10.09. (Tue) 20:45 Ukraine - England

Group H leaders England can take a huge step towards World Cup qualification if they can see off the threat of Ukraine on Tuesday.



Roy Hodgson's side, who are level with Montenegro on 15 points but ahead on goal difference, ran out 4-0 winners against Moldova on Friday and they remain the only unbeaten side in the Group H.



But Ukraine, who hammered San Marino 9-0, are only a point behind and they will sense an opportunity to overhaul their visitors in Kiev.



England have problems up front, too, with Wayne Rooney (head), Daniel Sturridge (thigh) and Danny Welbeck (suspended) all consigned to a watching brief.



That leaves Southampton's Rickie Lambert as their main threat and his international career has got off to a flying start, with two goals in as many games.



Hodgson has experience to call on in other areas of the pitch, though, and he has cited Manchester City midfielder James Milner as a key player for the tricky trip to eastern Europe.



"We know what James will do," Hodgson said. "He isn't, and doesn't pretend to be, as exciting as some of the wingers we sometimes use these days.



"After a long period of time where I've not seen many wingers in the country, I'm now seeing lots of them. But we are going to need experience in Kiev. Milner is not a winger, but the qualities he brings could be very useful."



England will need to break a pattern that has emerged during their qualifying campaign if they are to earn some breathing space at the top of the group. On each of the previous three occasions that they have won, they have followed it up with a draw.



They are, however, the group's top scorers, with a commanding 25-goal tally from their seven games, with Ukraine's 19-goal haul the next-best total.



Ukraine are enjoying an excellent run of form, with 15 goals and four clean sheets from their last four matches.



Mykhaylo Fomenko's men were impressive against England at Wembley last September, when it took Frank Lampard's late penalty to deny them all three points following Yevhen Konoplyanka's first-half opener.



They will be eager to lay to rest bitter memories of their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, which ended in disappointment after they finished runners-up to England.



Despite qualifying for the play-offs, they were beaten 1-0 on aggregate by Greece, denying them the chance to try to better their performance at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where they reached the quarter-finals.

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International Opta Facts (UK teams) – September 10

Macedonia v Scotland

Macedonia and Scotland have a perfectly even record in previous clashes, winning one apiece with one draw.

Macedonia collected a 1-0 victory in their one previous home clash against Scotland, back in qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

The Red Lynx have won five and lost just one of their last six home internationals.

Aleksandar Trajkovski has scored a goal inside the final 10 minutes of each of Macedonia's last two internationals.

No team has been shown more yellow cards in European World Cup qualification than Macedonia (23).

Scotland have lost four of their last five internationals.



Wales v Serbia

Serbia's 6-1 hammering of Wales in Novi Sad back in September 2012 came in their first meeting against Chris Coleman's side as an independent nation, although they did do the double over them as Serbia and Montenegro back in qualification for Euro 2004.

Wales have conceded more goals from outside the box than any other European side qualifying for the 2014 World Cup (six).

Gareth Bale has scored four of Wales' seven goals in World Cup 2014 qualifications.

Serbia have lost three consecutive away internationals; they have never lost four in a row as an independent nation.

Indeed, the White Eagles have won none and lost four of their last five competitive away games.

Just one of Wales' last 48 international games has ended in a draw.



Austria v Republic of Ireland

Austria have won four and lost just one of seven competitive meetings with Ireland (D2).

In six previous away games against Austria, Ireland have won none, lost five and conceded 19 goals, scoring just twice themselves.

In each of the last three games that Austria have scored in, Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has been one of the scorers.

After defeat to Germany in their opening home game, Das Team have won three consecutive qualifiers in Vienna, scoring 12 in the process.

Ireland have scored just one goal in their last four away games combined (D3 L1).



Luxembourg v Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland have won one and drawn one of two previous internationals against Luxembourg.

Luxembourg have won just one of their last 13 internationals (D3 L8).

Aurélien Joachim has scored in two consecutive internationals for the Red Lions.

The Red Lions have only won five home games in all competitions since 1995, and all four have ended 2-1.

Michael O'Neill's side have won just one of their last 15 internationals, drawing five and losing nine.

On the road, Norn Iron have not won a game since September 2010, when they won 1-0 in Slovenia (D3 L7).

Northern Ireland have been caught offside more often than any other team in European World Cup qualification this time around (33).



Ukraine v England

This will be England's seventh meeting with Ukraine, and their third already under Roy Hodgson. The Three Lions have won four and lost just one of their previous six (D1).

England's only away game in Ukraine ended in defeat (excluding neutral venues), however, though Fabio Capello's side had already qualified for the 2010 World Cup when they lost there in October 2009.

