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Uruguay set for flying start

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The Copa America in Argentina continues on Monday evening with the four sides from Group C taking centre-stage as the much-fancied Uruguay will face an injury-hit Peru and an intriguing battle is in store when a weakened Mexico side goes head-to-head with Chile.

Hosts Argentina got off to a shaky start on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bolivia, while Colombia took top spot in Group A courtesy of a 1-0 win against Costa Rica.

Brazil and fellow Group B sides Venezuela, Paraguay and Ecuador will do battle on Sunday which will pave the way clear for the third group to get into the swing of things in the battle to be South America’s finest.

Uruguay v Peru

These two sides will meet in San Juan with all the talk focused on the problems facing Peru coach Sergio Markarian as he looks to select a side capable of creating problems for a Uruguayan side (9/1 Copa America Winner) still on a high after reaching the semi-finals of last summer’s World Cup.

Markarian must find suitable replacements for key strikers Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro, who are missing due to injury – but the likes of Carlos Zambrano, Luis Ramirez and Jesus Rabanal are far from 100 per cent fit as well.

To make matters worse, top midfielder Juan Vargas faces a late fitness test to see if he can feature in the match.

Despite his problems, Markarian claims the side are in good spirits ahead of the encounter – his first competitive match in charge of Peru (8/1 To Win 90 Minutes) against his home nation.

“The spirit in the changing room is good, the players are good,” he said. “They don’t need anyone to give them a lift. They are very strong and are fired up and ready to play.”

However, it seems that Markarian is merely putting a brave face on things as Uruguay, who have reached the last-four of the Copa America in the past three tournaments, look a superior squad even if Peru had all their big guns fit and available.

The strength of Oscar Tabarez’s Uruguay side (7/5 Group C Winner) is their attacking prowess with striker Diego Forlan, strike partner Luis Suarez and Napoli’s Edison Cavani likely to feature in a 4-3-3 formation with ammunition from out wide set to come from Porto’s Alvaro Pereira.

With those players seemingly fit and ready for action, there can only be one outcome from this clash and that is a Uruguay victory.

Prediction: Uruguay To Win 90 Minutes @ 1/3
Value Bet: Diego Forlan 1st Goal Uruguay To Win 2-0 Scorecast @ 18/1

Chile v Mexico

This fixture also in San Juan throws up a dilemma when considering the outcome simply because Mexico will be fielding a youthful line-up shorn of star players such as Javier Hernandez, Pablo Barrera and Andres Guardado following their recent CONCACAF Gold Cup success in the United States.

However, there will be some experience in the guise of Giovani dos Santos and Rafael Marquez Lugo and 31-year-old goalkeeper Luis Michel, who is confident they can compete with the best at the Copa America (50/1 Winner).

He said: “The group is working well, hard, and with a good mentality. We listen to our manager, so we know exactly how he wants us to play. There is quality (in this team), we have a great opportunity and we should take advantage of it.”

Chile (5/4 Group C Winner) will go into the game with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who is keen ‘not to raise false expectations’, insisting that the squad’s ‘ideal target’ is to at least reach the semi-finals and then possibly go on and win the tournament (10/1 Winner).

Chile’s hopes will no doubt rest on the shoulders of Udinese star Alexis Sanchez, whose excellent form in Italy’s Serie A has resulted in a summer bidding war for his signature.

La Roja also have West Brom’s Gonzalo Jara and Jean Beausejour, who will want to put relegation from the Premier League with Birmingham firmly behind him in Argentina.

It is set to be a close encounter in this Group C clash and one which Mexico could be made to pay for substituting experience with youth.

Prediction: Chile To Win 90 Minutes @ 4/9
Value Bet Chile To Win 2-1 Correct Score @ 13/2

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3 deals to set summer alight

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Next week sees the return to pre-season training for Premier League clubs and, with just over a month to go until the season kicks-off, the transfer activity is hotting up.

Here we look at three of the top deals done so far and assess what impact the players involved in the moves could have in 2011/12.

The past week has seen several Premier League clubs begin their summer rebuilding for real and it is only going to get busier ahead of the new campaign – which begins on August 13.

