Group G preview: Kranjčar seeks hat-trick
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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Zlatko Kranjčar is targeting a third straight win as Montenegro prepare to host Switzerland while Wales and Bulgaria both have new men in charge for their meeting in Cardiff.
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With England not in action until Tuesday, Montenegro will look to take command of UEFA EURO Group G with a third straight win at home to a Switzerland team in search of their first points. In Friday's other match Wales host Bulgaria with both sides boasting new coaches.
Montenegro v Switzerland, Podgorica
Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjčar sticks with the same 23-man squad that kicked off the campaign with victories against Wales and Bulgaria as he targets a third straight win. "We made a great start and we want to continue that way," said Kranjčar, who is without the suspended Milorad Peković. Montenegro have so far made light of the absence of injured playmaker Stevan Jovetić, but Switzerland are likely to provide a sterner test.
Only 16 of Ottmar Hitzfeld's squad trained on Tuesday, with Reto Ziegler, Marc Streller, Pirmin Schwegler and Tranquillo Barnetta rested as a precaution. They are all expected to be fit for Friday and medical staff are also "optimistic" goalkeeper Diego Benaglio will recover from a groin strain. Switzerland are looking to put last month's home defeat by England behind them and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld added: "[Montenegro's] players are technically strong, tactically good and dangerous going forwards. We face quite a difficult task."
Wales v Bulgaria, Cardiff
Robert Earnshaw, Brian Stock and Neal Eardley have withdrawn from the Wales squad through injury and Danny Gabbidon has retired from international football so caretaker manager Brian Flynn has called up Andrew Crofts, Darcy Blake and 19-year-old Southampton FC forward Ryan Doble. Uncapped teenage goalkeepers David Cornell and Jonathan Bond are also included while Danny Collins returns after an absence of three years.
Tottenham Hostpur FC's in-form left-back Gareth Bale has been enjoying the atmosphere under Flynn. "From the first session on Monday we sensed it," Bale said. "Brian is lively, bubbly and enthusiastic all the time and it shows in what we do. We have obviously worked with him through the Under-21s. He was a great manager then so there is no reason why he can't do that for the full squad." Lothar Matthäus, meanwhile, has put his stamp on his first Bulgaria squad by calling up three uncapped players, Boyan Peykov, Nikolay Bodurov and Daniel Dimov.
A preview of the next set of fixtures in Group G on Tuesday – Switzerland v Wales and England v Montenegro – will be published at the weekend.
