Preview: Switzerland - Turkey

Switzerland - Turkey (Group A)
We 11.06.08 20:45 Stadion: St. Jakob-Park (Basel)

A victory for the UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts would rekindle their hopes of progress from the group stage. Magnin is ready to take over the captain's armband in place of the injured Alexander Frei. But also for the Turkish team it’s a game with finale character, because they also lost their first game versus Portugal. Still in mind is the last game between Switzerland and Turkey in World Cup Qualification 2006. After a 2-0 home win for Switzerland, Turkey won the return game 4-2 and Switzerland was qualified for the World Cup 2006 in Germany. At all Turkey won 3 of the last 6 games versus Switzerland.

Possible Linups:

Switzerland:
1 Benaglio - 5 Lichtsteiner, 20 Müller, 4 Senderos, 3 Magnin - 19 Behrami, 8 Inler, 15 Fernandes, 16 Barnetta - 11 Streller, 10 Yakin

Turkey:
23 Volkan Demirel - 22 Hamit Altintop, 2 Servet Cetin, 15 Emre Asik, 3 Hakan Balta - 18 Kazim Kazim, 7 Mehmet Aurelio, 5 Emre Belözoglu - 21 Mevlüt Erdinc, 8 Nihat Kahveci, 17 Tuncay Sanli

Analysis:

Switzerland had bad luck versus Czech Republic while Turkey had no chance versus Portugal. With the home advantage I prefer Switzerland tonight.

Pick: win for Switzerland – expect.com Odds 2.30 + £25 for all new customers

Preview Germany - Poland

Germany - Poland (Group B)
08.06.2008 20:45 - Stadion: Wörthersee Stadion (Klagenfurt)

Germany and Poland faced each other at the 2006 FIFA World Cup – when Poland Coach Beenhakker was coaching Trinidad & Tobago – as substitute Oliver Neuville scored the winner in added time to give the tournament hosts a 1-0 victory. Today in Klagenfurt Poland has the next chance to win against Germany, but Germany wants to continue their serial against Poland (in 15 games Germany never lost).

After the unimpressive friendly games against Serbia (2-1) and Belarus (2-2) the German team, coached by Jogi Löw, had a perfect scheduling and they are very optimistic and they have ambition to win the EURO a fourth time.

In scheduling Poland was outplayed by USA 0-3 and also versus Albania (1-0), Denmark (1-1) and Macedonia (1-1) the polish team couldn’t convince. Blaszczykowski received an injury and so Leo Beenhakker had to nominate Lukasz Piszczek.

Possible Linups:

Germany:
Lehmann - Lahm, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Jansen - Frings, Ballack - C. Fritz, Schweinsteiger - Klose, Podolski

Poland:
Boruc - Wasilewski, J. Bak, Mi. Zewlakow, Wawrzyniak - Lewandowski, Dudka - Lobodzinski, Krzynowek - Zurawski – Smolarek

Analysis:

Germany has an almost perfect statistic versus Poland. I believe this game will be very exciting like 2 years ago in Dortmund, but I think also in Klagenfurt Germany will get the better end.

Pick: win for Germany – Expect.com Odds 1.50 + £25 first deposit bonus

Euro 2008: Preview Austria – Croatia

Austria – Croatia (Group B)
08.06.2008 18:00 – Stadion: Ernst-Happel-Stadion (Wien)

On Sunday Austria plays versus Croatia in Vienna. The second Host Austria, coached by Josef Hickersberger, is the clearest outsider in this tournament and they can’t lose at all, because everyone expects a defeat. Croatia won the last friendly game between both teams two years ago 4-1 (Vienna 2006). In the last friendly games this year (vs. Germany 0-3, vs. Netherlands 3-4, vs. Nigeria 1-1 and vs. Malta 5-1) Austria could draw hope for the Euro 2008. Croatia, which has the possibility to win the EURO according to the Coach Slaven Bilic, is still searching for the great form since the historic victory in England (3-2). The last friendly games Croatia was unimpressive (vs. Scotland 1:1, vs. Netherlands 0:3, vs. Macedonia 1:0 and in Hungary they played 1:1.

At least Coach Bilic has his starting eleven in his mind, while Coach Hickersberger still doesn’t know who will be the first goalkeeper in the Austrian team.

Possible Linups:

Austria:
Macho (Manninger) - Prödl, Stranzl, Pogatetz - Leitgeb, Aufhauser, J. Säumel - Harnik, C. Fuchs - Ivanschitz - Linz

Croatia:
Pletikosa - Corluka, R. Kovac, Simunic, Pranjic - N. Kovac - Srna, Modric, Kranjcar - Olic, Petric

Analysis:

Austria is outsider, but with the euphoria of the home team this game could be exciting if Austria can make the first goal. I expect a lot of goals, because Austria defence was unconvincingly and in every friendly game they made at minimum one big mistake.

Pick: Over 2.5 Goals – WillHill Odds 2.1 + 25 GBP free bet

Euro 2008: Preview Switzerland – Czech Republic

Switzerland - Czech Republic (Group A)
07.06.2008 18:00 - Stadion: St. Jakob-Park (Basel)

The time has come. The euro starts with the game of co-Host Switzerland and Czech Republic. It is the first game in the younger past against each other. While Czech Rebublic coach Karel Brueckner can select his best team, his opponent is worried about Tranquillo Barnetta from Bayer Leverkusen. After the final test it seems like he is also able to play. It will be the first competitive match for the Swiss since 2 years. Switzerland starts this year with two defeats against Germany and England. But the last two friendly games could be won against Slovakia (2-0) and Liechtenstein (3-0). The Swiss hopes rest on Alexander Frei, he shall score against Czech Republic. In scheduling Czech Republic won versus Scotland (3-1) and Lithuania (2-0). Just at the beginning of the year they were outplayed by Poland with 0:1

Possible Linups:

Switzerland:
Benaglio - Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Mueller, Magnin - Behrami, Inler, Fernandes, Barnetta - Frei, Streller

Czech Republic:
Cech - Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski - Jarolim, Galasek, Plasil - Sionko, Baros - Koller

Analysis:

For both teams the opening game of the Euro 2008 is something special. The Swiss team has to get on with the pressure of the co-host and the Czech team want to make their preliminary round out at the World Cup 2006 forgotten. For me it is a capricious game, although I prefer the Czech team, but opening games have their on character. I don’t think that we will see a lot of goals.

Pick: Under 2.5 Goals Expect.com Odds 1.60 + £25 first deposit Bonus

Result: Austria vs Malta

Friday:
Austria vs Malta 5:1 (2:1) our pick 1