Plenty of money has been spent already with Sunderland the most active club so far but how will these three players fare after completing moves already this summer?

Jordan Henderson – Sunderland to Liverpool

This was one of the early transfers struck as Liverpool (10/1 – Premier League outright) landed the midfielder before he headed out for England Under 21’s disappointing European Championship campaign in Denmark.

There were many raised eyebrows as the Reds forked out £16million for a player who undoubtedly has potential but has only had one full season in the Premier League.

It certainly represents a risk for Kenny Dalglish to have paid so much for someone relatively unproven but those in the know reckon the 21-year-old will go on to become a real star.

It may be several years before the Merseysiders get the best out of the level-headed youngster and he is by no means guaranteed a starting role with Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Lucas and the imminent arrival of Charlie Adam all set to mean competition for places will be tough.

But expect Henderson to live up to the hype – even if it takes him a few months to settle at Anfield.

Ashley Young – Aston Villa to Manchester United

Some Villa fans have afforded themselves a wry chuckle that United have paid around £17million for Young, who was often inconsistent last season and overshadowed at times by Stewart Downing at Villa Park.

However, on his day the former Watford man is one of the best wingers around and is only going to improve at 25.

He will have to work on the defensive side of his game and will face competition from Antonio Valencia and Nani at Old Trafford, but Sir Alex Ferguson rarely makes big-money mistakes so the England man will no doubt go on to become a key player for the champions (13/8f – Premier League outright) and should provide the perfect service from out wide for Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney and co.

Connor Wickham – Ipswich to Sunderland

There has been hype about the 18-year-old Wickham since he burst onto the scene two years ago with his imposing physical frame and deft touch belying his tender age.

He was a real star at times for Town in the Championship last season, featuring regularly, and he scored eight goals despite often being used out wide by Paul Jewell in the second half of the season.

The price the Black Cats paid – an initial £8m that could rise to £12m with add-ons – is definitely high for someone so young but the fact Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham were all also interested shows how highly rated he is.

However, the step up to the Premier League will be tough for the teenager to begin with and it could take him a year or so before he finds his feet at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland 8/1 to be relegated).

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Copa America Countdown

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The 43rd edition of the Copa America starts in Argentina on Friday with 9/5 shots Brazil looking to underline their dominance of South American football having won the tournament four of the last five times since 1997.

The only time the Samba Kings have failed to reign over the last 14 years was in 2001 when host nation Colombia secured their one and only title thanks to a 1-0 win over Mexico.

However, they are not the favourites pre-tournament with that honour instead falling to the latest hosts, Argentina (evens), despite their shoddy performance on the international stage since taking the Copa America back in 1993.

Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez has underlined the importance of winning and he feels home advantage can help to banish the memories of near misses in 2004 and 2007.

“I am dying to win the Copa,” confirmed the industrious forward. “I played in the last two finals which we lost to Brazil. But now we will have home support behind us and this will be key.”

The winner is widely expected to be either Argentina or Brazil, with Chile the third favourites but still a 10/1 chance, which confirms the expected two-horse race.

The scene is set for Lionel Messi to take his place among the greats of world football, with arguably only the 24-year-old’s record at international level currently keeping him just below legendary status.

Messi’s importance to the cause has been highlighted by Angel di Maria – an enemy at club level since his switch to Real Madrid – who said of the Barcelona star: “We have got to show Argentina have it in us to win the title. That means getting the ball, moving it around and linking up with Leo.”

La Albiceleste get the ball rolling with a clash against Bolivia before what should be relatively straightforward meetings with Colombia and Costa Rica (Argentina 3-0  Correct Score – 9/2).

The prize for topping Group A for Argentina will be a quarter-final against the weakest side to emerge from the group stage and coach Sergio Batista, who tasted international glory with the side at the 2008 Olympics, will not have to remind his players of that fact.

Brazil - who face Paraguay, Venezuela and Ecuador in Group B – will also face a third-placed qualifier if they top their group and if, as expected, Argentina see off their last-eight opponents along with Brazil then the two will be kept apart in the semi-finals.

Prediction: Argentina to beat Brazil in the final in Buenos Aires on July 27.

