Euro 2012: 5 Euro Qualifying Matches to Watch This Week

It seems like the Euro 2012 qualifying matches have been going on forever already, and that's probably because they have. But we're still in Group Stages with a long way to go, meaning there will be a glut of big international matches this week and plenty of fans trying to locate the Faroe Islands and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on a map. 

In addition to improving the geography of football fans everywhere, a few of the 40-odd matches this Friday, Saturday and Tuesday will serve to settle some close races, and for some sides, it may be their last shot at staying in the competition. Here are the top five matches worth keeping an eye out for.

Greece vs. Israel (Friday, 15:05 CET)

Look who it is! Everyone's favorite new Gunner! Fresh off his signing with Arsenal, Yossi Benayoun returns to Tel Aviv in the hopes of keeping Luis Fernandez's Israeli team in contention in Group F, where they are a point behind first-place Greece.

The Israelis' veteran captain has been essential to the team's success in Euro competition so far, scoring the hat trick in last September's first match against Malta which led them to their first victory and gave the team a solid jump-start in the group rankings.

Israel, the underdog in tomorrow's matchup, has already seen defeat at the hands of closest competition Croatia and tomorrow's favored opponent Greece in Piraeus last October, but have recovered with three consecutive Euro qualifier wins, one over Georgia and two over Latvia.

Greece has an overall winning record against the Blue and Whites, bolstered by a strong home-field advantage, but their past two trips to Israel have ended in draws.

The Greeks, who are coming off a 3-1 win over Malta which showed off two of their brightest young stars, 20-year-old Giannis Fetfatzidis and 19-year-old debutante Kyriakos Papadopoulos, have yet to lose in the competition. If they can beat Israel, they'll likely be a lock to win the group.       

This week is make-or-break for Israel, who will face a challenge Tuesday as well up against Dario Srna and shared-second Croatia, but if they can prove their mettle against the Hellenic frontrunners, they may come out a surprise power squad.

Republic of Ireland vs. Slovakia (Friday, 20:45 CET)

The race for Group B is still an extremely close one, with ROI, Slovakia and Russia all tied in terms of win-loss records and total points.

Keeping Ireland at the top of the table is the "goals-for" column, with five of their 11 competition goals coming from skipper Robbie Keane, a powerful force in Euro so far.

If Ireland want to stay on top, tightening their defense will be the key. The squad has a higher rate of goals against than their shared-first counterparts, but with veteran keeper and frequent medical odds-defier Shay Given showing an unflinching will to play despite a recent back injury, it seems the heart of the Eire defense is at least mentally prepared to go hard.

Slovakia may have a difficult time in Dublin without their captain, Napoli attacking midfielder Marek Hamšík, who will join the team in Ireland but will likely not play due to a hamstring injury.

Keeper Marián Kello is out with a shoulder injury as well, meaning Everton's Ján Mucha will likely assume the role. Mucha hasn't appeared in a Euro match since March, but his performance against heavy-hitters Russia last year indicate some promise.

Add a defense flanked by Ján Ďurica and Martin Škrtel, and Keane and co. may have trouble putting the ball in Slovakia's net.     

Russia will have no trouble beating FYROM on Friday, but the results of this match will set the tone for Tuesday's Ireland-Russia matchup and could potentially foreshadow a group winner.   

Bulgaria vs. England (Friday, 20:15 CET)

This one probably seems like a lock for England, who have yet to lose, are sitting rather comfortably at the top of Group G and trounced Bulgaria 4-0 in their last qualifying matchup, but this match is the Tricolors' last shot to stay in contention, and coach Lothar Mätthaus will not go down without a fight.

The battle will likely come down to midfielders: Capello favorite Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, looking to gain some international experience and make a few key plays alongside his former Aston Villa teammate, will face off against veteran Martin Petrov, who knows most of his opponents' styles after years starting on Premiership sides Manchester City and Bolton.

Both sides will look to young talent for key plays: Bulgaria has a clutch substitute striker in 21-year-old Spas Delev and the Three Lions have their fresh-faced Red Devil army of Tom Cleverley, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Phil Jones especially could bring in some late-in-the-game speed and spark to the defense, already a strong one with the likes of longtime regulars Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines.

