France v Ukraine

Internationals / Editor / 31 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

, Saturday 20.00
Normal service might be resumed in Group B this week, as last year's World Cup finalists have the chance to oust Ukraine and Scotland from the qualification spots. Italy travel to the Faroe Islands and Lithuania, whilst France host Ukraine and Georgia.

France are level on 12 points with Ukraine and Scotland but are in third place due to their shock defeat against the Scots. Oleg Blokhin's outfit have lost once, in Italy, and are currently on offer at 2.72 to qualify.

The return clash between these two sides is on the final matchday in late November and Raymond Domenech's men will not want to have qualification in the balance ahead of that trip. It would be a serious shock if the French did miss out, as they qualified for the last two major tournaments unbeaten, winning all eight qualifiers in reaching Euro 2004.

Punters still expect the two-time winners to progress from this so-called 'Group of Death', with France trading at 1.18 to qualify and 1.82 to do so as group winners. They have injury problems ahead of this clash, with Thierry Henry (their top scorer in qualifying), Willy Sagnol, Louis Saha and captain Patrick Vieira all absent.

Ukraine have their own concerns, travelling without Andrei Shevchenko, Sergei Rebrov and Artem Milevskiy. They can rely on the automatic qualifying route as joint hosts of the 2012 tournament, but must break a run of non-qualification if they are to reach Austria and Switzerland next summer.

They did come close in 2000, finishing one point behind France in their group before losing a two-legged play-off to Slovenia. 2004 was a less-impressive campaign that saw them finish seven points adrift of qualifiers Greece and Spain.

Both teams enjoyed 1-0 wins over Lithuania in their last qualifying outings and have kept three clean sheets in five to date. Their clashes in the Euro 2000 qualifying stage ended goalless and, with both sides missing their star strikers for this one, a goal feast is not expected. France trade at 1.58 to triumph, with the away win available at 7.8 and 3.95 the draw.

Wales v Czech Republic, Saturday 15.00

The traditional Welsh disappointment in qualifying tournaments is this time combined with the realisation that Ryan Giggs will never play in a major tournament. The Manchester United star retires from international football after this match, having played 64 times for his country since his debut in 1991.

Wales have only appeared on the big stage once, at the 1958 World Cup finals, and their qualification campaign this time around is already all but over. They have won two and lost three so far and have slipped to 50 in the qualification market.

Group D is one of the toughest, despite the presence of whipping boys San Marino. Germany and Czech Republic were expected to progress but Slovakia and Republic of Ireland have mounted strong challenges whilst Cyprus have held Germany and put five past Ireland, suggesting the Dragons had an uphill battle as soon as the draw was made.

They went down to a late goal to the Czechs in their opening fixture but have not recovered from a 5-1 hammering by Slovakia in their first home fixture. Two upcoming encounters with in-form Germany means this Giggs' send-off is also a must-win clash. They trade at 5.6 to claim the three points.

The Czechs, in contrast to their World Cup record, have a decent pedigree in the European Championships. Winners as Czechoslovakia in 1976, they lost the 1996 final to a German golden goal in their first appearance after partition, and were semi-finalists last time around. They trade at 25 to go the distance next summer.

Karel Brückner's men are sandwiched between Germany and Ireland at the top of the group, with all three sitting on 13 points. Germany have games in hand and, with home games against San Marino and Slovakia this week, should hang on to top spot.

The three-time winners beat the Czechs in the battle of the big guns, apparently leaving Brückner's outfit in a battle for second spot. They are available at 1.15 to qualify and at 4.6 to claim first place.

Czech Republic dropped only two points in advancing from a Euro 2004 qualification pool that included the Netherlands and they were unlucky to depart the tournament, having effectively not lost a game: their semi-final defeat to Greece was after extra time.

Milan Baroš was the top scorer in that tournament and his prolific partnership with Jan Koller remains the Czechs' main strength. They have already hit the net seven times in qualifying and Wales will hope that they have their own hot-shot, with Freddy Eastwood receiving his first call-up. The away win is available at 1.77 with 3.8 the draw.

Denmark v Sweden, Saturday 19.00

This Scandinavian clash is a crucial fixture in an intriguingly poised Group F. Surprise leaders Northern Ireland have a one-point advantage over Sweden and are five clear of Denmark, although Morten Olsen's men have two games in hand.

The 1992 winners could put themselves back in the qualification picture with wins over Sweden and Latvia, who they visit on Wednesday. They trade at 2 to qualify and have the advantage of playing five of their remaining eight games at home.

Sweden are the group's top seeds and began impressively, winning their first four, including a 2-0 win over Spain. They slipped to a 2-1 defeat in Belfast last time out, but remain popular in the qualification markets, trading at 1.43 to advance and at 2.44 to do so as group winners.

They have reached the last five major tournaments and reached the quarter-finals last time around with Denmark, after the pair shared a 2-2 draw in the first round. The draw is available at 3.35, with Denmark trading at 2.28 and Sweden at 3.75.

The Swedes have been boosted by the return of Zlatan Ibrahimović from injury, although Erik Edman and Kim Källström are missing. Denmark are without the suspended Niclas Jensen, while striker Morten Rasmussen has received his first international call-up.