Headlines News :

26.03. (Tue) 21:00 France - Spain

Written By maxtv on Monday 25 March 2013 | 21:00


PROBABLE LINEUPS

FRANCE
Lloris
Jallet, Varane, Sakho, Evra
Pogba, Matuidi, Cabaye
Valbuena, Giroud, Ribery

SPAIN
Valdes
Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Monreal
Xavi, Busquets, Alonso
Pedro, Fabregas, Iniesta

France have no fresh injury worries ahead of Tuesday's vital World Cup qualifier against Spain at Stade de France.

Coach Didier Deschamps is set to revert to a 4-3-3 formation, with Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud expected to spearhead the attack ahead of the out-of-form Karim Benzema.

Patrice Evra and Yohan Cabaye are likely to return to the starting line-up after being unused substitutes in the 3-1 win over Georgia, while youngsters Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba may keep their place in the side after solid debuts.

Defender Jordi Alba is unavailable for Spain after picking up a thigh injury in the 1-1 draw against Finland.

David Silva also misses out through suspension, but fellow playmaker Xavi, who missed the game in Gijon with a hamstring problem, was able to train with the squad on Saturday and is expected to start.

DID YOU KNOW?

France are on a 13-match unbeaten run in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers (W9, D4).
Les Bleus have won just one of their last six encounters against Spain, losing four.

Mathieu Valbuena has scored three goals in his last three appearances for France.

Spain are on a 19-match unbeaten run (W14, D5) stretching back to November 2011.

The Iberian outfit have won their last four away matches, including friendlies.

Vicente del Bosque overtook Ladislao Kubala's record for overseeing the most number of games as Spain boss in Friday's qualifier against Finland. The 62-year-old has taken charge of 69 internationals, winning 57.

Prediction
Spain's shock draw against Finland means they will have to go out and win at the Stade de France or risk losing out on automatic qualification for next year's tournament in Brazil. France took control of the group with a straightforward win over Georgia and will hope the momentum from that result will carry them over the line on Tuesday.

Editor's Prediction
France 1-1 Spain

26.03. (Tue) 21:00 Bolivia - Argentina


PROBABLE LINEUPS

BOLIVIA
Galarza
Jimenez, Raldes, Zenteno, Gutierrez, B'rano
Chumacero, Garcia, Veizaga
Moreno, Saucedo

ARGENTINA
Romero
Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo
Mascherano, Banega, Di Maria
Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi

A devastating 5-0 defeat away to Colombia on Friday was compounded for Bolivia by an injury to goalkeeper Carlos Arias, who came off in Barranquilla after conceding the first goal. A muscular complaint keeps the shot-stopper out, and he will be replaced by Sergio Galarza. One piece of good news for the hosts is the return of defender Ronald Raldes, who served a suspension in the last fixture.

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella is keeping the team for Tuesday closely under wraps, as the trainer considers how to play best at 3,500m above sea level in La Paz. Two changes, however, appear inevitable. Fernando Gago was ruled out due to a muscle strain, leaving the door open for Ever Banega to start after replacing the Velez man on Friday; Angel Di Maria, meanwhile, completed a one-game suspension against Venezuela and will return to the first-team in place of Walter Montillo.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bolivia are one of four South American nations to have changed coach during the qualifying campaign. Paraguay, Chile and Colombia all sacked trainers during the first half of the competition, as did World Cup hosts Brazil.

La Verde have made just one appearance at a World Cup finals, in 1994.

The nation's home stadium, Hernando Siles, is one of the highest football arenas in the world, at 3637m above sea level. In 2007 Fifa briefly banned games from La Paz due to the altitude, but relented after fierce protests.

Hernando Siles was the site of 2009's 6-1 destruction of Argentina, one of five wins overall for Bolivia on home soil against the Albiceleste - they have six in total.

One Argentine star who will be especially keen to take revenge is Angel Di Maria . The Real Madrid man saw red in 2009 as Diego Maradona's charges collapsed to defeat.

Lionel Messi also has unfinished business with the Verde. Tuesday's hosts are the only Conmebol side who have not conceded a goal from the Barcelona magician.

Currently top of the Conmebol standings, Argentina require just three wins from their last six clashes to be certain of qualifying, regardless of any other results.

