http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Martin-Harnik-c24374 and Mario Gomez to star –
UEFA Euro 2012 Qualifier preview
Austria will host Germany in a Euro 2012 qualifier Group A fixture at Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna. It is a must win game for Dietmar Constantini’s team to remain in contention for qualifying for Euro 2012.
Germany are leading the group with five wins from as many matches, Whereas the Das Team is placed fourth with only two wins from five games. The two sides have faced each other in some epic encounters in the past and this also promises to be a mouth-watering
clash between the two bitter rivals.
Austria
If the hosts can snatch a win in this game, it would bring them closer to the second placed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belgium-c2850, who have played an extra game. The hosts have had a less than convincing campaign and have suffered four defeats from their last five games in all competitions.
Austria have lost their last four games against Germany and the aggregate score-line of those four matches is 2-12.
Scoring goals has been a problem for the hosts, as they have managed to get only once on the score sheet in their last 3 games.
Germany
The Germans have had a dream spell in the tournament so far and have collected maximum points from their five games. The visitors are just one win away from booking their place for the Euro 2012 and a win against archrivals would give them a huge boost.
Joachim Low’s side have the second best attack and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753 in the tournament.
Die Mannschaft have not had an enjoyable time of late, as they have won only two of their last five international games.
Team news
Austria
Constantini has shuffled his side after some poor performances of late and has drafted several players from the U-21 squad. Youngsters http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-c9879 Royer and Thomas Schrammel are expected to make their debut on Friday. Scoring goals has been a problem for Das
Team throughout the current campaign and they will rely on Marek Janko to provide goals for them.
Probable team line-up: Berger; Dragovic, Prodl, Pogatetz, Schrammel ; Pehlivan, Baumgartlinger; Harnik, Royer, Alaba; Janko
Germany
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bastian-Schweinsteiger-c7374 and Sami Khadira are among the recent withdrawals from the squad.
Simon Rofles and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tony-c35440 Kross are expected to line-up in the midfield, while Mario Gomez is expected to be partnered upfront by Lukasz Podolski.
Probable line-up: Neuer; Lahm, Friedrich, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gotze, Kroos; Muller, Ozil, Podolski; Gomez
Player to Watch
Martin Harnik
The attacker will have a tough task on his hands and if Austria want to get anything from this game, then he needs to be on top of his form. The Stuttgart midfielder has had a fantastic season with the club and has scored a couple of goals with the international
team recently. His versatility of playing in different attacking positions will be a tough task for his marker.
Mario Gomez
In the absence of Klose, Gomez will be transferred the goal-scoring responsibilities. The 25-year-old has been in great goalscoring form of late and finished the 2010/11 Bundesliga season as the highest goalscorer with 28 goals from 32 matches.
Prediction
The games between these two sides go down to the wire and a depleted German side versus the out of form Austrians could provide another tense finish. Despite missing their key men, Germany are likely to nick out a close fought win. 1-0
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