England have only lost one of their last 13 competitive away games (excluding neutral venues), but that defeat came in Ukraine (W9 D3).

The Three Lions have found the net in 15 of their last 16 competitive away games, but once again the blank in this run came in Ukraine (0-1).

Injured striker Wayne Rooney has netted in each of England's last three World Cup qualifiers on the road and also netted in England's last away friendly in Brazil.

Roy Hodgson's side have found the net in 29 of their last 30 internationals in all competitions, with the exception being a 0-0 draw with Italy in Euro 2012 that ended in a penalty shootout defeat.

Excluding that shootout defeat, England have not lost a competitive game since the 2010 World Cup hammering by Germany (W11 D8).

Roy Hodgson has, however, seen his side alternate between a win and a draw in their last nine competitive fixtures. For this run to continue, this game must end level.

Frank Lampard could make his 100th international appearance in this game, becoming the eighth player to reach the milestone.

Since Lampard's debut in 1999, 99 different players have debuted for the Three Lions.

Ukraine have won seven and lost none of their last eight internationals, keeping four consecutive clean sheets and conceding just two in total in this run.

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07.09. (Sat) 21:15 Brazil - Australia

Brazil have been weakened by injuries but their depth should still mean they are good enough to overcome Australia on Saturday.



Full-back Dani Alves (knee) and striker Hulk (thigh) have been ruled out of the clash, while the Socceroos are missing star forward Tim Cahill (ankle).



The Confederations Cup holders are also preparing for a friendly against Portugal and may start with a more experimental line-up against Australia - although they are still likely to control proceedings from the off.



Scolari's men have only lost twice this year – including a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland last time out – as they prepare for the World Cup.



Barcelona star Neymar is fit to lead the attack for Felipao's men, while Alves' absence means Maicon may start at right-back with David Luiz and Thiago Silva to command the back four.



Even if some of their bigger names are rested with an eye to the Portugal clash, Brazil are likely to send Saturday's opponents a warning about what to expect from a top side at the World Cup.

Australia have friendlies against the Selecao and France as their next two clashes in what is an ideal build-up to the 2014 finals.



Australia coach Holger Osieck will learn plenty about where his team sits and has named close to a full-strength squad for the encounter in Brasilia.



The Socceroos defence will be tested by a star-studded Brazil side, so Osieck is likely to start his preferred back four in Luke Wilkshire, Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski and Matt McKay.



Under the German, the Socceroos have shown they are capable of sitting back and getting results, highlighted by their 1-1 draw in Japan in a qualifier in June.



With Cahill injured, Josh Kennedy is likely to get a start up front, while Central Coast striker Mitchell Duke, who impressed at the East Asian Cup, may also get an opportunity.

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League 2 Opta Facts: 7 September

Burton v Oxford Utd

Burton Albion have never lost at home in the league to Oxford United (D2 L1).

Oxford United have now gone eight games unbeaten in league competition; winning six of them.

Three of the last four meetings between these teams have ended in a draw.

Burton scored five goals over the two games featuring these teams last season; Oxford scored just one.

Only Torquay (5) have accumulated more points from losing positions than Oxford (4).



Cheltenham v Portsmouth

Cheltenham Town have lost three of their last four league matches (W1 L3).

Portsmouth's David Connolly is the joint league top scorer with four goals.

Pompey have kept just one clean sheet in their last six league games.

These teams have never met in league competition.

Cheltenham Town (along with Accrington Stanley) have conceded the most goals so far this season in League Two (11).



Chesterfield v Accrington

Chesterfield are unbeaten in seven league games; winning six of them.

Accrington Stanley are on a run of six league games without a win (D1 L5).

The Spirerites have kept four clean sheets in their last six league matches.

The Lancashire club average a goal every 150 minutes; the worst rate in League Two this season.

Gary Roberts has three assists so far this campaign; only Craig Jones (4) has more in League Two.



Dag & Red v Exeter

Dagenham & Redbridge have only managed one clean sheet in their last eight league games.

Exeter City have either scored two goals in a match or failed to score at all in their last eight league games.

Dagenham & Redbridge have won just one game in their last eight league fixtures (D2 L5).

Exeter have been awarded more corners (42) than any other team so far this season in League Two.

Alan Gow has the best minutes/goal ratio of any player in League Two, averaging a goal every 57.5 minutes (minimum 45 minutes played).



Fleetwood v Torquay

These teams have met twice before in league competition; Fleetwood Town are yet to lose (W1 D1).

Torquay United failed to score against Fleetwood Town in their two previous showdowns.

There were just three yellow cards shown over the two games featuring these sides last season.

Only Michael Smith (9) has had more shots on target in League Two this season than Fleetwood's David Ball (8).

