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Fabio Capello: England’s World Cup Hero, So Far
Any World Cup qualification campaign is long and arduous but for the teams who book their place at the showcase football event, it is always worthwhile.
Asia has the most teams booked up for the fun in South Africa in 2010 with Europe only having one qualifier at this stage. Holland may be playing in the smallest group, group 9, but a blistering campaign sees them ready to fly the flag in South Africa but over the course of the next week, they are likely to be joined by a number of other European nations as the line up for next summers major event starts to take shape.
Capello Nearly Home and Dry
There will be a few eyebrows raised if England book their qualification at the first chance by defeating Croatia at Wembley in the midweek run of fixtures.
It was Croatia who plunged a knife through the heart of England in the qualification process for Euro 2008 with home and away wins over the nation who claimed they invented football. Goalkeeping calamities by Paul Robinson and Scott Carson cost England dear and at Wembley, it was all England manager Steve McLaren could do to hide under his umbrella as his international management career was washed away. This seems like an eternity for England fans as Fabio Capello now reigns and an unblemished record in the qualifying campaign so far leaves England on the brink of South Africa.
A 4-1 triumph in Croatia with Theo Walcott running amok and notching a hat-trick has been the highlight of the Italians reign so far but even that will be eclipsed if England finish the job at Wembley.
Croatia will obviously want to stop England clinching top spot in the group but they are also locked in a battle for the runners up spot to clinch a play-off place.
Going into the weekend fixtures, the Ukraine are tucked neatly behind Croatia, with three points less but with a game in hand. This is therefore evenly balanced but Ukraine may think they have the edge.
Andriy Shevchenko might have left Chelsea and headed back to Dynamo Moscow but he will be looking to bullet home goals against Andorra on Saturday and then Belarus on Wednesday which could tip the balance back into his nations favour. Croatia will be looking to defeat Belarus handsomely on Saturday to keep their hopes alive and to build confidence before Wembley. If Eduardo can stay on his feet, they will have a chance but then again, if Eduardo can cheat to earn a few penalties, Croatia may find it easier to dispose of their supposedly weaker opponents.
Tight at the Top in Group 1
There are also a number of groups where things are looking very interesting with Group One being very much worthy of keeping an eye on. At the moment, it looks as though the top spot is between two nations and then the runners up spot could open up into a three horse race if results pan out.
Leaders Denmark will be hoping to maintain or improve their current three point gap at the top over second placed Hungary but they face a very tricky tie on the Saturday. Portugal has been misfiring in this campaign but they remain a formidable outfit and they take on the Danes knowing that they must win to stand any chance of taking a play-off place. It will be a major disappointment if Portugal are unable to make the World Cup but their results are not deserving of a place at the major event. The same can be said for Sweden, another team toiling in Group One.
Sweden take on Hungary on Saturday knowing that a win is essential to stand any hope of taking second place in the group. The Scandinavian teams know that if they both win they will be doing each other a massive favour on the road to South Africa and you can guarantee there is no need for further motivation for both sets of players.
The Scandinavian teams also have an easier task, on paper, in their midweek matches as group leaders Denmark travel to Albania and Sweden play in Malta. Again, two away wins are needed but all ears will be on the clash between Hungary and Portugal. When the dust has settled late on Wednesday night, it should be easier to get a feel for how Group One is going to pan out and just who is looking as though they are off to South Africa.
Even Tighter in Group 2
Group Two is even tighter with just four points separating the top four teams and all of them will believe they have a chance of making it to the major event of next summer. Greece are current leaders but they face an away tie to the team joining them at the top on thirteen points. Switzerland may be seen as a neutral country but there will be no holding back as a victory for either team in this match could prove crucial in the campaign. On the same day, Israel take on Latvia, with both sides hoping for a draw in Switzerland and a victory for themselves to drag them into contention with three games left to play.
The fixtures have worked out perfectly for this run of matches and there is no doubt that many nations will be keenly interested in what is going on around Europe. Even out with their own groups, there will be one runner up who does not get a play-off space so this is going to play an important part in proceedings too.
Like England and Holland, Spain also have a perfect winning streak so far and with games against Estonia and Armenia in the week ahead, there will be a lot of confidence that the Spanish will be booking their place at the next big summer football tournament. Of course, they are the current holders of the last summer football tournament and there will be some people placing money on Spain adding the World Cup to their European Championship haul.
With games to come in October, this is not the end of the line for the road to South Africa but the outcome of these games could well be decisive for a number of teams.
by Andrew Reilly
for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk
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Dear Greg,
I've been a member since July 2003, maybe one of the first to join the Silver Circle.
2004 was a good year but I really enjoyed the long run we had in, I think, July 2005. It was exhilarating! 2006-2007 was not as exciting although still quite profitable and so far 2007-2008 looks quite good. I'm wondering if we're going to hit a long one again soon. Anyway, it's been a pleasure as always with your service, Greg. Armstrong and you are one of the few people I trust on the internet. You have made my retirement so much more fun and financially happy!
Best Wishes, Trent Wrayford, Sidney
