(Football news) European champions Italy will face Switzerland at the Stadio Olympic on Friday with the likes of Niccolo Zaniolo, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Ciro Immobile currently injured. Roberto Mancini has already announced a strong squad for the fixture with the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Nicolo Barella, Jorginho and Lorenzo Insigne expected to feature. There is also a possibility that Lazio’s Danilo Cataldi and Torino’s Tommaso Pobega could be handed their debuts.
For Switzerland, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Nico Elvedi, Steven Zuber, Breel Embolo, Gregor Kobel and Granit Xhaka are currently injured while Yann Sommer, Fabian Schar, Remo Freuler and Xherdan Shaqiri are expected to feature. The two sides have met 59 times with Italy winning 29 games, 23 draws and seven losses. Roberto Mancini’s team will not just be the favourites to win this particular encounter but one of the favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar and any result apart from a win for the Gli Azzurri will be an upset.
Germany will have a lot to prove at the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, having endured extremely disappointing campaigns in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the Euros this year. However, the team looks to have found its form under coach Hansi Flick and became the first team to qualify for the Qatar World Cup with a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia. Germany will take on Liechtenstein who are currently at the bottom of Group J with only one point from eight matches so far.
Germany are in fine form, winning four out of their last four matches and have a 100% record against Liechtenstein, winning all five of the previous fixtures. Timo Werner, Florian Wirtz and Nico Schlotterbeck are currently injured while a positive COVID-19 result of Niklas Sule has resulted in Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Karim Adeyemi to self isolate. Despite the number of absentees, Hansi Flick’s side are expected to secure all three points and maintain their impressive form in the World Cup qualifiers.
In Group B, Greece will host Spain in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, hoping to make amends after their 2-0 defeat to Sweden and are currently in third place with nine points. It’s a must win game for them if they have any hope of qualifying for the World Cup but face a tough test in Spain who have won back to back matches against Georgia and Kosovo and are currently 2nd in the group with 13 points. Luis Enrique will be hoping for a positive result as La Roja need only a point to secure qualification to Qatar and a win will ensure they go ahead of Sweden at the top of the group.
For Greece, there are no injuries but Pantelis Chatzidiakos is suspended after receiving a red card against Sweden. For Spain, Ansu Fati is currently recovering from an injury and has been replaced by Raul de Tomas. Yeremi Pino is also injured and has been replaced by Brais Mendez while Diego Llorente takes the place of Eric Garcia who is also injured. Anything less than a win will be a big blow for Greece and the home side will be under immense pressure with what’s at stake heading into the match.
Fernando Santos’ Portugal are set to face off against Republic of Ireland in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the Seleção das Quinas are currently 2nd in Group A behind Serbia by one point but have a game in hand and will be looking to make it count in the upcoming fixture. The last time the two teams met, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace in the 89th and 96th minute to secure all three points and the 36 year old is looking in fine form for his national team, scoring a hat-trick against Luxembourg in the last match. Portugal are expected to win this fixture and it’s likely that Ronaldo will be on the scoresheet again, having already scored 11 goals in nine appearances for the national team so far.
