BATE vs Arsenal – Europa League Preview

September 27, 2017 by Jools Jordan-Probert·Comments Off

BATE vs Arsenal – Europa League Preview – Arsene Wenger says, ‘there is room for us to be different’ as he decides on a much-changed team to face BATE Borisov in matchday 2 of Arsenal’s maiden Europa League campaign.

The Gunners face a daunting 2400-mile return trip to Belarusian BATE Borisov, and with a lunchtime kick-off against Brighton at The Emirates on Sunday, the youthful side will have a stern task on their hands in looking to continue their turnaround in form after a difficult start to the season.

After a sticky start at home in the opening fixture against FC Koln in which Columbian Jhon Cordoba opened the scoring with an exquisite long-range effort, an Alexis Sanchez inspired Arsenal toppled the Germans 3-1 to get back on track.

That is somewhat indicative of the season to date, granted the North-London side ‘just’ crawled over the line with two late strikes to win 4-3 against Leicester in the first match of the season. However, losing to both Stoke and Liverpool 1-0 and 4-0 respectively (the latter of which being a demolition) brought the return of the ‘Wenger Out’ parade in force. Solid performances and results in victories against Koln, Bournemouth, Doncaster and West Brom whilst earning a very good draw at Stamford Bridge have seen a steadied ship – for now.

Finishing 5^th, and hence qualifying for the Europa League instead of the Champions League, last season’s Premier League campaign was a massive underachievement and anything less than strolling to 1^st in this group and seriously challenging to win the tournament (and automatically qualifying for the UCL in the process) will be seen as failure.

BATE earned a 1-1 draw at Red Star Belgrade last time out, which does once again create an opportunity for The Gunners to already start pulling away at the top of the group. Such away trips to first Belarus and then Serbia will do nothing to help the challenge on the domestic front, however.

Team News

Vast rotation is expected, with Reiss Nelson, Jack Wilshere and Ainsley Maitland-Niles all coming in as senior players are rested. Mesut Ozil is likely to play a part whilst still fully recovering from a knee injury and David Ospina will again be used as the cup goalkeeper.

Kolasinac has shown his worth to the Arsenal squad Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch

Whilst difficult to predict exactly who Arsene Wenger will rest for this clash, after Sead Kolasinac’s wonderful volleyed equaliser and performance in the last matchday, the Bosnian will surely have a large role. The versatile 24-year-old has proven to be an excellent piece of business for Arsenal so far this season since his arrival on a free from Schalke, lining up in both central defence and left wing-back to good effect. Additionally, the 20-times-capped man has added vital goals to the side, with the equaliser on his debut in the 2017 Community Shield against Chelsea and another as previously mentioned v Koln. Watch out for his supreme physical presence and wand of a delivery with his left foot.

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World Cup Qualifiers – England vs Slovakia – Match Preview

September 4, 2017 by Jools Jordan-Probert·Comments Off

England vs Slovakia – Match Preview – Slovakia will be relishing the opportunity to snatch direct World Cup qualification from England’s hands at Wembley in a crucial Group F match with just three matches remaining in the qualification group just two points separate the two sides.

Only the team that finishes top of the group receives the reward of automatically qualifying to the 2018 World Cup in Russia – with the second-place teams in each of the European groups going into a play-off match.

England, once again, will be expected to surpass the (now Slovakian) obstacle in their way and top yet another major tournament qualifying group. After a slight blip in the 2-2 tie against Scotland due to Leigh Griffiths magic, England dispatched Malta 4-0 in a game that Gareth Southgate’s side did nothing to dispel the current concerns around the national team.

It was a laboured performance which saw the Three Lions struggle to create many opportunities but it maintained the gap over Monday’s opponents, who are on a run of five straight victories and have first spot within their crosshairs.

Marek Hamsik can cause England problems from the middle of the field Photo Credit: skysports.com

Jan Kozak’s team are currently 28^th in the world and are by no means pushovers, possessing real quality in the side via the mediums of players such as Napoli icon Marek Hamsik and ex Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel.

A marked improvement will be needed for England to navigate the Slovakian onslaught, in a game that could be reminiscent of the blunder against Croatia in 2008, (losing a vital match 3-2 and subsequently not qualifying for that year’s European Championships) if not treated with the required determination and diligence. The Falcons are buoyant after overwhelming fellow home nation Scotland 3-0 in Trnava last time out.