Prediction
La Paz is rarely a happy hunting-ground for Argentina, but a victory will be expected against a demoralised Verde. The away side may suffer at altitude, but they should have enough to record a narrow triumph.

Editor's Prediction
Bolivia 2-3 Argentina

26.03. (Tue) 21:00 Montenegro - England


PROBABLE LINEUPS

MONTENEGRO
M. Bozovic
V. Bozovic, Basa, Savic, Volkov
Zverotic, Novakovic, Vukcevic
Kasalica, Vucinic, Jovetic

ENGLAND
Hart
Johnson, Smalling, Lescott, Cole
Gerrard, Cleverley
Milner, Rooney, Young
Defoe

Montenegro look set to retain the bulk of the team that saw off Moldova 1-0 on Friday, however, Mitar Novakovic could step in for the suspended Milorad Pekovic, who was dismissed against Moldova on Friday.

That absence only serves to heighten Montenegro's midfield-related woes as midfielders Nikola Drincic and Branko Boskovic have already been ruled out of tie with injuries.

Savo Pavicevic is also suspended having picked up a booking against Moldova, meaning that Vladimir Bozovic is likely to deputise at right-back with Simon Vukcevic coming into the midfield.

Various players rested for the 8-0 mauling of San Marino look likely to return, with Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard and James Milner set to start at the expense of Kyle Walker, Leighton Baines, Frank Lampard and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Jermain Defoe, meanwhile, looks set to retain his place after bagging a double in the routine rout against the Sammarinese, with both Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge likely to have to make do with a place on the bench.

Chris Smalling and Joleon Lescott are also expected to continue their partnership at the heart of defence in Montenegro after a quiet evening's work on Friday.

DID YOU KNOW?

Both of the previous encounters between Montenegro and England have ended in draws; the first a 0-0 draw at Wembley in October 2010, while the second, a year later, ended 2-2, with Wayne Rooney infamously dismissed for lashing out at Miodrag Dzudovic.

Mirko Vucinic is his country's leading goalscorer since claiming independence in 2006 with 14 goals in 30 games. Vucinic is 27/10 with BetVictor to score at any time in this game.

The home side have also been in fine form defensively, having kept four consecutive clean sheets, though two of those were against San Marino, the others being 1-0 wins over Ukraine and Moldova.

England, meanwhile, have been in fine form offensively; they are currently the highest scorers in the European section of the 2014 World Cup Qualification Phase with 20 goals, 13 of which were scored against San Marino.

They have also had the most different scorers in Group H as nine separate players have netted for their home country over the course of the five games played thus far (Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, James Milner, Leighton Baines, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ashley Young and Daniel Sturridge).

Though unlikely to start here, Welbeck has been in prolific international form; the Manchester United striker has had five shots on target for England - and scored all of them.

26.03. (Tue) 20:45 Malta - Italy


PROBABLE LINEUPS

MALTA
Hogg
Caruana, Agius, Dimech, Camilleri
Muscat, Failla, R.Fenech, Herrera
Schembri
Mifsud

ITALY
Buffon
Maggio, Barzagli, Bonucci, De Sciglio
Montolivo, Pirlo, Giaccherini
Marchisio
Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli can welcome back Claudio Marchisio and Ignazio Abate for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malta after the pair missed the 2-2 friendly draw with Brazil on Thursday.

Abate is vying with Napoli's Christian Maggio for the right-back role, whilst Marchisio is expected to come into the midfield in place of the suspended Daniele De Rossi. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo also misses out through suspension, meaning that Stephan El Shaarawy could partner his AC Milan team-mate Mario Balotelli up front.

Mattia De Sciglio is expected to maintain his spot at left-back after impressing on his international debut, whilst Giorgio Chiellini is also pushing for a start. Gianluigi Buffon is set for his 126th Azzurri cap between the sticks and Alessandro Florenzi has joined the squad from the Under-21 set-up.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin could be tempted to make changes to the side which were crushed 6-0 by Bulgaria on Friday evening.

Roderick Briffa and Paul Fenech were both substituted in that defeat and their replacements Ryan Camilleri and Rowen Muscat could be in line for starting berths.

Michael Mifsud, Malta's leading all-time goalscorer with 36 goals, is once again set to lead the front line and is looking for his first goal in qualifying.

DID YOU KNOW?

