIA Pareiko Jaager, Teniste, Barengrub, Klavan, Stepanov  Vunk, Dmitrijev, Puri Kink, Ahjupera

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Given Kelly, Dunne, St. Ledger, Ward McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff Keane, Walters

Estonia coach Tarmo Ruutli has made a few changes to his squad for the play-off match. Sergei Zejnov injured his knee on Sunday in a match with his club side Karpaty Lviv, so Vladimir Voskoboinikov will take his place in the squad.

Andrei Sidorenkov also returns to the side, having last played in June's 2-0 defeat to the Faroe Islands.

Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given sat out training on Tuesday due to a neck injury but was able to return to action and is expected to start in goal. Richard Dunne and Keith Fahey also missed Tuesday's training session but both have shook off niggling injuries and have been passed fit. John O'Shea, however, remains a major doubt due to a hamstring problem and may not be risked.


Giovanni Trapattoni is likely to call on Jonathan Walters to partner Robbie Keane up front as Shane Long is injured and Kevin Doyle is suspended for the first leg.

DID YOU KNOW?

• There have only been two previous encounters between Estonia and Republic of Ireland. The Irish won both matches 2-0.

• Estonia have never qualified for the Uefa European Championship or Fifa World Cup.

• Estonia claimed nine points out of nine in the last three matches of their group qualifiers to clinch the play-off place in group C. They defeated Northern Ireland twice and Slovenia once.

• Republic of Ireland have only reached one European Championship tournament before, the 1988 finals in West Germany.

• The Irish have conceded just one goal in their last 861 minutes of football and it was a consolation strike for Armenia in last month's 2-1 victory at the Aviva Stadium.

• Giovanni Trapattoni's men are unbeaten in their last nine international matches, winning six times and drawing three.

Prediction

The Irish have been somewhat draw specialists recently and an away tie in the first leg would be a good result for Giovanni Trapattoni's side. Estonia would also view this as a good building block going into the second leg on Tuesday so a share of the spoils looks the most likely scenario.

Editor's Prediction

Estonia 1-1 Ireland

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11.11. (Fri) 20:30 Netherlands - Switzerland

PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Braafheid Van Bommel, StrootmanVan Persie, Sneijder, Kuyt L. de Jong

SWITZERLAND Benaglio Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Von Bergen, Rodriguez Inler, Dzemaili Shaqiri, Fernandes, Mehmedi Emeghara

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk will have to make do without the services of regulars such as Erik Pieters (PSV), Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona) and Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) due to various injury problems, while young defender Jeffrey Bruma is also unavailable.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke) has been training with a mask due to a fractured nose, and is doubtful for Friday's clash.

The absence of Pieters and Robben means that Hoffenheim's Edson Braafheid is likely to start at left-back, while Arsenal star Robin van Persie should get the nod in a free role from the rigth wing.

Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld was dealt several blows as Reto Ziegler (Fenerbahce), Valon Behrami (Fiorentina) and Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen) were all forced to withdraw from the squad over the past few days, while Philippe Senderos (Fulham) is out of action as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Netherlands  have met Switzerland on 32 occasions before. Both sides have recorded 15 victories each, with the remaining two games ending in a draw.

• Oranje striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has already netted 21 goals in official games this term. Only Barcelona's Lionel Messi has scored more in Europe's summer-commencing leagues.

• Holland were beaten for the first time since the 2010 World Cup final when they lost to Sweden in last month's Euro 2012 qualifier.

• Switzerland beat Holland 2-1 the last time the two teams met. A Tranquillo Barnetta brace was enough for a friendly win in Geneva.

• Servette defender Vincent Rufli is the only uncapped player in Hitzfeld's squad for Friday's encounter.

• No player in the current Switzerland squad has scored more than four goals for the national side.

Prediction

The Dutch will be eager to return to winning ways after their loss against Sweden in their last game and their individual quality should prove to be too much for Switzerland. Both Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie have been in stunning form this term, while players such as Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder will be eager to show their class following difficult spells at club level. Switzerland on the other hand are without several key players and will be low on confidence after missing out on Euro 2012. A win for Oranje seems to be the most logical outcome on Friday.

