Euro 2012: Wales face trip into unknown against Montenegro
Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland face tough-looking away trips into Europe to get their Euro 2012 campaigns up and running.
The pick of the matches looks to be Wales’ trip to Podgorica to take on the world’s newest international side, Montenegro. England fans will no doubt be watching closely as they will face both these sides later on in Group G. In keeping with previous years, Wales’ squad is littered with injures. Aaron Ramsey, Jack Collison, Brian Stock, Andrew Crofts, Danny Gabbidon and Darcy Blake are all missing while Simon Davies has recently announced his retirement from international football.
Craig Bellamy (pictured) is fit however, which is a major plus, considering the form he has showed in his opening two matches for new club Cardiff City this season. Millwall striker Steve Morison will make his first competitive start for his country up front, and manager John Toshack is set to use Bellamy and Gareth Bale as wide men who will look to provide support for Morison.
Montenegro, who will be will be embarking on their first-ever competitive game as an independent country, go into the match without their star striker Stevan Jovetić, who ruptured his cruciate ligament playing for Fiorentina in pre-season. They do however still possess top quality European players in Roma’s Mirko Vučinić and Sporting Lisbon’s midfielder Simon Vukčević. Wales will need to be at their best to get a result against the underrated debutants.
The Republic of Ireland begin their quest to qualify from Group B on Friday afternoon against Armenia, who have never finished higher than third in the qualifiers for a major tournament.
However, underestimating the minnows could prove costly for the Irish, as their home ground in Yerevan has been the setting for some shock results. In fact, during Euro 2008 qualifying, Armenia went unbeaten at home against the top four nations in their group.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s side have been dealt injury blows in the build up to the match, with Damien Duff, Paul McShane and Keith Andrews all missing out through injury, Cillian Sheridan has been called up as cover. The Ireland line-up has already been named and Paul Green has been handed his first international start, while experienced duo Shay Given and Robbie Keane have been selected despite a turbulent week caused by the transfer window, where they both stayed with their respective clubs.
Scotland begin their Euro 2012 campaign away against Lithuania on Friday, a game which sees new coach Craig Levein take control of his first competitive game.
In keeping with tradition there have been plenty of dramas behind the scenes in the build up to the match with Andy Webster, Lee Wallace, Chris Iwelumo and Kevin McNaughton pulling out of the squad after originally being selected and the inclusion of English-born goalkeeper Matthew Gilks. Old timers David Weir, who makes his reappearance for the Scots at the age of 40, and 33-year-old Paul Hartley look set to play a major part as Levein hopes to get his tenure of to the perfect start.
Nigel Worthington has no injury worries for his Northern Island side’s trip to Slovenia for their opener in Group C. Craig Cathcart, who recently moved to Blackpool from Manchester United, is in line to make his international debut at centre-back alongside Stephen Craigan, who has been handed the captain’s armband in what will be his 50th cap.
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