Milan striker Mario Balotelli , who scored Italy's equaliser in Thursday's 2-2 draw with Brazil, has notched eight goals in eight games for club and country in 2013.

Malta are managed by Pietro Ghedin, who between 1996-2004, was the assistant coach of the Italian national team.

Italy have played the archipelago nation on five occasions, winning all the ties by a combined score of 17-2.

In the reverse fixture back in September, the Azzurri emerged 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Mattia Destro and Federico Peluso. However, both players have been omitted from Prandelli's squad selection this time around.

Malta are yet to register a point in 2014 World Cup qualifying, having lost all four of their opening group matches and scoring a solitary goal in the process.

In the most recent Fifa world rankings, Italy are ranked fifth and Malta 147th.

Prediction
Cesare Prandelli's side produced an impressive second-half display to fight back from two goals down against Brazil on Thursday and if the Azzurri can show the same fight and quality here, it should be enough to see off the challenge of a winless Malta.

Editor's Prediction
Malta 0-3 Italy

26.03. (Tue) 20:45 Germany - Kazakhstan


PROBABLE LINEUPS

GERMANY
Neuer
Lahm, Mertesacker, Howedes, Schmelzer
Khedira, Gundogan
Muller, Ozil, Reus
Gotze

KAZAKHSTAN
Sidelnikov
Gurman, Logvienko, Dmitrenko, Kirov
Nurdauletov, Korobkin
Dzolchiyev, Konysbaev, Schmidtgal
Ostapenko

Germany are expected to make two changes to the team that beat Kazakhstan 3-0 on Friday. Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended and will have to wait to win his 99th cap. Either Sven Bender or Ilkay Gundogan will replace him.

Julian Draxler has been forced to pull out of the squad due to concussion, but Marco Reus is available after suspension and will replace him on the left wing ahead of Lukas Podolski.

Kazakhstan, meanwhile, could make a few changes to the side that lost in Astana. Valeri Korobkin will come in for Baurzhan Dzholchiyev in midfield after an encouraging performance off the bench.

Ulan Konysbayev will replace Marat Khairullin, but Sergey Ostapenko will continue up front.

DID YOU KNOW?

Germany's clean sheet in Astana was only their second in a competitive match since the 1-0 win over Portugal in their opening game of Euro 2012.

Thomas Muller has scored in his last two Nationalelf appearances, having previously failed to find the target for his country in 15 months.

Germany have still not conceded a goal to Kazakhstan since the disbandment of the Soviet Union.
This match comes on the two-year anniversary of Kazakhstan's last trip to Germany. They lost 4-0 in Kaiserslautern.

Heinrich Schmidtgal represents Nurnberg's Bavarian rivals Greuther Furth. He moved to Germany at the age of two.

None of the 23-man Soviet Union squad for Euro 1972, who lost in the final to West Germany, were of Kazakh descent.

Prediction
Germany will be on a high following their win on Friday and having recorded a convincing victory over Kazakhstan on home turf two years ago, they should do the same again on Tuesday.

Editor's Prediction
Germany 4-0 Kazakhstan

26.03. (Tue) 20:45 Wales - Croatia


PROBABLE LINEUPS

WALES
Myhill
Gunter, Ricketts, Williams, Davies
King, Ledley, Collison, Bale
Bellamy, Robson-Kanu

CROATIA
Pletikosa
Srna, Corluka, Vida, Strinic
Vukojevic, Radosevic
Modric, Rakitic
Mandzukic, Jelavic

Chris Coleman should not have to contend with too many injuries for the visit of Croatia, but two key men will definitely miss out.

A red card against Scotland means Aaron Ramsey will be unavailable, while Joe Allen (shoulder) is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

However, Coleman does have some good news as Gareth Bale and David Vaughan are both available.

Igor Stimac will likely make changes to the side that beat Serbia, with veterans Ivica Olic and Josip Simunic both appearing against Sinisa Mihajlovic's side, while the latter is also carrying a knock.

Defender Simunic has been given the all-clear to play, but Stimac may not risk the 35-year-old and instead pick Domagoj Vida, while Olic's replacement will most likely be Nikica Jelavic.

Elsewhere, Niko Kranjcar (knee) is expected to miss out meaning that Josip Radosevic could take his place, or Mateo Kovacic may play in a slightly different role.

DID YOU KNOW?

