The Home Nations Continue the Journey

Earlier on today, Friday, at 1600 BST the qualifying journey to Poland and Ukraine continued with Armenia hosting Slovakia, the current main opposition for the top spot in the Republic of Ireland's group.  Tonight Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have key home games against Italy and Russia respectively.  Scotland have a tough journey to Prague to face a Czech Republic side which need to bounce back from a poor home defeat to Lithuania.  England don't play during this set of games but will on Tuesday, the games from their group which are going on today are Wales v Bulgaria and Montenegro v Switzerland.  There aren't many other key games out their but Portugal desperately needing a win host Denmark and a interesting tie between Germany and Turkey which only contains one player, Nuri Sahin, in both squads that is playing for a club currently ranked in the Top 3 of the Bundesliga.

Team News and Predictions

Northern Ireland v Italy
After coming back from injury Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is likely to return to replace former United defender Craig Cathcart.  Other changes appear unlikely with Maribor goal hero Corry Evans again likely to start on the bench.  The captaincy will return to Aaron Hughes for the Windsor Park game.  Northern Ireland will be happy to get a draw front his match but I think Italy will be too much for them, 2-0 Italy.

Republic of Ireland v Russia
Richard Dunne has been passed fit and with Damien Duff ruled out by injury, manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named an unchanged team.  Aiden McGeady and Liam Lawrence stay in the wide midfield roles with Paul Green also retained in the side.  Russia are missing a few key players including Tottenham Hotspur striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.  I see Rep. of Ireland continuing their 100% record with a 2-1 win.

Czech Republic v Scotland
Scotland manager Craig Levein has already released the starting eleven for this match with him handing a debut to QPR striker Jamie Mackie. The untested 25-year-old is preferred to in-form Kenny Miller up front, while fit-again Gary Caldwell starts despite not having played for Wigan this term.  Scotland really need to pick up all three points today before they face World Cup winners Spain on Tuesday.  Czech Republic looked poorer than Scotland against but I can see this being a draw, 1-1.

Wales v Bulgaria
Ashley Williams will lead Wales in Brian Flynn's first game in temporary charge.  Strikers Rob Earnshaw and Ched Evans, along with Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen are among the other absentees.  Stoke City defender Danny Collins has been recalled after a three-year exile.  Wales need to win this or their hopes of going to Ukraine and Poland will be gone.  Bulgaria will win this 2-0.

The other key game is Montenegro v Switzerland, this will determine which one of these sides will challenge England for qualification, Montenegro will win this one 2-0.

David Beckham Returns But Why?

       David Beckham made his first competitive appearance in six months as Los Angeles Galaxy beat Columbus Crew 3-1 at the Home Depot Center.  Beckham had not played since rupturing his Achilles playing on loan for AC Milan in March, which ruled him out of the World Cup, but came on as a replacement after 70 minutes of Galaxy's Major League Soccer clash.

The Return of the Golden Goal

        I awoke this morning to read an article saying that the FIFA president Sepp Blatter has asked two of the governing body’s committees to examine scrapping extra-time at the 2014 World Cup. Blatter also stated that FIFA will be looking into the feasibility of having a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes or the re-introduction of the wonderful golden goal rule, which brought us the delightful scenes after Oliver Bierhoff's goal against Czech Republic in Euro 96 and Laurent Blanc's goal against Paraguay at France 98.

New Intenational Schedule

         As many of you may have noticed this time the the qualifying for the Euro's has changed.  This year the dates for the double headed qualifying matches have been moved to Friday and Tuesday instead of the usual Saturday and Wednesday schedule.  I understand the main reason behind this, it looks to me like club pressure has forced the international schedule to accommodate there players more time to get back home and over jet lag or just have another days rest.