malaysia no play keh?

Čech concern for Czech Republic

Czech Republic coach Michal Bílek, already without suspended Tomáš Hübschman, could be missing Petr Čech for the play-off with Montenegro after the keeper broke his nose. Czech Republic coach Michal Bílek, already without suspended midfielder Tomáš Hübschman, could be missing goalkeeper Petr Čech for their UEFA EURO 2012 play-off with Montenegro.

Hübschman is serving the last two games of a three-match ban as the Czech Republic welcome Montenegro to Prague on Friday before the return leg in Podgorica four days later. And now Čech is a doubt after breaking his nose in Chelsea FC's win against Blackburn Rovers FC on Saturday.

"A broken nose is a painful injury, particularly for a goalkeeper who can be the target of challenges from tall strikers," said Bílek. "He will have a special mask from Italy and how he feels will be crucial for my decision about who starts in goal. I hope he will be ready, his presence on the pitch is very important for us because he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world."

Čech will join the squad on Wednesday yet his participation is unsure – although he could wear a mask in addition to his usual headgear. Jaroslav Drobný of Hamburger SV, who started the 2-2 draw with Scotland in September, could fill in.

Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Jaroslav Drobný (Hamburger SV), Jan Laštůvka (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk).

Defenders: Zdeněk Pospěch (1. FSV Mainz 05), Jan Rajnoch (MKE Ankaragücü), Tomáš Sivok (Beşiktaş JK), Theodor Gebreselassie (FC Slovan Liberec), Roman Hubník (HSC Hertha Berlin)*, Daniel Pudil (KRC Genk), Michal Kadlec (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC), Daniel Kolář (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Jaroslav Plašil (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Václav Pilař (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Milan Petržela (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Marek Matějovský (AC Sparta Praha), Petr Jiráček (FC Viktoria Plzeň).

Forwards: Milan Baroš (Galatasaray AŞ), David Lafata (FK Jablonec), Tomáš Pekhart (1. FC Nürnberg), Jan Rezek (Anorthosis Famagusta FC).

*Suspended for first leg

Countdown continues with a feast of friendlies

With qualification for UEFA EURO 2012 already assured, several nations continue their preparations for next summer's final tournament in a raft of friendly matches this weekend. Amid a backdrop of UEFA EURO 2012 play-off ties, several qualified nations continue their preparations for next summer's final tournament with testing friendly matches this weekend.

World and European champions Spain travel to Wembley Stadium on Saturday to take on England in the pick of the games. Vicente del Bosque's side will be buoyed by a perfect qualifying campaign and an excellent recent record against their opponents. Spain's only defeat by England since 1987 was elimination from EURO '96 in a penalty shoot-out, while Del Bosque's charges ran out 2-0 winners when the teams last met in 2009 in Seville.

Fabio Capello has left out Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the opening three matches of the final tournament, as he considers his options up front without the Manchester United FC forward. Spain, meanwhile, have a wealth of attackers at their disposal with David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata all in fine form for their clubs.

On Friday there is a Scandinavian derby as Sweden, who qualified automatically as the best runners-up, visit Copenhagen to face Morten Olsen's Denmark. The Swedes were the third highest scorers in qualifying and will be looking to end a run of three games without a goal against their neighbours.

On the same day UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts Poland play their first match in the recently opened Municipal Stadium Wroclaw against Italy. The stadium was inaugurated on 29 October in front of a sell-out crowd that watched WKS Śląsk Wroclaw beat KS Lechia Gdańsk; the venue will stage three group games next summer. Fellow co-hosts Ukraine welcome Germany to Kyiv with Joachim Löw's side aiming to continue the impressive form that produced ten wins out of ten on their way to topping UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A.

The only other match featuring two teams that have stamped their finals ticket sees Greece go head-to-head with Russia in Piraeus. Also on Friday the Netherlands tackle Switzerland for only the fourth time in just over 30 years and France, having pipped Bosnia and Herzegovina to first place in Group D, entertain the United States.

Ireland and Croatia close in on Euros

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane claimed a double as Giovanni Trapattoni's side took a stranglehold on their play-off with a 4-0 win against nine-man Estonia.

Keith Andrews had got the visitors off to the perfect start with a 13th-minute header and Jonathan Walters repeated the feat from Keane's 67th-minute cross.

Keane made it 3-0 four minutes later and then converted a late penalty as Estonia, who had Andrei Stepanov sent off before the break and captain Raio Piiroja after it, capitulated on a miserable night for the hosts in Tallinn.

Croatia all but guaranteed themselves a place at Euro 2012 after hammering hosts Turkey 3-0 in the first leg of their play-off.

Ivica Olic gave Slaven Bilic's side the perfect start when he turned home Vedran Corluka's cross from close range with just two minutes on the clock.

Mario Mandzukic doubled the lead half an hour later when he nodded past the flailing Volkan Demirel at the far post, before Corluka completed the scoring in the 51st minute with only his second international goal.

A late header from Tomas Sivok saw the Czech Republic put one foot in the finals with a 2-0 victory over Montenegro.

The Czechs held a narrow lead after Vaclav Pilar's 63rd-minute goal but Sivok's goal in injury time gives them a clear advantage going into the second leg in Montenegro.

Bosnia-Herzegovina failed to make the most of home advantage as they played out a dire goalless draw with Portugal in Zenica.

Possession was dominated by the visitors but Helder Postiga missed the best of what chances they created, while Cristiano Ronaldo again struggled to recreate his club form in a Portugal shirt.