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‘Group of Death’ kicks off

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The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 is underway and some of the powerhouses of the women’s game are in action on Tuesday.

After the success of the opening games the battle moves to Group C as three of the fancied sides, USA, Korea DPR and Sweden, all start their World Cup campaigns in what could be described as the ‘Group of Death’.

USA Women vs Korea DPR Women

These two old rivals meet in their opening Group C games at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion in Dresden. They have met in the group stages at three previous World Cups, with the USA recording two 3-0 wins before Korea pegged them to a 2-2 draw back in 2003.

Both teams come into this World Cup with faltering form but the USA (4/9 to win – Match Betting) will be confident of getting their campaign off to the best possible start with a victory.

Pia Sundhage’s side only just scraped into the tournament, thanks to a play-off win over Italy, but four straight wins to give them the Algarve Cup in March went some way to showing why they could win the World Cup.

The USA boasts some top-class strikers who Korea are going to have to play really close attention to. Abby Wambach in particular boasts a remarkable record of 117 career goals in 154 national team appearances and is the fourth best all-time goalscorer in women’s football – meaning she is the prime danger.

There is also Amy Rodriguez, she scored the winning goal in the play-off game with Italy and has already got 62 caps at the age of only 24. If the Korean defence switches off then she can punish them (USA Women 1-0 5/1 – Match Betting).

The Korea side (5/1 to win 14/1 draw – Match Betting) are three-time Asian champions but have struggled and lost three consecutive pre-World Cup friendlies.

Coach Kim Kwang-Min will be hoping that Jo Yun-Mi, who was voted best player at the 2010 AFC Asian Women’s Championship, can return to some form as she is vital to Korea’s hopes in this game.

Both of these teams could challenge the hosts to win the World Cup, while their inconsistency also means they could fail to make it out of the group stage. Whichever side gets three points would get a tremendous boost, but both teams would accept a draw.

Colombia Women vs Sweden Women

Colombia (15/2 to win – Match Betting) are making their first appearance in the World Cup and face a tough baptism against one of the traditional best globally, Sweden, in Leverkusen.

The South Americans were runners-up in the South American Women’s Championship and are a developing side in women’s football. Their Under-20 side beat Sweden on their way to the semi-finals of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup last year, with nine of that squad in Germany with the senior team this summer.

Sweden (1/4 to win, 19/5 draw – Match Betting) boasts an impressive recent record and have reached the quarter-finals at four of the last five World Cups.

What could worry fans is the fact that their pre-World Cup form has been patchy, with wins against Canada and Mexico sitting alongside draws with Japan and a loss to England.

The Swedes should easily win the game (6/1 Sweden 3-0 – Match Betting) and they cannot settle for anything else as there are three top teams, Sweden, USA and Korea DPR, in Group C and they will need a confidence boost going into the remaining two tricky ties.

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Who will be the Copa kings?

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With the domestic football season still over a month away across Europe, fans can get the opportunity to whet their appetite by taking in the thrills and spills of the Copa America from this coming Friday as the super-stars of South America do battle for the ultimate prize of their continent.

The 43rd edition of this tournament will get underway on July 1 as host country Argentina (1/5 Group A Winner) face Bolivia looking to secure what would be their 15th tournament victory in front of their adoring home fans.

On the face of it, it is difficult to see past the big three of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to lift the trophy on July 24 as between them they have claimed it on 36 occasions over the years.

However, there are some other sides that can not be discounted as the remaining seven CONMEBOL nations – Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela – will be joined by invitees Mexico, fresh from their CONCACAF Gold Cup success, and Costa Rica.

I will look at the chances of the three top sides and assess the prospects of my best of the rest who could upset the apple-cart over the next month.

ARGENTINA

Argentina coach Sergio Batista will have the pressure on his shoulders going into the tournament as host nation, while he will also, like most of the other coaches, have one eye on the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 as preparations begin in earnest.

The humiliating exit from the quarter-finals of last year’s World Cup in South Africa against Germany, which ended Diego Maradona’s stint in charge, will still be in the minds of the fans that are desperate for the Sky Blue and Whites to satisfy their demand for success.