Even so, England have kept clean sheets in their last three encounters with Slovakia (winning the reverse fixture 1-0) and the quality littered throughout Southgate’s team should be more than adequate in seeing the job through. Victory would see England’s all but guaranteed passage through to Russia, where they can really begin to dream.

Team News
Everton stopper Jordan Pickford has withdrawn from the squad due to injury which should see the under-fire Joe Hart retain his no.1 spot. Jordan Henderson has been confirmed as the game’s captain as Southgate decides on a progressive, rotational replacement for the captaincy voided by Wayne Rooney’s permanent departure.

Kane scored a brace against Malta and will need to find his goalscoring touch again against Slovakia Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch
Harry Kane has had vast amounts of column inches dedicated to him at the start of this season, once again failing to break his ‘August duck’ in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur in a sluggish opening period to the campaign. The 24-year-old did however open his account for the season with a brace against Malta, taking his current tally to 10 strikes in just 20 appearances for England – a stellar record. The general premise of Kane is that if you allow him even half a yard, he will punish even the strongest teams.

The striker never seems to lack confidence and has earned his place in leading the line for his country with several fantastic seasons at club level (winning back-to-back Premier League Golden Boots). Now he needs to exorcise the demons of a disastrous Euro 2016, take his nation to another major tournament, and perform to the standard he is blatantly capable of when he is there. That path begins with Slovakia on Monday.

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World Cup Qualifier – France vs Netherlands – Match Preview

August 30, 2017 by Jools Jordan-Probert·Comments Off

France vs Netherlands – Match Preview – The international break is upon us as two of global football’s goliath’s face off in an incredibly competitive Group A World Cup Qualifying match.

Both Didier Deschamps’ France and Dick Advocaat’s Netherlands are currently trailing behind surprise table-toppers Sweden, in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. France are just missing out on top spot on goal difference while The Oranje are a further three points behind.

The Dutch have had a tumultuous time since their 3^rd place finish at the 2014 World Cup, coming 4^th in their Euro 2016 qualifying group and missing out on qualification for a major tournament for the first time since the 2002 World Cup.

Losing to Bulgaria 2-0 in March saw Danny Blind, father of Daley, lose his position as coach as the two-time World Cup runners-up desperately seek a return to consistent form. There is a lot of work to be done to achieve that feat and emerge from this group with a place at the 2018 World Cup, however.

It is a somewhat different story for France, falling just short at home in the Euro 2016 final to Portugal, it hasn’t dispelled the optimism surrounding Les Blues – with an extremely talented side in terms of quality and depth Deschamps’ side are among the favourites to dominate world football in the coming years.

Navigating a tricky group is the first problem, as a draw with Belarus and a defeat to Sweden have proven. Dispatching the Netherlands will re-establish the French as firm favourites to qualify from Group A as group winners, though.

This match would normally need no build up anyway but victory for either side could be crucial to how their respective eras could be defined – France with so many potential world beaters (such as Mbappe, Dembele, Lemar, Pogba etc) and Netherlands with many coming to an end, perhaps another story could be written.

With just four games left and a seemingly ruthless Sweden it is likely one of these huge footballing countries will miss out – and it could depend on this very game.

Van Persie will need to provide the goals for the Netherlands Photo Credit: skysports.com

Team News
Though Anthony Martial, Karim Benzema and Ousmane Dembele would easily get in most squads, the have been left out of the squad – illustrating the incredible strength in depth Deschamps has at his disposal. Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane also misses out through injury.

Dick Advocaat has serious concerns defensively, missing the talents of Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Daryl Janmaat and Jeffrey Bruma. So perhaps hopes will rest on the team’s offence, and maybe on all-time record goal-scorer Robin van Persie’s shoulders as he is welcomed back into the squad.

Antoine Griezmann can lead France to the World Cup Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann has cemented himself in the current upper echelons of world football with several exceptional seasons for Atletico Madrid and a fantastic Euro 2016 which saw him named as the tournament’s top scorer and its best player. The diminutive forward has scored 100 goals and assisted a further 33 in just 253 La Liga matches and is a pertinent threat from anywhere on the pitch. Pace, dribbling ability, lethal finishing, fantastic movement – you know it, the 26-year-old has got it. Griezmann will be an integral reason should France want to better their performance in Euro 2016 and create more glory days like those of the World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000.

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