Opportunity knocks for Hungary with Sweden visit

The visit of second-placed Sweden to Hungary in third looks the pick of the six UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group E matches scheduled to take place this week, including two outings for table-topping the Netherlands.

2 September: Finland v Moldova, Hungary v Sweden, Netherlands v San Marino

6 September: Finland v Netherlands, Moldova v Hungary, San Marino v Sweden

Latest standings

Netherlands (18 points)
The Netherlands miss the creativity of Arjen Robben and Ibrahim Afellay for the game against San Marino as they target a seventh consecutive victory in Group E. The injured duo may return for the trip to Finland on 6 September but PSV Eindhoven's Jeremain Lens and Georginio Wijnaldum have been called up in their place. "It is a real pity because it reduces our speed and creativity," said coach Bert van Marwijk. "If their recovery [for Finland] is possible then it is an option." Nigel de Jong and Rafael van der Vaart have pulled out injured with midfielder Stijn Schaars called up.

Goalkeepers: Tim Krul (Newcastle United FC), Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea City FC).

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Jeffrey Bruma (Hamburger SV), John Heitinga (Everton FC), Joris Mathijsen (Málaga CF), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (AFC Ajax).

Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City FC)*, Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia CF), Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano), Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur FC)*, Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Clube de Portugal)**.

Forwards: Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (FC Schalke 04), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuijt (Liverpool FC), Robin van Persie (Arsenal FC), Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven).

*Withdrawn
**Added

Sweden (15 pts)
Sweden are shorn of centre-back Olof Mellberg as they seek to keep the pressure on the Netherlands at the group summit. The experienced Olympiacos FC defender sustained a knee injury in a friendly with FC Internazionale Milano on 21 August and needs to rest for at least a fortnight. "It is unfortunate since I see him as an obvious starter in this team," said coach Erik Hamrén, who has recalled Rasmus Elm.

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Johan Wiland (FC København)*, Pär Hansson (Helsingborgs IF)**.

Defenders: Mikael Antonsson (FC København), Andreas Granqvist (FC Groningen), Mikael Lustig (Rosenborg BK), Daniel Majstorovic (Celtic FC), Jonas Olsson (West Bromwich Albion FC), Behrang Safari (FC Basel 1893), Oscar Wendt (FC København).

Midfielders: Emir Bajrami (FC Twente), Rasmus Elm (AZ Alkmaar), Kim Källström (Olympique Lyonnais), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City FC), Martin Olsson (Blackburn Rovers FC), Anders Svensson (IF Elfsborg), Pontus Wernbloom (AZ Alkmaar), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal).

Forwards: Johan Elmander (Bolton Wanderers FC), Alexander Gerndt (Helsingborgs IF), Tobias Hysén (IFK Göteborg), Zlatan Ibrahimović (AC Milan), Ola Toivonen (PSV Eindhoven).

*Withdrawn
**Added

Hungary (12 pts)
Zoltan Stieber of 1. FSV Mainz 05 has received a first call from Sándor Egervári after impressing on the left wing in the Bundesliga. Vilmos Vanczák, with four goals already in this season's Swiss Super League, and captain Roland Juhász miss the Sweden game through suspension. Meanwhile, Balázs Dzsudzsák has dropped out after suffering a broken collarbone in action for FC Anzhi Makhachkal – an injury which may sideline the midfielder for three months.

Goalkeepers: Gábor Király (TSV 1860 München), Ádám Bogdán (Bolton Wanderers FC), Norbert Csernyánszki (Paksi SE).

Defenders: József Varga (Debreceni VSC), Zoltán Fehér (Győri ETO FC), Zoltán Lipták (Videoton FC), Ádám Pintér (Real Zaragoza), Zsolt Korcsmár (SK Brann), Zsolt Laczkó (UC Sampdoria), Péter Halmosi (Szombathelyi Haladás), Vilmos Vanczák (FC Sion), Roland Juhász (RSC Anderlecht).

Midfielders: Vladimir Koman (UC Sampdoria), Tamás Hajnal (VfB Stuttgart), Ákos Elek (Videoton FC), Krisztián Vadócz (CA Osasuna), Péter Czitkovics (KV Kortrijk), Tamás Koltai (Győri ETO FC).

Forwards: Imre Szabics (SK Sturm Graz), Gergely Rudolf (Genoa CFC), Tamás Priskin (Ipswich Town FC), Zoltan Stieber (1. FSV Mainz 05).

