Hosts of this tournament played pretty good first match, but it wasn’t look se in the beginning. Belarus scored first, but Berg was more than enough for Sweden to win. He scored three goals and he showed why he is one of the most interested young players on the market in Europe. Everything was much easier after they scored first goal, but Italy is much better defensive side and it would be very tough to break through their defence. Home fans is giving big advantage to Sweden team and that is something you shouldn’t forget, but also you should know that Italy and Serbia are only countries that played at least in semifinal on last three championships.

Italy always had very strong youth team, but those players didn’t get chance to play in their clubs, because Italians always brought big number of foreigners. Now, situation is different. Giovinco and Balotelli are more or less standard in Juventus and Inter and there is few more players which are playing for their teams on high level. But, Italy was not so convincing against Serbia. In attack they had problems to break through tough defensive line, while defense had a lot of problems after set pieces or croses. Italy is dominant in midfield against Sweden, but Berg is maybe the best attacker on this tournament and it will be very hard to stop him. Italy must pay a close attention to him and that would prevent them from attacking.

Home side will be more than happy with point after win in first match, while Italians must go for win. One point is not end of the road for Italians, but win here will easier their job in last round. Sweden will play on counters, relying on great Berg, while Italians will not put all cards on attack. Cautious approach is expected and I think that betting odds under goals are not that bad.

Iraq is very good team, especially if you consider in which circumstances they are working, and their midfield is the best part of the team. Defense is problem, like always with teams from Asia and Africa, but attack is usually part of the team which is deciding matches. Iraq won’t play in South Africa next year and Milutinovic will try to build team for next World Cup. Few days ago against Poland Iraq stayed unbeaten, 1-1, and that was sign of good form. They will have hard task to play against hosts in South Africa.

This tournament is the perfect opportunity to see if South Africa is capable to organize some big event, but also to check how their team is standing. South Africa is very good team, but with not so good results lately. Their golden era was ten years ago when they won in Africa Cup and also they played in France and South Korea and Japan. After 2002. they are going down slowly and in Nations Cup 2006. they finish tournament without scoring a single goal. After that result they changed coach and they brought Perriera from Brazil, but he stand down soon. Football association will host next World Cup, first one in Africa, and that is great opportunity for them to raise again.

South Africa is favorite for this match, but betting odds on home win are too low if you ask me. Everyone in country expects from them to win and pressure is huge, while Iraq just want to prove they are good team. I think it is very hard for Iraq players to feel uncomfortable at any stadium, because conditions in their country are much worse. I would rather skip the winner here, my choice is over goals. Attacks are better part of teams and we should expect goals in this match. Hosts will attack, while guests know to play from counters.

Macedonia is without any success on big stage and they never play on some big tournaments. They are small country which had some good players in their history, but after SFRY fallen apart they are nothing but outsiders. They know to make problems at home to some strong teams, but they were never even close to WC or EC. Katanec was their manager in the beginning of this campaign. He started with a home win against Scotland, but after those three defeats comes and he is sacked. To be honest, that decision has nothing with his results, it is more politic. Macedonia lost against Netherlands twice and against Iceland away and they didn’t play so bad, but that obviously wasn’t enough. Former coach of youth National team will lead team in the rest of qualification and he could bring some fresh blood into NT.

Norwegians expect to have easier job in this qualification, but loss against Dutch and two draws are not what they wanted. Reaction was very quick and new boss arrive. Egil Olsen already played this part and with big success. Under his leadership this team played on two World Cups 1994 and 1998. Everybody expects series of wins now and this match could be very good for start. With win here team will regain self confidence back and they would be again in contest for South Africa. New boss already had four games to test new players and many players showed what they are capable of. Now it is time for Olsen to select the best and to make results. Norway has no more time and everything except win is a failure and god bye to WC 2010.

Betting odds on away win are great and I will risk there. Norwegians are better team and they will attack from the first minute. Macedonia also must attack and that will leave some space for guests in attack.

What to say about Toulouse? Everybody expect to see them in Ligue 2 next season, they were at the brink of relegation in last season and during summer they sold two best players, Elmander and Emana, and relegation was somehow natural. But, Casanova didn’t thought so and he managed to bring good replacements and to change tactics as well. IN last season Toulouse depended too much on Elmander and whenever he was out of rhythm or injured they have no chance to do anything. Simply, no one else take a leading role in team. Moreover, opponents knew who is the most dangerous and they concentrate defense on Elmander. This season is completely different and Toulouse is not one man team anymore, although they have first goalscorer of Ligue 1. Gignac played fantastic season with 24 goals so far, but you can’t tell that Toulouse without him is much weaker. Gignac is player who has that luck to be in right team in the right place. He is without any doubts a great player, but whole team of Toulouse make him so good. That is the biggest weapon of this team.