If Wales pick up a win on Tuesday, they will be four points behind Croatia with four matches to play.

After the win over Scotland, a victory against the Croatians would see Wales complete back-to-back competitive wins for the first time since Gary Speed's final two matches in charge.

The last time the two sides met, Igor Stimac's side came out on top with a 2-0 win.

Croatia dominated proceedings when they faced Wales in October, maintaining 76 per cent of possession.

Tuesday's match will be only the second time these sides have played each other in competitive competition.

Josip Simunic, Stipe Pletikosa and Darijo Srna could all win their 102nd caps against Wales.

Of the current squad, only Eduardo da Silva with 26 goals has scored more times for Croatia than right-back Srna , who has 20. The Shakhtar Donetsk man is 11/2 with BetVictor to score at any time in this match.

Sixty per cent of Wales' goals in this qualification campaign have come in the final 15 minutes of matches. Croatia, however, have not scored at all in that section of matches.

26.03. (Tue) 20:30 Serbia - Scotland


PROBABLE LINEUPS

SERBIA
Brkic
Ivanovic, Subotic, Bisevac, Nastasic
Djuricic, Radovanovic,
Stevanovic, Djuricic, Tosic
Djordjevic

SCOTLAND
McGregor
Hutton, Mulgrew, Caldwell, Hanley
Burke, McArthur, Adam, Commons
Naismith, Rhodes

Serbia coach Sinisa Mihajlovic fielded a team lacking in experience against Croatia on Friday. The squad, however, have picked up no new injuries and will likely retain its shape.

Alexander Kolarov could be replaced by Matija Nastasic at left-back with Milan Bisevac coming in at centre-half after a poor performance in Zagreb during which the Manchester City man gifted the opposition a goal in the first half.

Gordon Strachan will be without striker Steven Fletcher (ankle), who has returned to his club. Scotland are still without a midfield trio of Darren Fletcher (bowel), James Morrison (hamstring) and Scott Brown (hip), and Kenny Miller is a doubt with suggestions that he was struggling toward the latter end of the contest with Wales. Robert Snodgrass misses out due to suspension.

Strachan may opt for two up front in this game as both his team and their opposition on the night are now effectively playing for pride, with the race to qualify for Brazil 2014 all but lost.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since leaving Manchester United, Zoran Tosic has become a regular in the Serbia side, and the 25 year-old will win his 49th cap on Tuesday.

Rising star Stefan Scepovic has scored more than a goal every other game in his last two seasons in domestic football. The 23 year-old is currently on loan from FK Partisan to Ashdod and has scored four goals in his last six games.

Scotland winger Kris Commons has scored 13 goals for Celtic this season and one more will equal his career best.

Jordan Rhodes is currently the third highest scorer in the Championship with 22 goals. The closest Scot to him is Craig Mackail-Smith on 11, but he was not named in Strachan's 28-man squad. Rhodes is 9/1 with BetVictor to score first in this match.

Only two players in the Scotland squad have played more games for their country than Gordon Strachan: Kenny Miller (67) and Gary Caldwell (54). However, unlike their new manager, neither have played in a World Cup.

26.03. (Tue) 20:30 Netherlands - Romania


PROBABLE LINEUPS

NETHERLANDS
Vermeer
Janmaat, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind
De Guzman, Van der Vaart, Strootman
Lens, Van Persie, Robben

ROMANIA
Tatarusanu
Tamas, Gardos, Chiriches, Rat
Bourceanu, Pintilii
Grozav, Torje, Stancu
Mutu

Louis van Gaal will still be without Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul through injury, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is being plagued by a knee problem and is unavailable, too.

Additionally, Wesley Sneijder misses out after picking up a groin injury against Estonia.

Ajax shot-stopper Kenneth Vermeer is expected to start again on Tuesday, while Rafael van der Vaart will take Sneijder's place in midfield in an otherwise unchanged XI.

Meanwhile, Romania boss Victor Piturca will have to make do without the services of the injured Ciprian Marica and Costin Lazar, while Dorin Goian is suspended following his yellow card against Hungary.

Therefore, Florin Gardos is expected to start in defence, while Razvan Rat could return at left-back at the expense of Stefan Radu.

DID YOU KNOW?

Netherlands have not conceded at home in a World Cup qualifier since Teemu Tainio scored for Finland on October 13, 2004.

