While Wales and Northern Ireland don’t have much to play for on Tuesday night there is still plenty on the line for Scotland as their hopes of Euro 2012 qualification go right to the wire. However, the Scots face perhaps the trickiest test of the three home nations as they have to go to Spain looking to get a result, while Wales head to Bulgaria and Northern Ireland visit Italy.
Spain v Scotland (7:45pm)
We better start with the game that matters first, the Scots needing to match or better the result the Czech Republic achieve against Lithuania to reach the play-offs.
Craig Levein’s side are in pole position for second spot after an unconvincing 1-0 win over Liechtenstein on Saturday night but will be up against it in Alicante.
The Spaniards might have already secured top spot in Group I and be planning to rest a number of star players but they are still the world and European champions, if Scotland fans needed reminding.
The chance for some of Vincente Del Bosque’s lesser known players to stake a claim for a regular starting berth could spell trouble for Scotland’s injury-ravaged squad.
Levein could well be without Kenny Miller for the clash due to a groin injury, while Barry Bannan, Craig Mackail-Smith and Darren Fletcher all face late fitness tests.
Heartbreak has normally been in store for the Scots in these must-win qualifying games and against Spain its tough to see anything other than a result which will leave them without a summer of international football to look forward.
Match Bet – Draw HT/Spain FT @ 9/2
Bulgaria v Wales (7:05pm)
Having started their campaign so poorly who would have thought Wales would head into their last game with a chance of finishing a respectable third in Group G.
The Welsh lost their first four matches before mounting a revival under Gary Speed, albeit too little too late in terms of qualifying for Euro 2012.
Under Speed Wales have improved dramatically, beating Montenegro and Switzerland and putting in a good shift against England in their last three games.
In Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey Wales have two of the hottest prospects in European football, while Jack Collison, Joe Ledley and Ashley Williams have all shown recently they can cut it on the international stage.
They head to Bulgaria to face a team really out of sorts and looking for a pick-me-up to avoid finishing bottom of Group G.
Lothar Matthaus has left his role as Bulgaria coach and the team are in desperate need of a new manager based on their shambolic showing in the 3-0 friendly defeat to Ukraine on Friday. Bulgaria look ripr for the picking so a rare away win could be on the cards for Wales.
Match Bet – Wales to win @ 3/1
Italy v Northern Ireland (7:45pm)
Much like Bulgaria Northern Ireland are in the midst of their own managerial crisis after Nigel Worthington confirmed his departure from the national set-up.
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Irish since the 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands in August, a result which left them in with a shout of reaching Euro 2012. They have since lost their last three qualifiers and have nothing to play for when they head to Pescara.
Worthington’s last game in charge could be a messy one as he has already lost a whole host of players to injury, including Chris Brunt, Sammy Clingan, Lee Camp, Grant McCann and Kyle Laffery. It could be a baptism of fire for some of Northern Ireland’s youngsters as they face an improving Italy side.
Cesare Prandelli has already helped Italy cruise through to the Euro 2012 finals and much like Spanish counterpart Del Bosque, the game with Northern Ireland is a chance to try out some young talent.
No matter who Prandelli puts out expect there to be a few goals and a comfortable win for the Italians.
Match Bet – Italy 3-0 @ 6/1
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