And World Player of the Year Lionel Messi immediately springs to mind as the man who could deliver the goods for the Argentinians as he has already expressed a desire to transfer his scintillating performances with Barcelona onto the international stage and realise his “greatest dream” of winning the Copa America.

“We know what it means for me and for Argentina,” he added. “It is the first objective, as we are a very good group of players.”

Batista, in a bid to lessen the pressure on Messi, who will no doubt be the man the coach of every rival nation will be plotting to stop, claims he has a ‘Plan B’ if his talisman is nullified. And that could pave the way clear for Manchester City star Carlos Tevez to produce the goods following his inclusion in the squad.

A full strength Argentina (11/10 Winner)  will take some stopping on home turf and they have every chance of giving their population something to shout about this year after an 18-year wait.

BRAZIL

The holders will be looking to continue their great recent record in the Copa America (13/9 Winner) with four titles in the past five tournaments, including two successive triumphs against the Argentinians in 2004 and 2007.

Coach Mano Menezes will be looking for big things from his rejuvenated side’s emerging star in the shape of Santos’ 19-year-old Neymar, who has already attracted interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid following some sterling performances for club and country.

And, as Menezes has already admitted that his priority is to produce a side capable of winning the World Cup in their own backyard in three years’ time, he will be looking to unleash Neymar’s 21-year-old Santos team-mate Paulo Henrique Ganso on their South American rivals.

Despite the attacking midfielder struggling to shake off a knee problem of late, he will feature in the tournament and, along with Neymar, Menezes claims the duo will give Brazil “alternatives”.

Whether Brazil (2/5 Group B Winner) will take their eye off the ball in Argentina due to their World Cup obsession remains to be seen, but once the action starts they are sure to be hell-bent on securing a ninth Copa America crown.

URUGUAY

The Uruguayans (12/1 Winner) are considered a giant of South American football and the 1995 winners and 1999 finalists have enjoyed a modicum of success in recent years having reached the last-four of the Copa America in the past three tournaments.

They will come into this event on the back of last year’s impressive run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in which striker Diego Forlan was named the player of the tournament and partner Luis Suarez shone enough to subsequently engineer a January switch to Liverpool.

Ammunition to the forwards will come from Porto’s Alvaro Pereira, a relentless wide midfielder who highlights the strength in the Uruguayan ranks which means they are certain to be in the mix.

BEST OF THE REST

Mexico and Costa Rica’s chances of challenging will be hindered by their plan to use their Under-22 squads in the tournament, but there are other dark horses who could challenge the usual suspects for the title.

The 2001 winners Colombia (28/1 Winner) will hope their star man Radamel Falcao – who averaged almost a goal a game with FC Porto in the past two seasons and could be reunited with coach Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea later this summer – will continue to fire on all cylinders.

Falcao will be joined by Porto team-mate and creative midfielder Fredy Guarin. And how well those combine in the international side could be the key to Colombia’s chances.

Chile (6/4 Group C Winner) will pin their hopes largely on the shoulders of Udinese star Alexis Sanchez, whose excellent form in Italy’s Serie A has resulted in a bidding war between Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus Inter Milan and Manchester United for his signature.

The Chileans impressed greatly at last year’s World Cup and it would be pure folly to discount their prospects (10/1 Winner).

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Barca edge closer to Fab deal

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The worst-kept secret in football could unravel in the coming weeks if, as expected, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas completes his move back to Barcelona.

Barca have made no secret of their desire to return their former youth star to his homeland and club president Sandro Rossell told Catalan station TV3 this week that the Spain international is “doing everything he can to come”.

The north Londoners, priced at 7/1 in the Premier League outright market, are likely to take a dim view of Rossell’s assessment of their star midfielder but may now decide the time is right to cash in on a player who managed only three goals in 25 league appearances in an injury-interrupted 2010/11 season.

Fabregas has a contract at Arsenal which runs until 2015 so the club is under no pressure to sell but manager Arsene Wenger may take the view that a deal in the region of £30m would be difficult to turn down given that the emergence of Jack Wilshere and the return from injury of Aaron Ramsey leaves with him plenty of options.

If the Gunners also manage to keep hold of France international Samir Nasri then this would also represent a major shot in the arm.

