UEFA EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS
Hungary vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina OVER 2.5 goals (-127): 5 units
Russia -1.5 (-132) vs. Macedonia: 5 units
England vs. Israel +1.5 (-139): 4 units
Latvia vs. Northern Ireland +130: 3 units
Slovakia vs. Ireland pick (+107): 4 units
Wales vs. Germany -1 (-127): 5 units
Sweden vs. Denmark OVER 2.5 goals (+103): 4 units
Iceland +1.5 (-103) vs. Spain: 3 units
Portugal -1 (-147) vs. Poland: 3 units
Lotta games today. 4 goals in the last game and between that time, Hungarian fans have described their team's defense as just plum awful. Aside from B&H's 1-0 home win against Malta last round, every other game in this qualifying campaign has gone over. Now, at Hungary, these two eastern European countries will come out shooting and its anticipated there should be quite a few goals in this contest.
Russia is extremely powerful at home and should be able to dominate Macedonia.
England has even more injury issues with Hargreaves now out. While the infrequently capped players will want their spotlight, I see a low-scoring, close game here. Though Israel will now have one of its most prolific recent goalscorers, against England's dynamic duo of Robinson and James, you never know what will go into the net. Israel is tough on the road and I just don't see England beating them by more than 1 goal.
This is Northern Ireland's campaign for the taking and they don't have any extra worries going into Latvia, who unfortunately will miss one of their best players, goalkeeper Kolinko. This will be NI's easiest match for the rest of the qualifiers (@Iceland, @Sweden, Denmark and @Spain), and they need all the points they can get if they want to move on. Absolute must win for Fulham... I mean, Northern Ireland.
Slovakia will miss its four best players, though its top qualifying scorer is back. Ireland is also not the best away team and don't win significant games away from home. Still... I think a pick is about right here.
Germany has a huge squad to work with, and most of its injured players are now healthy and while they may not start (like Klose), they'll be on the bench and ready to come in. The attack and pace should be too much for Wales.
Don't be fooled by Sweden and Denmark's last game which officially goes down as a 3-0 win to Sweden, because the game was actually tied 3-3 and Sweden had a PK abandoned, thereby granting them a 3-0 victory by UEFA rules. This will be a big home game and many goals are again anticipated.
Spain has openly admitted it doesn't like playing in Iceland. After they only notched a 1-0 win at home, they'll now travel there to Iceland where they can be pretty tough, but not invincible. Like the handicap but... don't like it as much as Israel.
Portugal lost 2-1 in Poland now for the rematch; Poland is usually underrated or overrated depending on who you talk to--it usually depends on what part of the rollercoaster they're on. Portugal will want some measure of payback, and they are tough at home. Really tough. I don't see Poland winning this one.