On the other side is Lyon who finally entered in right rhythm, but it is too late. They will stay without eight title in a row and they will play for the first time in a while Champions League qualification. With title, Juninho leaving too and he is not the only probably. Juninho decided to leave after many successful years at Gerland. He played his last match in last round and he scored his 100th goal, because he is suspended. It was evident that the best players have no motives in France anymore. This is last match of this era for Lyon and in next season it will be some other and new Lyon. It can’t be the same with or without Juninho. Many players were in this club, but he is the only one who won all seven titles with Lyon. He is legend at Gerland, but as I said he is not only one who is leaving. Benzema, one of the best young players of the world, will also leave the club. He was close to leave club in the last summer but he stayed in order to help Lyon to go for title in CL. That was too big aim for them and he will probably go into some bigger club to try to get some European title. Every club in Europe is interested for him and Lyon can easily take huge amount of money for him.

Guests can’t wait to go on holiday, while Toulouse have great chance to secure place in Europe and even draw is enough for that. Hosts will be more than happy with draw and Puel will probably play with some fringe players this match. Draw is satisfied result for both teams and I think it worth of risking. Toulouse will play carefully and betting odds on draw are pretty good if you ask me.

Lyon showed against Marseille they are still very strong team, but they are always best against the strongest teams. It is obvious that leading players lost their motives in France and after defeat against Barcelona in Champions League they entered into black series and stay without any chance to defend a title. Juninho and Benzema will probably leave Lyon after this season. Lyon will take big money for them, especially for young Benzema, and new era will start. Juninho is key man in their seven titles in a row, he could play in any club in Europe, but he was loyal to Lyon. He was mind of this team and everything started and ended with him. He is still capable for big things and he showed it with his free kick against Marseille. It would be impossible to find same player as Juninho and Lyon could totally change tactics in next season.

In the beginning of the season you couldn’t hear so much how Caen will be in trouble in this season. Almost everyone predicted upper part of the table for them, but they spend almost whole season in relegation zone. Everything started bad with some injuries of key players. Team couldn’t find solutions without them and even when they become fit again team was without self confidence and they had a lot of problems. Caen managed to get out of relegation zone with two wins at home, but in finish of the season they are playing against Lyon and Bordeaux and it seems that only Sent Etienne can save them. Sochaux is poit behind them, but I think Sochaux will get some point till the end, while St. Etienne is in very bad form. St. Etienne have same number of points, but Caen is much better in goal difference and if they finished season with same number of points Caen will be the better team.

I will try with Asian handicap here. Lyon is very good team, much better than guests and they could easily thrashed Caen as a gift to fans before end of the season. Some of the players are playing last match at Gerland and they will try to make a spectacle for the crowd.

Hosts on this match started season extremely well and they were very close to the top for a some time, but awful series in second part of the season put them in relegation fight. Newcastle is currently behind them and if Hull score same result against United as Newcastle against Aston Villa Hull will stay in Premier League. That means hosts will play with much bigger motive here and crowd will be on their side too. Further more, Zayyate and Mendy should be fit for match and all news suggesting that Hull will have great chance to win against second team of United.

Ferguson has probably the best young players in years at disposal. In last few seasons he was always in troubles when playing League Cup because young players were not so good. But in this season younger players showed they have bright future and they will try to show they can play in Premier League. Kids will have big motive to finally show what are they capable to do on big stage. Macheda brought some very important points for his team in this season and he will definitely be in team with Welbeck, Possebon and Fabio twins and some other young players.

Hull have very good chance to secure his place in Premier League and they should not wait for match in Birmingham. They will give all they can and if they show just a small part of their play from first part of the season they will win, but my pick is over goals. Hull will attack young and inexperienced team of United who showed in this season that when there is no Vidic and Ferguson they have no solution in defence, while offensive players in United are capable to score one or two goals for sure.

Question is how to motivate players which will play somewhere else after this season, especially as there is nothing to play for. After debacle against Barca, it is clear that real will finish second this season and that’s it. Ramos said he’ll leave club at the end of the season, press are not interested in results and they are talking just about who will stay and who will come to club. Next season Real will look different, more than half of first team players will leave club and it’s not strange to see Real losing convincingly.

Home side on this match are fighting for Champion’s League and they will play with great desire and motive. After home loss against Sevilla they drew at Camp Nou .That point keeps them still in touch with Valencia, but to be honest, they are much closer to Europa League next season. Good thing for them is mutual duel of Atletico and Valencia and this is chance to come closer to them. Villarreal didn’t have much success against Real recently and you should remember 0-5 from last season at this stadium. That is just another motive for home side. Nihat will start this match in attackhe showed how important he is in last match and that would be probably only change in team.