For the 8/15 La Liga title favourites the signing of Fabregas is logical given that Camp Nou maestro Xavi is now the wrong side of 30 and his midfield partner in crime, Andres Iniesta, is into his peak years at the age of 27.

Pep Guardiola will be aware that good teams come in cycles and the signing of Fabregas – and coveted 22-year-old Udinese striker Alexis Sanchez – would help reduce the age of his La Liga and Champions League-winning squad.

Arsenal have been here before – think Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira – and the potential loss of Fabregas would surely diminish their hopes of preventing a seventh season without a major piece of silverware.

It is looking increasingly likely that they will have to get over that hurdle without their captain and talisman.

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Will Spain win Under-21 final?

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The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship reaches its climax on Saturday with Switzerland playing Spain in the final. The Spaniards are sweeping all before them at full international level so can their young counterparts walk away with the trophy this weekend? (Spain 4/7 fav to win Match Betting)

It would be almost unthinkable for a Spanish side not to reach the final of a major tournament at present such is their dominance in the world game.

The senior side are both World Cup and European champions and it is now down to the youngsters to make it a hat-trick of titles.

The Spanish kicked off their campaign with a draw against England but that was just a blip en route to the semi-finals as they beat the Czech Republic 2-0 and took care of the Ukraine 3-0.

Deportivo de La Coruna star Adrian has been on fire for the favourites with two goals against the Czechs, while also bagging the third against Ukraine.

But he reserved his best for the semi-finals with an 89th-minute strike rescuing his side and forcing extra time against Belarus.

The 23-year-old then found the back of the net again and, with Jeffren also on target, they swept into the final to face the Swiss.

Adrian is a prolific goalscorer at international level and will be a key player for Luis Milla’s side as they attempt to claim the title.

Switzerland were even more impressive in the group stage of the event, winning all three of their matches with victories over Denmark, Iceland and Belarus (Swiss 11/4 to win Euro Champs outright).

They also needed extra time to reach the final, with Admir Mehmedi bagging the only goal of the game to set up the clash with Spain.

While Spain have relied on Adrian for their goals, Mehmedi has done the most damage for the Swiss with three strikes, and the Albanian-born hit-man will have to be watched on Saturday.

He was dropped after the first group game but clearly has the bit between his teeth and is looking to help his side secure their first European Championship in Aarhus.

The last time these two sides met at this level was in a play-off for the 2009 tournament in Sweden, which Spain won 4-3 on aggregate, and so Pierluigi Tami’s charges are on something of a revenge mission this time around.

The two sides play contrasting styles of football with Spain content to keep the ball for long periods before attacking with pace and precision to carve open defences, while the Swiss are masters of the counter-attack and are prepared to trust their water-tight defence before launching rapid attacks.

Switzerland have yet to concede a goal in the tournament and, despite being second favourites to win the final, will not be fazed by the prospect of facing the talented Spanish outfit.

Timm Klose will need to marshal his defence to perfection to see off the threat of Adrian and his talented attacking team-mates and the match might resemble a training ground exercise at times, with wave after wave of Spanish attacks thwarted by a resolute rearguard.

The Swiss defence might be able to hold out but the question is, can they find the back of the net when it matters most?

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Sticky wicket for Villas-Boas

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Chelsea are now almost certain to turn to Andre Villas-Boas as their new boss as owner Roman Abramovich takes a massive gamble in his quest for Champions League (Chelsea 8/1 Outright) glory – it may work, but the odds are arguably stacked against the 33-year-old.

They say you know you’re getting old when policemen are all younger than yourself, but now that can be applied to football managers given the  successes of Villas-Boas and Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola on a European level.

Villas-Boas’ brief will have the Champions League highlighted as a priority although he will also be expected to challenge in the Premier League (Chelsea 5/2 Outright) and FA Cup as well – a tough ask and one riddled with problems.

AGE

Villas-Boas is the same age as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, with many of Chelsea’s squad also close to or in their early 30s and while there is the saying in football ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ it has never really been applied to managers.

Guardiola managed to make light of the situation at the Nou Camp when he succeeded Frank Rijkaard, but it must be remembered he was a real crowd favourite and former Barca captain during an illustrious playing career.

