Tag Archives: finale

Stiff test for Irish finale

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The Republic of Ireland finalise their plans for Euro 2012 on Monday evening, when they face Hungary in Budapest in their final warm-up match. Giovanni Trapattoni’s men will look to extend their unbeaten run to 14 matches and further boost confidence going into this summer’s tournament.

March 2011 was the last time that the Republic lost a match, going down 3-2 at home to Uruguay in a friendly, and belief has grown in the squad, especially following the their qualification for Euro 2012.

The most impressive fact during that run has been the defensive record, with the Irish conceding just three goals and keeping 10 clean sheets in the process. With a group containing Spain, Italy and Croatia, Trapattoni’s men will need that solid base to give themselves a chance of progressing in Poland and Ukraine (Ireland 4/1 to Qualify from Group C).

Cynics would say that the quality of opposition during their recent unbeaten run has not been the best – with fixtures against the likes of Bosnia, Estonia, Andorra and Armenia. But the Irish have also recorded wins over Italy and Scotland, with draws against Russia, Croatia and Czech Republic.

A trip to Hungary should give us more of an idea where the Republic are ahead of the European Championship, as the home team also look to defend an impressive record (Match Betting – Hungary 17/10, draw 23/10, Rep of Ireland 6/4). The Magyars have lost just one of their last nine home internationals and are fresh from a shock 2-1 away win over Euro qualifiers Czech Republic.

Hungary are not made up of household names, but they do have a good team ethic and showed some of their quality in a 2-1 defeat to England at Wembley in 2010.

Midfielder Balazs Dzsudzsak, who plays for Dinamo Moscow, scored and claimed an assist against the Czechs, with Videoton striker Adam Gyurcso grabbing the winner. Meanwhile, Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan will be a familiar face to the Republic players and supporters.

Expect a number of changes in personnel and formations for the Irish, as they look to try some different things ahead of their opening group game against Croatia on June 11. Jon Walters (15/8 Anytime Goalscorer), Keith Andrews and Shane Long all started on the bench in the 1-0 win over Bosnia last week and are expected to feature from the start on Monday.

The last meeting between these sides was in 1993, when Hungary won 4-2 in Dublin in a friendly, although the Irish were 2-1 winners on their last visit to Hungary in a 1991 friendly.

The Republic would accept a draw this time as they look to continue their fine form and set themselves up for their big challenge at the European Championship.

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Three big issues for Prem finale

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The Premier League reaches its conclusion on Sunday and, with plenty still at stake, here we pick out three big issues still to be resolved this weekend.

1 – The destination of the title

Manchester City (1/10 to win Premier League) are very much in the driving seat to win their first top-flight title since 1968 and know a win over QPR at home will finally see them over the line ahead of local rivals Manchester United (11/2).

In what has been one of the most unpredictable races of the last few years, Roberto Mancini’s side appeared to have thrown away their chance when losing at Arsenal in April, but United’s slip-ups at Wigan, at home to Everton and then in the derby has given the Blues the edge again.

Relegation-threatened QPR have plenty to play for themselves but City should keep up their proud unbeaten home record and get the win required to render United’s result at Sunderland meaningless.

The smart money is on both United and City to win to hand the latter the trophy on goal difference but, after one of the most unpredictable seasons in years, it would be safe to say neither of the top two will be taking anything for granted this weekend.

2 – One more side to be relegated

Wolves and Blackburn are already down and either QPR or Bolton will be joining them in the Championship next season.

Mathematically, Aston Villa can also still be demoted, but that would take a 17-goal swing so it’s a straight fight between the R’s and the Trotters to see who finishes 18th.

Bolton (1/3 to be relegated) currently sit in the final relegation place, two points behind Rangers (9/4), and face a tough trip to Stoke City on Sunday, knowing they need a win to move above Mark Hughes’ side.

Hughes goes to the Etihad to face his former club and will do well to get anything out of that but Bolton winning at the Britannia also looks a long shot so it could be curtains for Owen Coyle’s side.