Real is not team anymore, players are already thinking about summer, many of them about new clubs so home side is clear favorite. Real showed against Valencia they are in awful shape right now and that is enough for me to choose home win here.

This is one of toughest seasons in recent history for Newcastle, but after last week win they are out of relegation zone. Shearer managed to improve situation in team, but he waited for his first win couple weeks. Against Boro they showed not so great play, but individual quality is on their side and that decided. Martins was player who turn around situation, but that is not what Shearer wants. Newcastle is team with great players, but team spirit is very low and problems off the pitch are not helping. After all kind of troubles with players, fans, owner and who knows what else survival would be great achievement, but Newcastle must do a lot in finish to stay above the line. Good thing for Newcastle is that Shearer can count on same team from last week as there are no new injuries.

On the other side is team which want to play in Europe next season. Although they were predicted to be one of relegation fighters, Fulham is now in great position to catch seventh place which lead to Europe. Hodgson had a tough job during this season to make compact and strong team after very busy summer. Fulham changed many players before this season, but Hodgson insisted on same line up whenever it was possible and, although many people said that will cost them in second part of the season, that was probably crucial fact for great season. With that tactics Hodgson managed to make compact team, even many players didn’t have enough time for adopting on new style of play for them. Hard working midfield usually don’t allow much space to opponent and their defense is the best in league if you don’t count first three teams on the table. They were usually much better at home in previous seasons, but this time they showed they can play well away and they deserve seventh place. Zamora is back in team, while Andy Johnson is still doubtful.

Both teams have great motive, but Fulham showed much more this term and I think they will not going to lose this match. Betting odds on Fulham on this match are incredible high and I can’t ignore that. I think you should try with away win, if you are not so sure you can go with some handicap.

Del Neri announced combined team for match against Genoa. Atalanta secured position several weeks ago and from that point you could see many oscillations. Home defeat, away with against Lazio and than easy 3-0 loss against Udinese. Players can’t wait end of the season and to go on holiday. In Atalanta, main question these days is who will be their coach next season. Del Neri is leaving for sure and no one is interested in matches. Further more, the best scorer of Atalanta will probably play in Genoa next season and that could mean he will be merciful to Genoa in this match.

Genoa lost two matches, against Lazio and Bologna, but in big derby they beat Sampdoria 3-1 and they are still on point from fourth place. Win against Sampdoria was pretty expensive. In very fiery atmosphere, Ferrari and Motta were sent off and they can’t play in this match. They are very important players, but Gasperini is saying he has substitutes for them. I am not sure it is true and Modesto and Papasthopulos will start this match. In Genoa also is coach main subject these days. Juventus want to see Gasperini as their first coach and Milan is also interested, but Genoa want to keep great tactician. We’ll see if they can refuse Juve and Milan, but one thing sure, Milito is leaving at the end of the season. That is going to be big blow for team, but Genoa usually knows to answer on that kind of problems in past.

Atalanta had lot of success against Genoa lately, but in this match they are without any motive and that is why I think Genoa will win. The best scorer of home side is going to play in Genoa in just couple months from now and that is another reason. His goals could prevent him from playing in qualifications for CL and Floccari will probably think about it… Try with away here on this match. Betting odds are very good and motive is with guests on this match.

Hodgson manage to make very combative team without some big names and stars. Their main weapon is team spirit and great defensive play. Hodgson is aware that his team doesn’t have extra players and he chooses defensive style and that paid off. Their defense is one of the best in Premier League, but on the other side attack is not so good. But, attack was good when it was needed and even they scored 35 goals on 35 matches they won 12 games. Fulham is much better at home, but lately they won against City away and took point against Middlesbrough and with regularly good results at home they are now only point behind West Ham and UEFA Cup place. They will try to continue with good home form, but Villa is very good team which finally won and they could continue in same rhythm.

O’Neill’s team finally manage to beat someone. After nine rounds they beat Hull in last round and now will try to continue that way. Villa’s quality was never in doubt, they were excellent for a long time and in one moment it looked like they will play in CL qualifications, but few bad results was enough for them to stay without self confidence and to enter in long non winning series. They will play in UEFA Cup, competition which they sacrifice for CL fight, next season and they must accept it. O’Neill will be stronger for few players who are coming back after injuries. Reo-Cocker, Agbonlahor and Luke Young are important players for team and it is much easier to play with them.

Both teams will play to win. Both teams must be satisfied with this season’s achievements, but Villa probably isn’t. Fulham have nothing to lose and they want another home win in order to play in Europe next season if it’s possible, while Villa want to keep fifth place. I think, although attacks are not so good lately, we will see lot of goals here. Villa will play much easier after win and with healthy players, while Fulham won’t be so defensive. Betting odds on over 2.5 goals are very good and I think that is good choice.