Arjen Robben will equal the legendary Ruud Gullit on 66 international appearances for the national team if he features on Tuesday.

Holland's third goal against Estonia on Friday evening was the 1500th strike in their illustrious history, nearly 98 years after Eddy de Neve scored the first goal for the national team in a 4-1 win over Belgium.

Romania have locked horns with Holland on 12 occasions so far, winning only once (in October 2007), drawing three times, and losing the remaining eight matches.

Adrian Mutu equaled Gheorghe Hagi as Romania's all-time leading goalscorer on 35 goals following his strike against Hungary last week.

The guests have not qualified for the World Cup since making it to the round of 16 in France in 1998.

Prediction
Louis van Gaal's men have been in fine form this qualification campaign and will be confident they can add three more points to their tally on Tuesday. Oranje recorded a comfortable win in the away game against Romania and should be able to repeat that feat at the Amsterdam ArenA. Holland have not conceded at home in the World Cup qualification since 2004, and victory for Netherlands seems the only realistic outcome.

Editor's Prediction
Netherlands 2-0 Romania

Midweek International's Preview 25th Mart


Montenegro v England
The next round of World Cup qualifiers get underway in what should prove, for England at least, to be a far sterner test than the 8 goal thrashing of minnows San Marino last week.
England (4/5) have never lost a World Cup or European Championships qualifier in the month of March and they will be looking to continue that trend in a tricky tie against Montenegro (4/1, Draw 21/10)
This fixture is fast becoming a regular one with the teams facing each other in the last qualifying tournament - for the 2012 European Championships - with both games ending level: 0-0 (8/1) at Wembley and 2-2 (18/1) in Podgorica.
England recorded their biggest win since October 1987 in their last game against San Marino . And although a similar 8-0 result is unlikely at 500/1 the wise money could be on England to win with a handicap. England -1 is 11/5, -2 at 6/1 and -3 goals 16/1.
Wayne Rooney seems to have found his scoring boots again for The Three Lions scoring in four successive England appearances and in five of his last six. We have him at 4/1 to score the first or last goal and even money to score at any time. We have included him in a cracking headline offer to score at anytime in an England win at 5/2.
Montenegro have won four successive qualifiers without conceding a goal (11 goals scored in total). They are 16/5 to stop England scoring and keep a clean sheet, and 11/2 to win with a clean sheet. England are 6/5 and 7/4 for the respective markets. Our headline offer for Montenegro is for Fiorentina star Stevan Jovetic to score & Montenegro to win at 8/1.

Northern Ireland v Israel
Northern Ireland (2/1) have only faced Israel (11/8, Draw 11/5) twice before, while attempting to qualify for the 1982 World Cup. They won one, drew the other and kept clean sheets in both. They are 21/10 to keep a clean sheet this time around whilst Israel are 8/5.
Results seem to be picking up for Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland side who have drawn five of their last six, that said, the Green and White Army are winless in their last 12.
They are finding it hard to find the net in recent times. Since September 2011, no Northern Ireland player has scored more than a single goal for his country. We are backing Niall McGinn to change all that by scoring in a Northern Ireland win (6/1)
Tomer Hemed will be the main threat for Israel and we go 5/1 first/last and 5/4 anytime. Hemed scored a hat-trick in his last away international appearance (v Luxembourg) and has six in his last five in all competitions for Israel. At the same price we have Eden Ben Basat, and for him to score in an Israel win we are offering 9/2.

Republic of Ireland v Austria
The omens don't look good for Republic of Ireland (23/20). They have won just two of their 12 previous meetings with Austria (5/2, Draw 11/5), losing 8 and drawing two and since beating Austria 3-2 in Dublin in October 1963, Ireland have lost all four competitive clashes with Austria, scoring just 3 goals and conceding 16. Against Sweden on Friday, Ireland failed to muster a shot on target for the first time in a competitive game under Giovanni Trapattoni.
Ireland have only failed to score though in one of their last nine home internationals (0-1 in a friendly against Greece). West Brom striker Shane Long is the subject of our headline offer in this match. For him to score in a Rep of Ireland win we go 7/2.
Austria have only won one of their last 18 internationals on the road: a 4-1 victory in Azerbaijan in October 2011. The same score line against Ireland returns odds of 100/1!
Marc Janko has netted three times in his last four appearances for Austria and we offer 8/1 for him to score the first or last goal and 11/4 to score at anytime. David Alaba to score & Austria to win is our headline offer for the away side.

