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With one last round of midweek international friendlies to play before players head back to their clubs for domestic competition, here are 5 massive midweek matches to watch out for:
5. Belgium vs Japan
In a clash between two teams looking to leave their mark in Brazil next year, Japan will face Belgium in Brussels looking to inflict further misery on the hosts after their loss on Thursday.
Japan impressed in their friendly against Netherlands last week, fighting back from two goals down to finish the game on level terms with the 2010 World Cup finalists. Belgium will offer a different kind of challenge, but Alberto Zaccheroni has suggested that he will play an attacking team looking for their first win in four matches.
The fifth-ranked Belgium side, on the other hand, slumped to their first loss of 2013 on Thursday against Columbia, and will be looking to bounce back from the defeat against a Japan side who they have not beaten yet in the three meetings between the two nations.
4. Netherlands vs Columbia
Belgium are getting a lot of attention as World Cup darkhorses, but Columbia proved their mantle by defeating the Belgians on their home turf on Thursday, and will be looking to inflict the same damage on Netherlands when the two teams face off at the Amsterdam ArenA on Tuesday.
The Dutch side, on the other hand, played out a 2-2 draw against Japan despite being two goals to the good, and will be looking to impress manager Louis van Gaal as players look to lock down their squad berths for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Rafael Van der Vaart, who scored Netherlands’ first against Japan, said in an interview: “The coach is very clear. The three leaders (Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Kevin Strootman) go to the World Cup and the rest have to fight for a spot.” Desperate to keep their places in the national side, Netherlands will be trying to ensure that the South Americans do not leave Europe with wins in both their matches.
3. England vs Germany
Smarting after a 2-0 home loss to fellow World Cup qualifier Chile, England will be hoping for a better showing against fierce rivals Germany when the two teams meet at Wembley.
The German team come into the game on the back of four wins in their last five matches, and will be keen on keeping their impressive run going against a Three Lions side that has failed to impress in recent outings.
Joachim Low’s side kicked England out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa during the two sides’ meeting in the quarters, so this could be a good chance to for the hosts to exact some revenge on their opponents. England manager Roy Hodgson has named a strong starting XI for the match, with Adam Lallana to receive his second international cap following his recent call-up.
2. Sweden vs Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo won the first of two battles against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scoring the only goal of the match between Portugal and Sweden to give his side a strong foothold in their two-legged elimination tie for World Cup qualification.
However, with the tie moving back to Sweden, Ibrahimovic will be looking to put one over the Real Madrid forward in what could possibly be his last chance of playing at a World Cup.
While the match is quite evenly poised, a goal for the attack-minded Portugal side could all but kill the tie. However, Ukraine coach Erik Hamren displayed faith in his team’s ability to bounce back in a press conference before the match, saying: “This tie is still alive. We’ve shown time and time again during this qualifying campaign that we can turn around difficult situations.”
1. France vs Ukraine
2-0 read the scoreline in Kiev, as Roman Zozulya and Andriy Yarmolenko’s strikes stunned France along with a majority of the neutral audience, putting Didier Deschamps’ side on the brink of elimination from the World Cup.
France, however, have become used to doing things the tough way over recent years, and qualified for the 2010 World Cup via an extra time goal in the second leg of their playoff against the Republic of Ireland. They do not lack the firepower either, and will be looking to break Ukraine keeper Andriy Pyatov’s 730-minute run without having conceded an international goal at the Stade de France.
History will be on Ukraine’s side, as no country has ever overturned a two-goal first leg deficit in World Cup qualifiers and gone on to make the finals of the event. However, with the likes of Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri in Les Bleus’ arsenal, this tie isn’t over just yet.