Editor's Prediction

Netherlands 2-0 Switzerland

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11.11. (Fri) 20:30 Cameroon - Sudan

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CAMEROON Ndy Angbwa, Allan, Mandjeck, Nounkeu Matip, Song, Nguemo, Moting Aboubacar, Eto'o

SUDAN Omer Amir, Mohammed, Alaeldin,Musaab Hitham, Saifeldin, Bakri, Bala Mudathir, Tambal

With much faith in the future, Cameroon are doing a major overhaul of their outfit, and newly-appointed coach Denis Lavagne hopes to present a team with an upgraded outlook at the LG Cup, as a response to the FA’s pressing need to see a renewed set up ahead of the qualifiers of the 2013 Afcon and the 2014 World Cup.
Although already hamstrung with a series of injuries, the Frenchman is conscious of the fact that the mini-tournament will be his baptism of fire, which will either silence his original critics or increase their number. The clash with hosts Morocco will greatly determine the current form of the Indomitable Lions, while playing Sudan will usher them into the tournament and open early judgement.
After qualifying for the 2012 Afcon, Sudan say they intend to step up efforts to amend a number of deficiencies evinced during the qualifying campaign, especially in the defence and the attack. The LG Cup will help confirm the weak hands, sift them out and steel the team against the challenges of Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012.
The Falcons of Jediane are beginning the campaign against a very physical side in Cameroon, composed of puissant attackers and midfielders, but endowed with immense stamina, coupled with their disruptive massive attacking play, the Sudanese may be a difficult opponent for the Lions.

DID YOU KNOW

• Sudan was the first nation to host the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1957 when they finished third and in 1970 when they clinched their first and only title till date, after beating Cameroon 1-0 in the semi-final.

• Cameroon failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations only twice since 1982. They have participated in 21 editions, winning four.

• The Indomitable Lions have the record (along with Senegal and Ghana) of progressing to the quarter-final of a World Cup in 1990, becoming the first African side to do so.

Prediction
With the presence of team captain Samuel Eto’o, Arsenal’s midfielder Alex Song, Joel Matip, etc, Cameroon have the necessary arms to subdue Sudan, if mixed with their natural fighting spirit. But the Falcons, who held Ghana to a goalless draw at home during the qualifiers, will be far from intimidated. 

Editor's Prediction

Cameroon 3-1 Sudan

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11.11. (Fri) 20:15 Czech - Montenegro

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CZECH REPUBLIC Cech Sivok, Selassie, R. Hubnik, KadlecMatejovsky, Kolar Jiracek, Rosicky, PlasilBaros

MONTENEGRO M. Bozovic Zverotic, Dzudovic, Savic, V. Bozovic Pekovic, Kascelan Vukcevic, Jovetic, Boskovic Vucinic

Czech shot-stopper Petr Cech broke his nose playing for Chelsea against Blackburn Rovers last weekend, but the experienced goalkeeper should be given the green light to start on Friday and is expected to take to the field with a protective mask.
Tomas Hubnik is suspended so his brother Roman is likely to partner Theodor Gebre Selassie at the back while Marek Matejovsky is expected to replace the banned Tomas Hubschman in midfield.
Montenegro have been boosted by the return of Branko Boskovic, who is set to replace Fatos Beciraj in attacking midfield. Marko Basa is injured so Miodrag Dzudovic will partner Manchester City's Stefan Savic at the centre of defence as Montenegro look to reach their first ever major tournament as an independent nation.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Czech Republic's first European Championship after separating from Slovakia came in 1996 where they reached the final, losing 2-1 to Germany.

• Michal Bilek's side reached the Euro 2012 play-offs by finishing second in Group I with 13 points, 11 points behind winners Spain.

• The two sides have never met before in an international fixture, but will play one another twice in the space of four days.

• Montenegro will be hoping to reach their first ever major tournament with victory over two legs.

• Since the nation's first competitive fixture in 2007, Mirko Vucinic has scored 11 goals and is currently Montenegro's all-time leading goalscorer.

• Branko Brnovic's team secured the runner-up place in Group G behind England, pipping Switzerland by one point.

Prediction

This will be a tight affair so expect Montenegro to earn a draw in Prague. The Czechs are not as strong as they used to be and will meet their match against a rapidly improving Montenegrin side.

Editor's Prediction

Czech Rep. 1-1 Montenegro

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