Wales v Croatia
Wales (9/2) and Croatia (8/11, Draw 23/10) have met three times before, and Wales are yet to pick up their first victory though they have managed a draw. However it's been 45 games since Wales last drew a game, that coming against Germany six years ago. For a repeat of the 0-0 score-line we go 8/1.
A clean sheet for either side seems unlikely as Wales' goalkeeper Boaz Myhill has conceded five more goals (9) than he has made saves in World Cup 2014 qualification. But with the prolific Gareth Bale in the Welsh ranks, Croatia will fear their goal-scoring ability. In their 2-1 victory over Scotland last Friday, Wales scored in a game without Gareth Bale netting for the first time since September 2011.
The evergreen Craig Bellamy to score & Wales to win is our Headline offer for Wales and we offer 10/1.
Croatia have won their last four internationals in all competitions and are unbeaten in six. Mario Mandzukic to score & Croatia to win is 5/2.

Serbia v Scotland
Excluding games played as the former Yugoslavia, the match between Serbia (8/13) and Scotland (5/1, Draw 13/5) in September 2012 was their first ever clash.
Scotland are now without a win in six competitive games so will need their strikers to perform as they do for their club sides. The prolific Jordan Rhodes is the favourite to score the first or last at 8/1 with a goal at anytime priced at 11/4.
Scotland have only failed to score in one of their last eight away internationals at to score and are 4/5 to score at least one here. Can Shaun Maloney score in a Scotland win ? We go 20/1 that he does.
On the other hand, Gordon Strachan's side have only mustered one clean sheet in 11 games on the road. They are 18/5 to record one here. Serbia to do the same are 17/20.
Serbia have lost their last three qualifiers without scoring a single goal, conceding six themselves so they need to halt that trend if they are to progress. Can Filip Djordevic score in a Serbia win? We offer 2/1 that he does.

26.03. (Tue) 18:00 Azerbaijan - Portugal


PROBABLE LINEUPS

AZERBAIJAN
Agayev
Shukurov, Sadygov, Ramaldanov, Medvedev
Farjad-Azad, Sadiqov, Abishov, Dzavadov
Ismayilov, Aliyev

PORTUGAL
Rui Patricio
Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Silvio
Martins, Voloso, Moutinho
Varela, Postiga, Vieirinha

Cristiano Ronaldo’s yellow card in Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Israel means the Portugal captain will be suspended for Tuesday’s Group F match against Azerbaijan.
His loss further depletes a Portuguese attack that was already without Manchester United winger Nani, who who suffered a hamstring injury on club duty.

Porto’s Silvestre Varela, who started in place of the Manchester United winger in Ramat Gan, is expected to keep his place in Baku, and one of Danny or Vieirinha will replace Ronaldo.

Left-back Fabio Coentrao may also be absent on Tuesday after picking up a foot injury against Israel and Deportivo La Coruna left-back Silvio is on standby should Coentrao be unable to start.

Carlos Martins is also expected to play from the beginning against Azerbaijan in place of Raul Meireles, who has come down with flu.

Azerbaijan boss Berti Vogts has no new injury worries or suspensions to deal with ahead of Tuesday’s match.

DID YOU KNOW?

Portugal head into Tuesday’s match without a win since September 2012—the last time they played Azerbaijan.

Silvestre Varela, Helder Postiga and Bruno Alves scored the goals in Portugal’s 3-0 win over Azerbaijan in September—all three coming after the hour mark.

With Cristiano Ronaldo suspended and Nani injured, Helder Postiga and Hugo Almeida are Portugal’s only available internationals with more than 10 international goals apiece. Postiga has 25; Almeida 16.

Azerbaijan have picked up points in three matches so far in World Cup qualifying—drawing with Israel, Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. But their best performance came in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Russia in Moscow.

When the latest Fifa rankings came out earlier this month, the home side had risen two places—from 118th to 116th.

These two sides have met on three previous occasions, with Portugal winning each of them by a combined score of 8-0.

Prediction
Their hosts may be tough to break down, but if Portugal cannot win this match then they do not deserve a place at the 2014 World Cup finals.

Editor's Prediction
Azerbaijan 0-2 Portugal

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