Despite that, Portugal will feel they are best placed to qualify ahead of the second leg in Lisbon on Tuesday night.

1st Leg Playoff Result

Turkey 0 - 3 Croatia
                  Ivica Olic (2')
                  Mario Mandzukic (32')
                  Vedran Corluka (51')

Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 - 0 Portugal

Czech Republic 2 - 0 Montenegro
Vaclav Pilar (63')
Tomas Sivok (90')

Estonia 0 - 4 Ireland
                  Keith Andrews (13')
                  Jonathan Walters (68')
                  Robbie Keane (71')
                  Robbie Keane (pen 88')

Ireland eased to the European Championships for the first time since 1988 by beating Estonia 5-1 on aggregate, after a 1-1 draw in Dublin. Ireland full-back Stephen Ward increased his side's 4-0 aggregate lead in the play-off tie with a close-range 31st-minute finish.

But Estonia skipper Konstantin Vassiljev denied the Republic of Ireland victory on the night. The midfielder blasted home a 30-yard drive which eluded Shay Given to hand the visitors a 57th-minute equaliser at the Aviva Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Helder Postiga both scored twice as Portugal reached the finals with a 6-2 win over Bosnia but the scoreline did little justice to the drama at Lisbon's Stadium Of Light.

The visitors, who had held on for a gallant goalless draw in the first leg in Bosnia, twice narrowed the deficit to a single goal despite being hampered by the 54th minute sending-off of Senad Lucic.

A thunderous eighth minute free-kick from Ronaldo and an even more powerful long-range drive from Nani on 24 minutes appeared to have settled home nerves and sent the favourites through.

But Zvjezdan Misimovic ensured the outcome of the game still hung by a thread at half-time after he converted a 41st minute penalty awarded after Fabio Coentrao was ruled to have handled in the box.

Portugal regained the initiative through Ronaldo on 53 and when Lulic was shown a straight red immediately afterwards for arguing with the referee, it appeared the Bosnian challenge was finally over. But the visitors reduced the deficit again on 65 through Emir Spahic before the 10 men tired, with two late Postiga strikes and a free-kick from Miguel Veloso giving a lopsided look to the scoreline.

Croatia also cruised into next year's finals after playing out a 0-0 draw against Turkey in Zagreb four days after their decisive 3-0 first-leg win in Istanbul.

Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka had all scored to make tonight's game a virtual formality, although Croatia boss Slaven Bilic insisted his side's job remained only half done.

Despite a brave Turkish bid for an away win the Croatians held firm and qualification for their third consecutive continental finals - and revenge for their Euro 2008 quarter-final loss to the Turks - was secured.

Czech Republic ensured their place after a narrow 1-0 win proved to be enough against Montenegro.

Petr Jiracek scored the only goal of the game in the 81st minute to give them a 3-0 win on aggregate.

The Czechs won the first leg 2-0 in Prague on Friday with goals from Vaclav Pilar and Tomas Sivok which meant the slender win sealed their progression to Euro 2012.

2nd Leg Playoff Result

Croatia 0 - 0 Turkey (agg 3-0)

Montenegro 0 - 1 Czech Republic (agg 0-3)
                        Petr Jiracek (81')

Ireland                    1 - 1 Estonia (agg 5-1)
Stephen Ward (32')          Konstantin Vassiljev (57')

Portugal                     6 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina (agg 6-2)
Cristiano Ronaldo (8')          Zvjezdan Misimovic (pen 41')
Nani (24')                          Emir Spahic (66')
Cristiano Ronaldo (53') 
Hélder Postiga (72') 
Miguel Veloso (80') 
Hélder Postiga (82')

it seems all the mid-heavyweights avoid upsets
anyway when will be the draw for Euro 2012 grouping?

hoo how did i miss thread, i guess the mods can merge the one i made inside here also.

Ooopsss u create another thread is it? Can always discuss upcoming EURO2012 here. Regarding the draws tonite, Does Astro show it live?

yes, 1AM tonite/tomoro morning. CH811

http://www.astro.com.my/content_epg/articles/art_639.html

Capello: Euros tougher than WC

Ahead of the Euro 2012 draw on Friday, England manager Fabio Capello has suggested the competition represents a tougher test than the 2010 World Cup.

Spain, Netherlands and Germany look to be the favourites for next summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, and the worst-case scenario for Capello would see England drawn in a group alongside Spain, Portugal and France.

Having struggled through a group containing United States, Algeria and Slovenia in the World Cup last year, Capello is wary of the greater concentration of quality on offer at Euro 2012.

"This time it will be stronger," he said. "It will be stronger because if you look at the groups and all the teams, particularly the three European teams who reached the World Cup semi-finals, the technical level is at the top, the organisation of the teams is at the top.

"Also some teams who didn't play well at the World Cup will now be back at the top. Portugal, France and Italy will be better. It will be a really tough tournament.''

Asked which teams he would like to avoid in the group stages, Capello said: "Spain and Holland. After that there is also Portugal and France. These are the teams I would prefer to avoid in the group stage.''

England could face Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland, but that prospect has little appeal for Capello either.

"I hope not,'' Capello said. "The countries are close and also it would be two Italian managers, so I prefer not to be drawn with them. We cannot draw Italy as we are in the same pot, but this would be the same for me to face another Italian manager.''

While Capello knows it will be difficult for him to end his England reign on a high, he has no intention of extending his stay until the 2014 World Cup.

The FA's director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking had indicated that he could remain in the post beyond the end of his contract, but Capello - now 65 - says otherwise. "As an England manager, this is it for me,'' he said.