Villas-Boas can draw on none of that history and even if he could the way Ray Wilkins was treated last season tells you everything about Chelsea’s modus operandi compared to Barcelona’s.

Simply put, Villas-Boas will find it hard to win over the dressing room – Luiz Felipe Scolari did not manage it and he had two World Cup campaigns under his belt and was in his late 50s when handed the job.

SQUAD

Chelsea’s squad won nothing last season despite a blistering start and there is no doubt there needs to be a major overall.

Villas-Boas has already been linked with a number of his current Porto players but that means established names will have to be moved on, with the Premier League allowing only 25 players to be registered.

And while there is dead wood to cut out at Stamford Bridge, it is up front where Villas-Boas appears to be inheriting a real problem following the £50m signing of Fernando Torres in January.

Torres has never convinced after swapping the red of Liverpool for the blue of Chelsea and we’re told Villas-Boas is likely to bring star striker Radamel Falcao with him from Estádio do Dragão.

With the presence of Drogba, Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou already at Chelsea it would seem a big name is set to have their nose pushed out of joint – but how will a tight-knit squad react?

The same case can be made in midfield if Luka Modric and João Moutinho arrive to breathe more life into the squad.

CREDENTIALS

Villas-Boas won the Portuguese at a canter last season which is always a nice stat until you realise Porto have won the Primeira Liga in seven of the last nine campaigns.

Porto also swept all before them in the Europa League but, again, it must be remembered it is very much a second-tier competition taken lightly by many of the clubs involved in it.

To be fair, Villas-Boas’ side scored goals en route to their 1-0 Dublin success against countrymen Braga – although they were in a fairly weak group alongside the likes of Rapid Vienna, CSKA Sofia and Besiktas.

They were impressive in seeing off Sevilla, CSKA Moscow, Spartak Moscow and Villarreal – although made easier given their domestic dominance in winning the league with games to spare – but it will still be a massive step up for Villas-Boas into the Champions League – Abramovich’s Holy Grail.

SUMMARY

Chelsea are in transition and look set to appoint a 33-year-old to oversee matters which seems to have all the hallmarks of Steve McClaren’s England reign – the job has simply come too soon for him.

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Swiss look to roll over Czechs

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Stuart Pearce’s Young Lions crashed out of the European Under-21 Championship on Sunday evening but the show must go on in Denmark, and there are two semi-final encounters on Wednesday as the much-fancied Spanish face Belarus while a closer contest is anticipated with Switzerland up against the Czech Republic.

Switzerland v Czech Republic (8pm)

The Swiss (4/1 Outright) have stormed to the last four of the tournament this year after winning Group A with a 100% record, while they are also yet to concede a goal so far – only the second side to get this far without conceding after France in 2007.

Pierluigi Tami’s side have not only been strong defensively, but they have also improved at the opposite end of the field after starting with a 1-0 win against the hosts Denmark, before beating Iceland 2-0 and finishing in style with a 3-0 victory against fellow semi-finalists Belarus.

The likes of Xerdhan Shaqiri and Innocent Emeghara, who featured in a recent Euro 2012 qualifier against England at Wembley, have stood out in the Swiss ranks.

However FC Zurich defender Philippe Koch has highlighted the side’s excellent team spirit and quality from goalkeeper Yans Sommer right through to the forwards.

He said: “At the start of the tournament, no one would have counted on us qualifying with such style. We’re not surprised.

“We knew before the tournament that we had quality. So far, we’ve been able to show that quality in our matches.”

Granit Xhaka is suspended for the Swiss as they look to reach their first final at Under-21 level having lost to France on home soil at this stage in 2002, but they will take heart that they kept clean sheets in the group phase of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009 and the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2002 and went on to win both tournaments.

The Czech Republic will feel they have their name on the trophy this year (6/1 Outright) as they were on the verge of going out at the group stage on Sunday when trailing England 1-0 with just two minutes remaining.

But goals from substitutes Jan Chramosta and Tomas Pekhart sent them through in second place behind Spain and condemned England to an early flight home.