3 – Third place up for grabs

Arsenal, Spurs (1/10 – top four finish) and Newcastle can all still secure third and, with it, definitely a place in the Champions League next season.

Chelsea’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich a week on Saturday means that only third is guaranteed a place in next season’s competition because if Roberto Di Matteo’s men win in Munich they will take the fourth place available to Premier League sides.

Alan Pardew’s Magpies (9/2 – top four finish) have had a season beyond their wildest dreams and have stayed in contention for the top four right up to the end when many thought their season would tail off.

They visit Everton, themselves wanting a win to ensure they finish above Liverpool, knowing this is a tough last-day assignment. A win and poor results for the north London duo could hand them third but it looks very unlikely.

Spurs, meanwhile, have picked up again since Harry Redknapp was overlooked for the England job and host London rivals Fulham. They should come out on top in this one and hope arch-rivals Arsenal slip up at West Brom.

The Gunners are favourites to claim third, though, and go to the Black Country on Sunday hoping to spoil Roy Hodgson’s farewell at the Hawthorns.

It will not be easy for Arsene Wenger’s side as the Baggies are sure to do all they can to finish on a high in front of the departing England boss but, with Robin van Persie aiming to equal the league top-scorer record with 31 goals, expect Arsenal to do it.

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Boro can edge League Two finale

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The League Two season comes to a climax at Old Trafford as Stevenage and Torquay battle for promotion in the play-off final. It is a battle of two over-achieving teams and here is our guide to Saturday’s game.

Stevenage (6/4 to win) have had an incredible first season in the Football League and back-to-back promotions would be some achievement for their ambitious boss Graham Westley.

If you look back to January they sat 18th in the League Two and it has been some turnaround since then. A run of nine wins in 11 games catapulted them up the league as they timed their run to perfection and secured a sixth-placed finish.

Boro then won both legs against Accrington Stanley and looked assured in both games – though Stanley were reduced to nine men in the second half to make life a little easier for Stevenage as they were leading the tie 2-0 on aggregate by that point.

Substitute Chris Beardsley (7/1 to be first goalscorer at Old Trafford) got the only goal of the second leg to continue Boro’s impressive recent form and make it 11 wins from 13 games over recent months.

Torquay (13/8 to win the game) were many people’s picks to be relegated before the start of the season so it is a major shock to see them 90 minutes away from playing League One football come September.

Paul Buckle worked wonders to get the Gulls into the play-offs, as they sneaked in by the skin of their necks on goal difference on the final day of the season. A failure to win in their final five league games and a one-point deduction for errors with Jake Robinson’s registration threatened to ruin their play-off chances but they sneaked in.

Even then they were not given much chance against a Shrewsbury side that finished 11 points ahead of them in the table and were very unlucky not to go up automatically – themselves only missing out in the final game.

Goals from Chris Zebroski (11/2 to score the first goal) and Eunan O’Kane gave Torquay an advantage at Plainmoor and then a second-leg stalemate secured a long trip to Old Trafford for their most famous fan, Soccer AM’s Helen Chamberlain, and the rest of the Gulls’ West Country faithful.

It is a clash of two of the most respected managers in League Two at Old Trafford as both Westley and Buckle have achieved big things on tiny budgets this season. Both bosses have led their respective sides out of the Blue Square Premier in recent years and you have to wonder if League One might be a step too far for both Stevenage and Torquay.

The records show that Stevenage have never beaten Torquay in the six previous clashes between the sides. Four wins for the Gulls and two draws mean Torquay sit in pole position going into the game and the most recent meeting between them saw Buckle’s side record a 2-0 win at Plainmoor in March. (11/1 for Torquay to win final 2-0).

It should be an entertaining clash at Old Trafford between two teams that play attractive football by League Two standards, but Torquay are just likely to have the edge on Boro and should be celebrating promotion on Saturday afternoon.

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