TheSportsCampus

After an action packed Friday night which witnessed goals galore, the second batch of Euro 2012 qualifiers take place on Tuesday, as European heavyweights Germany, England, Italy, Portugal, France & Netherlands hope to cement their qualifying spots. France face a tricky trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the back of their shock 1-0 loss at home to Belarus. Netherlands & England will hope to repeat their fine performances in the opening fixture, as the Dutch are visited by Finland while England travel to Switzerland. Italy & Germany host minnows Faroe Islands & Azerbaijan respectively, after claiming narrow victories in their qualifying openers. Portugal will look to make amends after their inept defensive performance in their previous game against Cyprus as they travel to Norway.

Germany vs Azerbaijan (Group A)
Germany began their qualifying campaign with a slender 1-0 victory over Belgium and will hope for greater margins when they take on minnows Azerbaijan. Joachim Low has no new injuries to contend with and ought to continue with the same group of players that overcame Belgium. Former German coach Berti Vogts, now managing Azerbaijan, recalls Sasha Yunisoglu, Fábio Luís Ramim, Vugar Nadyrov despite their dearth of international appearances in the recent past. Vogts does have defensive concerns, Vladimir Levin and Ruslan Abushev are doubtful and will pique a manager who has to contend with a side that were thrashed 4-0 by Germany when they last met in FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Germany will count on three points to establish an early lead in Group A, given that their main rivals for top spot, Turkey & Belgium, face each other on Tuesday as well.

Switzerland vs England (Group G)
Having begun their campaign in grand style with a 4-0 home victory over Bulgaria, England will look to continue restoring their tarnished reputation when they face Switzerland in Basel. A lengthy injury list of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Bobby Zamora, Peter Crouch & Rio Ferdinand had another name pencilled in, as Michael Dawson was sent home to undergo a scan on a knee injury suffered in the opening game. Gary Cahill ought to provide adequate replacement, although Capello ought to have concerns over Wayne Rooney who may have to focus on other pressing matters off-the-pitch. Switzerland begin their campaign against England shorn of key players as well, Philippe Senderos, Mario Eggimann, Hakan Yakin & Tranquillo Barnetta miss out due to injuries and illness while goalkeeper Diego Benaglio withdrew due to domestic concerns. Ottmar Hitzfeld has drafted in Xavier Margairaz & Marco Padalino to fill in the creative vacuum brought about by the absence of Bernetta & Yakin and will hope that they can peg back an inexperienced English defensive backline. England will be glad to further cement their qualification prospects with a positive result, especially as Bulgaria battle 2nd placed Montenegro in the other game of Group G.

Italy vs Faroe Islands (Group C)
Italy face Faroe Islands in what is likely to be considered an easy fixture, although after a close shave against Estonia, manager Cesare Prandelli will not view another 2-1 comeback with much delight. Having received the backing of Italian legend Gianfranco Zola, Prandelli will look to install his ideals on an Italian side still bearing the imprints of former manager Marcelo Lippi. With largely the same faces but with a fresher attitude, Italy will expect to ease past a Faroe Islands side that have already suffered two defeats to Estonia and Serbia. The European minnows will consider a point against Italy as a massive miracle but the far likelier outcome is an Italian goal-fest. Serbia & Slovenia, two challengers to Italy's ambitions face off in the other fixture of Group C.

Norway vs Portugal (Group H)
A bungling defensive performance contributed to Portugal permitting Cyprus to escape from Portugal with a 4-4 draw in their qualifying starter. It has led to a fairly obvious but necessary statement from Ricardo Carvalho, the Portuguese stalwart urging his countrymen to be "more compact, especially at the back". Portugal will certainly have to do so, if they expect to take three points from a tough trip to group leaders Norway who earned a creditable 2-1 victory away to Iceland in their opener. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo may blunt Portugal's attack, particularly when faced with a defence containing Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise. A point for either side may not be the worst result, given that these two expect to compete for the top spot in the group, along with Denmark who face Iceland in the other Group H fixture.

Bosnia & Herzegovina vs France (Group D)
Hopes of a fresh dawn for France under Laurent Blanc have been punctured, as a 1-0 loss to Belarus in his first competitive game in charge capped of a run of four defeats on the trot for Les Blues. Blanc must feel as if the footballing gods are conspiring against him, as a performance lacking in cutting edge has been further compounded by the loss of strikers Guillaume Hoarau, Loïc Rémy and Louis Saha, although Karim Benzema & Jimmy Briand are available. France may have to focus on their backline though, as the attacking talents of Bosnia & Herzegovina - consisting of Miralem Pjanic, Edin Dzeko & Vedad Ibisevic are not to be underestimated. On the back of an encouraging 3-0 victory in Luxembourg, Bosnia & Herzegovina will fancy their chances against a stuttering French side but ought to err on the side of caution as France will travel as wounded lions. This game is a must win fixture for France to keep their hopes of topping the group alive, as fellow hopefuls Belarus and Romania clash in the other fixture of a highly competitive Group D.

Netherlands vs Finland (Group E)
Netherlands host Finland on the back of a 5-0 rout of San Marino, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar grabbing a hat-trick. Bert van Marwijk will hope that Huntelaar continues in the same vein as the continued absence of Robin van Persie looks to have unwittingly revived the international career of Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Dutch hit-man also having scored in his return to the Oranje. Finland suffered a shock 2-0 away defeat at the hands of Moldova, thanks to a first-half red card for Sami Hyypia. The Finnish backline will hope to perform better at the hands of Netherlands, although an in-form Huntelaar may dash those hopes. The Oranje will delight in three points from this fixture as competitors Sweden are likely to inflict another rout on San Marino in the other Group E fixture.

Photo by 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa