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Best Result last time out:
“Both Wales & Scotland losing in their last Euro Championship qualifiers as I said they would – Not particularly hard predictions I might add”
Hi everyone, How are you in these tough financial times purely brought about by the banks. Cheer yourself up with some football I say. So here we are on another International programme but this time it is Friendly fixtures. My record at predicting results for International games is 9 correct out of 16 games this season which is up with my record of 50% in the world cup & last season. Better than the Premiership this season but nowhere close on correct scores.
Anyway, enough of the idle chat & on with the predictions.
Back with the Premiership on Thursday.
Match 1: Scotland – Faroe Islands: Tuesday 16th October 2010: (Aberdeen – 8pm):
Scotland should win this game but it is rather a pointless game in my view as it will probably not tell the Scotland manager any more about his players than he already knows. Scotland did really well in their last game against Spain when they surprised the World Champions by coming from 2-0 down to bring the score level half way through the second half. Spain eventually ran out 3-2 winners after getting over the shock of Scotland’s fight back but it was a good effort by Scotland & one that nobody had thought possible (including me).
Scotland are looking like they won’t qualify from their Euro Championship group as they have now lost two games already but at least they seem to be improving.
The Faroe Islands picked up their first point in their Euro Qualifying group when they held Northern Ireland to a 1-1 draw. They had previously lost all their games so a point was welcome but not to the Irish. The last time these two sides played on Scottish soil Scotland won 6-0 but I can’t see a repeat of that scoreline as the Scotland manager has made many changes to his side in order to look at new players.
A Scotland win then.
Result Prediction: Scotland to win
Score Prediction: Scotland 3 Faroe Islands 0
Match 2: England – France: Wednesday 17th November 2010: – (Wembley) 8pm:
England had a very disappointing 0-0 draw at home with Montenegro in their last game but to be fair I did predict that Montenegro might be hard to break down & that was the case. England should still qualify from their group (I Hope). They now face a friendly against France who actually managed to have a worse world cup than England which shows how bad it was.
France have started their European Qualifying group with 3 wins out of 4. They lost their opening game at home to Belarus 1-0 but have since recovered to win their last three which now means they are top of Group D. In their last three qualifiers they have not conceded a goal so England might have some trouble breaking down the French defence but to be honest this is a friendly & not a Competitive game so the game will be not as serious.
England to win & it looks like both sides will be going to Poland for the Next European Championships which if they meet will result in a French win just like it was in the opening game of Euro 2004 when England scored early and sat back to pay the price.
Result Prediction: England to win
Score Prediction: England 2 France 1
Match 3: Northern Ireland – Morocco: Wednesday 17th November 2010: – (Belfast – 7.45pm):
Northern Ireland will be very disappointed that they were only able to draw 1-1 away with the Faroe Islands in their last Euro Qualifier, especially as they had made such a great start to their qualifying games. They have now dropped to 4th place in the table & need to start winning again in the group. To their credit they did hold group leaders Italy at home. I suspect that the games against Estonia will be crucial to their chances of qualifying for Poland.
They now face Morocco in a friendly that they will hope to win to continue their unbeaten run as well as maintaining morale. Northern Ireland have a very bad recent record in friendly games as they have lost all 4 friendly games in 2010 without even scoring a goal.
Morocco won their last game 1-0 away to Tanzania in early October. Prior to that they have drawn three lost two & won just the one. Not a particularly impressive record so Northern Ireland should be hoping to gain a win. Could be a crap game but Northern Ireland should just win.
Result Prediction: Northern Ireland to win
Score Prediction: Northern Ireland 1 Morocco 0
Match 4: Republic of Ireland – Norway: Wednesday 17th November 2010: (7.45pm):
The Republic drew 1-1 away in Slovakia in their last game which was of course a Euro Qualifier. They are now 2nd in their group behind Russia who they have already lost 3-2 at home to. I think that the republic will qualify for the playoffs but I really can’t see overhauling Russia at the top of the group. The republic have played three friendly games so far this season & they won two of them beating Paraguay 2-1 & Algeria 3-0. The one they lost was 1-0 to Argentina 1-0, so no disgrace there.
Norway are top of their group on nine points after winning their opening three games. Their most impressive win so far was the 1-0 win against Portugal. Norway lost their last friendly game against Croatia 2-1 away in October. Of their other three friendly games in 2010 they have beaten France & Slovakia & lost to the Ukraine. A mixed bag then in terms of results in friendly matches.
I think that the Republic will win this game but it will be close.
Result Prediction: Republic to win
Score Prediction: Republic 2 Norway 1
That’s all for now. See you all on Thursday for the next chapter of the Premiership.
Good luck
Douglas Martin
16th November 2010
My goal here is to talk about not only the game of soccer itself but also getting in shape for the soccer season.
