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11 October 2006
Crunch-Time In Zagreb As
Favourites Go Head-To-Head
Steve McClaren's honeymoon
period as England manager officially ended at Old Trafford
on Saturday, one game earlier than expected. His England
side struggled to breakdown a resolute Macedonian defence in
what was expected to be a routine victory, continuing a
sequence of three previous comfortable wins against weak
opposition during his short reign. Having had an easy ride
from the notoriously harsh British media, McClaren will be
conscious of knives-being sharpened as he prepares for what
will be Group E's crunch tie against Croatia, in Zagreb on
Wednesday night. Pinnacle
Sports have full
prices for this crucial Group E clash, and all Euro 2008
qualifiers on the night.
The biggest disappointment
for England against the un-fancied Macedonians was the lack
of creativity in midfield, with the first threat to the
Baltic minnows' goal not coming until just before the
halfway mark. Steven Gerrard was by far the most effective
attacking force, so his suspension from this key clash is a
massive blow to England, already without Aaron Lennon and
Owen Hargreaves through injury.
Wayne Rooney continued his
poor run of form, lacking sharpness in front of goal, and
maintaining his goal-drought in competitive internationals
that stretches back to Euro 2004, where he announced his
arrival on the world stage, coincidentally with two goals to
knock the Croatians out of that tournament. McClaren has
indicated that his patience has not run-out with Rooney, but
his decision is made easier by the lack of a credible
replacement, particularly with Andy Johnson - the
Premiership's top-scorer - injured.
Croatia haven't lost a
home qualifier in five qualification campaigns, and coach
Slaven Bilic, is bullish about the Balkans' chances of
maintaining that record. The 38 year-old has first hand
experience of English football, having played in the
Premiership for West Ham and Everton. His side may not be of
the calibre of his 'Golden Generation' that made it to the
1998 World Cup semi-finals, but they warmed up with a
confidence boosting 7-0 win over Andorra, with Mladen Petric
bagging four goals, and laying claim to the mantle of Dado
Prso and Davor Sukur. Croatia will certainly be assured
passionate support at the capital's Maksimir Stadium, where
the national side have never been beaten. Pinnacle Sports
make Croatia very slight underdogs at 2.04 (0/scratch) with
Steve McClaren's England 1.893 (0/scratch) favourites off
the level handicap.
Tartan Army fans are in
seventh heaven, after Scotland scored an unlikely victory
against World Cup finalists France on Saturday, to top Group
B. The win will however, become just a footnote in
Scotland's chequered football history, if they fail to
maintain Saturday's level of concentration and commitment in
Kiev on Wednesday night. The Scots have produced shocks on
home soil before, but their failure to qualify for the last
four international tournaments, is mostly due to a lack of
consistency, and poor away form. With Italy still to come,
Walter Smith will be concerned that Saturday's win could
just be a flash in the pan.
Scotland's fragility on
the road, will be of even greater concern against a
Ukrainian side with just one defeat from their last
seventeen home ties, and on that basis Pinnacle Sports rate
the Ukrainians 2.09 favourites (-0.5 & -1). Group B is
of the toughest qualifying sections, with Italy and France
certain to be challenging for the two automatic places,
defeat for either side here could effectively ruin their
chances of reaching Austria/Switzerland in two years
time.
Elsewhere across Europe
there are key clashes as qualification gathers pace, and the
main contenders stake their claims. Pinnacle Sports has
lines for Group A's key clash as 2004 finalists Portugal (0
& -0.5, 1.787) visit Poland (0 & +0.5, 2.17), while
the defending champions Greece (0 & -0.5, 2.13), take a
100% record to Bosnia (0 & +0.5, 1.813).
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