It'll be a winner for England most likely, but certainly not a boring one.   

Italy vs. Slovenia (Tuesday, 20:45 CET)

After a disappointing showing in the 2010 World Cup, the Azzurri are eager to reclaim their place at the top of international football in this Euro competition.

They have yet to lose in a fairly predictable Group C and have four consecutive wins, including the match against Serbia in Genoa in October, where crowd trouble led to an early forfeit of the match with Italy up 3-0—a nil-nil draw against a well-defending third-place Northern Ireland in Belfast has been the only moment of weakness.

Longtime keepers Gianluigi Buffon and Emiliano Viviano have each gone multiple matches without giving up a goal. 

So why even bother with this match? 

Both sides will likely be confident, coming in with easy wins from Friday's round—Italy gobsmacked the Faroe Islands during their last matchup 5-0 and Slovenia should have little trouble with struggling Estonia, a match that will likely help the latter get the goals it needs to stay in the race.

But if Slovenia wants to continue their run, with a stubborn Serbia following their match with the Azzurri, they'll need to keep their resolve against Italy.

The addition of versatile defender Mitja Viler, making his debut for the national team this week, may be the sort of flexible presence Slovenia needs to stop Italy's powerful offense.    

Denmark vs. Norway (Tuesday, 20:15 CET)

It's the skirmish for Scandinavian supremacy.

As with Group B, a three-way tie—in this case, Portugal, Norway and Denmark—will be broken this week in Group H.

Portugal will likely pull an easy win over Cyprus this week, but we can expect a hard-fought battle for the top of the table between these two.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger will step in as captain for Denmark in lieu of his former fellow Red Christian Poulsen, who is expected to return after adjusting to new club Evian, and as a longtime veteran of the Red and Whites, his experience and ability to lead could be a deciding factor in Tuesday's outcome.

The Norwegians are largely attributing their success to coach and national cult hero Egil "Drillo" Olsen, who praised his side's strong defense, which has allowed four goals since the start of Euro play, the same as the Danes'.

With tournament stats for the two sides looking almost identical (Denmark has the slight scoring edge), this is about as even of a match as one can get, and a hard-fought battle for whoever ends up victorious.  

Two More for Your Consideration

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Belarus (Friday, 19:30 CET)

Two points separate second-place Belarus and third-place Bosnia and Herzegovina, with only three points separating the latter from frontrunners France. 

Belarus has proved a surprising force in this competition, plowing past Luxembourg in their last home qualifier and causing plenty of trouble for Les Bleus, triumphing 1-0 at Stade de France last September and breaking their stride with a 1-1 draw in Minsk in June.

Although injuries to crucial figures like Alexander Hleb and Yan Tigorev may hamper the side going into these key matches, the team's persistence so far suggests the losses in personnel will be made up.

Forward Sergei Kornilenko, whose offensive power was instrumental in Belarus's last victory in the competition, will likely be a key player tomorrow.

Bosnia and Herzegovina are no slouches, either. Coach Safet Sušić hopes some recent additions to the defense, including Stoke City keeper Asmir Begović and a returning Saša Papac will keep Belarus' top scorers at bay.

Look to forwards Vedad Ibišević and Edin Džeko for some hustle and flow on the offensive side.   

Republic of Ireland vs. Russia (Tuesday, 17:00 CET)

This week is a critical one for Robbie Keane and the Boys in Green. The Group B leaders face a hard-fighting Slovakia side before heading to Moscow, which will be a key indicator to how things shape up against Russia, who could be the group frontrunners by then, depending on Friday's results. 

Russia will have an easy time with FYROM and will put up a fight on Tuesday. The hungry Sbornaya haven't taken home a Euro championship since 1960 (playing as the Soviet Union), and after a disappointing World Cup qualifier showing, they're eager to repeat the success of their epic Guus Hiddink-led run to the 2008 Euro semifinals and then some.

Expect Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, a critical player in Russia's 2008 Euro campaign who already has a hat trick under his belt in this competition, to make some moves.