The omens are on the Czechs’ side too as the only other time the Swiss reached the semi-finals, in 2002, they went on to win the tournament at the expense of France on penalties, ironically in Switzerland.

The Czech Republic bounced back from an opening game defeat against Spain to see off Ukraine and England and will hope to continue their momentum in the Swiss encounter.

However, they have been practising penalties and could be preparing for a long night.

Looking at the form of the two sides going into the clash it is hard to see past the Swiss to edge into the final for the first time, although it could be a close affair.

Prediction: Swiss To Win 1-0 Correct Score @ 11/2

Spain v Belarus (6pm)

On paper this clash in Viborg looks a foregone conclusion as Group B winners Spain are odds-on 2/5 favourites for the tournament, while Belarus scraped through to the semi-finals behind Switzerland on just three points ahead of Iceland and hosts Denmark.

The Spanish did drop points against England, but defeated the Czech Republic and Ukraine in the group stages, while Belarus go into the match on Wednesday on the back of a 3-0 thumping against the Swiss.

Spain have Adrian Lopez leading the way for the Golden Boot on three goals, Juan Mata is one behind, while coach Luis Milla is poised to name another unchanged line-up as Cesar Azpilicueta is set to shake off a thigh injury suffered in training.

Belarus, who are the first team since Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 to progress to the semi-finals with three points, are boosted by the return of Sergei Politevich and Nikita Bukatkin after they served suspensions against Switzerland. But Sergei Matveychik will miss the semi-final after his dismissal in the final Group A game.

Belarus did hold Spain to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in March, but with a place in the final up for grabs on this occasion it would be a real shock if the Spanish do not win handsomely.

Prediction: Spain To Win 3-0 @ 5/1

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Changes needed for Lions

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It’s déjà vu for Stuart Pearce and his England Under-21s as they must win their last group game at the European Championships to progress to the semi-finals. Two years ago Pearce and his young lions found themselves in a similar position and pulled a rabbit out of the hat as they got the better of Serbia on their way to the final.

This time the Czech Republic stand in the way and to progress England must play with more freedom than they have demonstrated in their first two matches.

England were fortunate to take anything out of their game against Spain, a late smash and grab saving them from losing their first match. Danny Welbeck’s goal could prove vital if the young lions can get a win against the Czechs on Sunday. While there were some positives to take out of the draw with Spain there were few to take from the goalless stalemate against the Ukraine on Wednesday.

It’s not surprising England have drifted to 6/1 to win the European Championships outright based on the game against Ukraine, which scarily reminded fans of the senior side’s 0-0 draw with Algeria in the World Cup last summer. The Under-21s played in fits and starts but still looked devoid of ideas, sending long balls over the top on numerous occasions to little affect.

England skipper Michael Mancienne was asked to play the anchor role in midfield and looked uncomfortable. Jack Rodwell also continued his recent downturn in fortunes and if England are to get the better of the Czech Republic then Pearce should think about changing both players. The England U21 coach has options, with Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury (9/2 to score anytime) having impressed when he has come off the bench. Fabrice Muamba could drop in for Mancienne, having become accustomed to that role while with Bolton. Scott Sinclair (5/2 to score anytime) and Marc Albrighton (10/3) are also waiting for their chances to impress. Expect Pearce to make changes to his team and their mentality for the must-win clash.

Both teams need to win to make sure of a place in the knockout stages and unlike England the Czechs have already proven they can win at this competition, with their victory over the Ukraine. They then tasted defeat against tournament favourites Spain but are still a dangerous side who can not be underestimated. Before Wednesday’s loss to Spain the Czech’s were unbeaten at under-21 level since 2008. Tomas Pekhart is the one to watch out for as far as they are concerned, the former Tottenham youngster having scored 16 goals at this level. He is priced at 2/1 to score anytime.

The head-to-head record is split one apiece in terms of wins, with the other two of four matches having been draws. Another draw in Viborg won’t be enough for England and to succeed they must somehow struggle out of the shackles and play with more freedom. England are evens in the match betting, with the Czechs at 23/10 and the draw at 11/5. If England don’t manage to discover their creative side then it could be another frustrating evening for Pearce, and the draw looks the most likely outcome again for the young lions.

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