Torquay have lost just once in their last eight games in league competition (W3 D4).



Hartlepool v Wycombe

Hartlepool United have failed to beat Wycombe in their last four league meetings (D1 L3).

Wycombe Wanderers have never managed a clean sheet away at Hartlepool United.

Wycombe scored eight goals against Hartlepool in the 2011/12 season; conceding just one.

No team in League Two has received as many yellow cards as Wycombe this season (13).

Dean Morgan has been booked more than any other player this season (4).



Newport v Mansfield

Newport County have failed to score in three of their last four league meetings with Mansfield Town.

Mansfield Town have won four of the last five league games against Newport (W4 L1).

Just one of the last nine league games between these teams have ended in a draw.

These two teams are both on eight points heading into this fixture.

Lindon Meikle is second on the minutes to goals ratio list in League Two this season; averaging a goal every 72 minutes (minimum of 45 minutes played).



Northampton v Scunthorpe

Northampton Town have managed only one win in their last eight against Scunthorpe in the league (D3 L4).

Scunthorpe United have scored in each of their last eight league meetings against Northampton.

14 goals were scored in the two matches last season.

Northampton have scored in their last six home league meetings to Scunthorpe.

Roy O'Donovan has been offside more than any other play in League Two this season (12).



Plymouth v Bristol Rovers

Plymouth Argyle have lost only twice in their last 13 home leagues to Bristol Rovers (W4 D7).

Bristol Rovers have gone 10 league games without a clean sheet against Plymouth.

The Devon side have lost just one of their last eight against Bristol Rovers in the league (W5 D2).

The Pilgrims are yet to draw a game this season (W2 L3).

Conor Hourihane scored in both meetings last season for Plymouth Argyle.



Rochdale v Bury

Rochdale have scored 10 goals in their last four league meetings with Bury.

Bury have beaten Rochdale just twice in seven league games (D2 L3).

Rochdale have failed to score against Bury only once in the last 12 league meetings.

Bury's Craig Jones has the most assists in League Two this season (4).

No side has recorded more shots off target so far this season in League Two than Rochdale (35).



Southend v Morecambe

Southend have never beaten Morecambe in the league (D1 L5).

Morecambe have scored in every league game against the Essex side.

Southend's Freddy Eastwood is the joint top scorer with four goals in League Two.

Morecambe have kept three clean sheets against Southend United in their six league meetings.

Morecambe have salvaged three points from losing positions this season; the third highest total in the division.



York v Wimbledon

York City have lost both games they have played against AFC Wimbledon in league competition.

Wimbledon have scored six goals in two league games against York City.

AFC Wimbledon have attempted more shots (including blocked) than any other team so far this season in League Two (76).

Only one side (Bury 56.25%) have averaged a higher share of possession than York City (55.6%) so far this season in the league.

Wimbledon's Andrew Frampton has made the joint-highest number of blocks in the league this season (5).

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07.09. (Sat) 04:30 Peru - Uruguay

Uruguay welcomed eight of their European-based players into the squad on Monday ahead of the weekend’s World Cup qualifier in Peru.



Among those who arrived were Diego Godin, Alvaro Pereira and Diego Perez as Oscar Tabarez prepares his side for the crucial match in Lima.



Uruguay currently occupy fifth spot, which would leave them having to compete in a two legged play-off with a qualifier from the Asian section - Jordan or Uzbekistan.



Tabarez has one of the world’s strongest forward lines at his disposal with the trio of Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez all available.



The coach should benefit from all three being fully focused, with Cavani having moved to Paris Saint-Germain early in the summer and Suarez still at Liverpool despite speculation about a move during the transfer window.



Uruguay will be hoping for a repeat of the reverse fixture, when goals from Suarez, Maxi Pereira, Cristian Rodriguez and Sebastian Eguren handed them a 4-2 victory.



Tabarez acknowledged the enormity of the game as the qualification process heads towards a conclusion.



“Victory will be a great result for us,” he said.



“If it’s a draw, that benefits us. If we win, I think we will draw a significant advantage because after that there are only three games left.”



Peru currently sit seventh in the standings, just two points behind Uruguay with four games remaining.



Yordy Reyna and Carlos Zambrano were the last players to join up with Sergio Markarian’s squad in Lima, and Reyna was quick to underline his willingness to help the team.



“This game we have to win because we are playing at home,” he said.



“I will contribute to the team when they need me.”



Winger Paolo Hurtado, of Pacos de Ferreira, echoed the sentiments of Reyna.



“The match against Uruguay will be very difficult but we will go above and beyond for the three points,” he said.



“I feel great. If I play or not, that will be determined by the coach, but I always come prepared to play for Peru.”

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