At last the continental national football teams have returned the lead of European clubs. Next Wednesday, on February 29, the football year can be considered completely open: a swarm of national teams will meet in friendly duels. By the calendar three complete months remain till Euro 2012, but the schedule of national teams' games evidently shows that the tournament is much closer: the majority of teams have only 2-3 friendly matches to play - and it will be high time to move to their bases in hosting countries of the championship.
But let's return to the events of the nearest week. We won't take your time forecasting the results - the matches are friendly anyway. Let us better speak of some "exciting things" which will follow some games of the next week.
Germany – France
The both teams - no doubt! - will play in full force and with complete teams. Their traditional opposition is too a matter of principle. And there is too little time left for experiments.
What we can expect from "German engine" is quite clear: the iron "embrace" for French forwards and ram attacks for French backs. And all this will be done with a view to smash up. Another question is what can France set against these "storm and stress"? And France will obviously try. Firstly, it has a proper statistics of the recent games - a series of 17 matches running with no defeats! And it imposes responsibility. Secondly, by all appearances, there is a good psychic atmosphere inside the team. It doesn't bind to anything, but evidently inspires the "tricolored". One of the national team's leaders Franck Ribéry last week even gave a very optimistic comment on subject of France's perspectives for Euro 2012: he announced that the team is going to tournament not to sit out but to win!
England – Netherlands
But it is much more interesting what kind of game the Englishmen will perform. The team is still managed by Stuart Pearce, the coach of youth and Olympic teams, which now has a status of acting. Pearce himself announced last week that he is open to become a full-fledged coach of "Three lions". But the football association wants Harry Redknapp. And all England seem to want Harry Redknapp. And Redknapp himself said directly once again, that he wants to work normally till May with "Tottenham" and only. In general, "love triangle". How it affects the English national team - we'll see in less than a week.
Unfortunately, as we supposed it, John Terry has found himself in dishonour - he will not only take part in match with Netherlands with captain's armband, but even won't ride the pine - Stuart Pearce hasn't call him to the national team.
Italy – USA, Spain – Venezuela
Italians and Spaniards in this round decided to do without European "showdowns", thus they called the Americans and the Venezuelans on a visit respectively. What can we say? The national teams from the New World will hardly win. Though the USA can quite count on a draw. Generally speaking, to our opinion, the main intrigue of the both matches is how far the rate of the USA team has raised (in recent years it looks better and better). But regarding Euro 2012 only the composition of the host teams can be of any interest: whether they will "play" with main players or will carry out experiments.
Poland – Portugal
By the way, this match is one of few which can be considered the football "rehearsal" of Euro 2012. Under certain circumstances - and quite real ones! - (for example, Poland comes in first in its group, Portugal - its second) these national teams will face each other in quarterfinals of European championship.
Israel – Ukraine
The national team of the second Euro 2012 host country will start for Israel to ...make a presentation of its new away shirt - blue with "folk ornaments".
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