Finland (6 pts)
Mixu Paatelainen intends to build on last month's 2-0 friendly defeat of Latvia with positive results in back-to-back home games against Moldova and the Netherlands. "I'm pleased with how we played in Latvia," said the coach. "However, we must progress, we have two really tough games ahead." The one notable absentee is Alexei Eremenko Jr, who is still seeking a new club after leaving Kilmarnock FC in the summer. "He has had problems with his knee and we decided it is better for him to rest and get fully fit," added Paatelainen.

Goalkeepers: Otto Fredrikson (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Lukas Hradecky (Esbjerg fB).

Defenders: Niklas Moisander (AZ Alkmaar), Petri Pasanen (FC Salzburg), Joona Toivio (Djurgårdens IF), Jukka Raitala (CA Osasuna), Markus Halsti (Malmö FF), Veli Lampi (FC Arsenal Kyiv), Kari Arkivuo (BK Häcken).

Midfielders: Markus Heikkinen (SK Rapid Wien), Tim Sparv (FC Groningen), Mika Väyrynen (unattached), Kasper Hämäläinen (Djurgårdens IF), Alexander Ring (HJK Helsinki), Daniel Sjölund (Djurgårdens IF), Mika Ojala (FC Inter Turku), Roman Eremenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Perparim Hetemaj (AC Chievo Verona).

Forwards: Timo Furuholm (FC Inter Turku), Mikael Forssell (unattached), Mika Ääritalo (TPS Turku), Teemu Pukki (HJK Helsinki), Roni Porokara (KFC Beerschot AC).

Moldova (6 pts)
With FC Alania Vladikavkaz midfielder Semion Bulgaru asking to be left out of contention for the Finland and Hungary matches, coach Gavril Balint is deprived of seven players including Alexandru Gaţcan of FC Rostov. On the plus side, captain Alexandru Epureanu is back after missing the March and June games against Sweden through injury, while Serghei Alexeev from Hungarian club Kaposvári Rákóczi FC returns after a two-year international absence. "We will concentrate on defending properly, which we failed to do against Sweden," said coach Balint.

Goalkeepers: Stanislav Namaşco (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Artiom Gaiduchevici (FC Dacia Chisinau), Nicolae Calancea (FC Zimbru Chisinau).

Defenders: Alexandru Epureanu (FC Dinamo Moskva), Vadim Boreţ (Bakı FK), Alexei Savinov (Bakı FK), Petru Racu (IFK Norrköping), Victor Golovatenco (FC Sibir Novosibirsk), Iulian Erhan (FC Zimbru Chisinau), Igor Armaş (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Vitalie Bordian (FC Metalist Kharkiv).

Midfielders: Igor Ţîgîrlaş (FC Chornomorets Odesa), Alexandru Suvorov (MKS Cracovia Kraków), Eugeniu Cebotaru (FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt), Denis Zmeu (FC Vaslui), Eugeniu Sidorenco (FC Zimbru Chisinau), Serghei Gheorghiev (FC Sheriff), Anatoli Cheptine (FC Sheriff).

Forwards: Igor Bugaev (FC Astana), Anatolie Doroş (FC Astana), Gheorghe Ovseannicov (FC Olimpia Balti), Serghei Alexeev (Kaposvári Rákóczi FC).

San Marino (0 pts)
Coach Giampaolo Mazza has called up veteran striker Andy Selva, even though the 35-year-old former Hellas-Verona FC player is currently without a club. Selva has scored eight goals for San Marino; other than one each from midfielders Alex Gasperoni and Manuel none of the rest of the current squad have registered. There are no potential debutant in the 18-man list for the games against the Netherlands and Sweden as San Marino chase their first points and goal after seven games in Group E.
 
 Goalkeepers: Michele Ceccoli (AC Libertas) Aldo Simoncini (AC Cesena).
 
Defenders: Matteo Andreini (SP Tre Fiori), Simone Bacciocchi (AC Juvenes-Dogana), Giacomo Benedettini (SP Tre Fiori), Davide Simoncini (AC Libertas), Damiano Vannucci (SP La Fiorita), Fabio Vitaioli (Sammaurese AC).
 
Midfielders: Fabio Bollini (SP La Fiorita), Matteo Bugli (S.S. Cosmos), Michele Cervellini (AC Juvenes-Dogana), Matteo Coppini (Pol. Campitello), Alex Gasperoni (SP Tre Penne), Manuel Marani (ASD Riccione), Pier Filippo Mazza (A.S.D. Sant'Ermete).
 
Forwards: Paolo Montagna (S.S. Cosmos), Andy Selva (no club), Matteo Vitaioli (AC San Marino).