Europe UEFA Nations League (14-16 November)

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Greece vs England Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Greece:
Vlachodimos; Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Siopis, Mantalos; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis

England:
Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Guehi, Lewis; Gomes, Gallagher; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Greece will welcome England to the Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis in Athens in their penultimate League B Group 2 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday. England were huge favorites for the first place in the group, but the Blues and Whites made a huge surprise last month beating them 2:0 at Wembley. Vangelis Pavlidis, was the Greek hero after scoring both goals. Greece will try to replicate the result, this time at home and supported by their own fans. However, coach Ivan Jovanovic has some worries ahead of this match. Important midfielder Dimitrios Kourbelis will serve an one-match ban and his absence is a handicap. Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos has different problem - he isn't a regular at Newcastle United this season and most of the time is on the bench. The same could be said for Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas, though they should both start from the first minute. Jovanovic has "sweet issues" in attack as Fotis Ioannidis - who scored three goals in Greece's opening two Nations League games - is back after recovering from injury.

England are in very strange situation. The FA officials have appointed Thomas Tuchel as new coach, but he will start his job in January. In the meantime Lee Carsley will remain in interim charge for the national team. But his authority isn't big at the moment, so many players decided to skip the last two matches with Greece and Ireland due to injury. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Aaron Ramsdale have all pulled out of Carsley's squad, while John Stones, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Eberechi Eze were all omitted due to injury. In situation like this, Carsley was forced to call several debutantes - Morgan Rogers, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Lewis Hall. Nevertheless, England are still strong with players like Lille's Angel Gomes and Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher in the defensive-midfield, or Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon supporting the best scorer and captain Harry Kane up front.

Greece vs England Prediction:

Greece play at home and this fact should not be underestimated. Furthermore, best scorer Ioannidis has recovered and should start from the first minute. Greece have never lost when Ioannidis has scored. England are very handicapped, many important players are out injured. But England have no space for calculations, they are in must-win situation. With Harry Kane leading the line, I think they are able to score too. Considering these facts, I expect an efficient match in Athens with goals on both sides.

Greece vs England Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 2.07 with Pinnacle

 

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Switzerland vs Serbia Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Switzerland:
Kobel; Widmer, Hajdari, Comert, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Amdouni, Rieder, Aebischer; Embolo

Serbia:
Petrovic; Erakovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Maksimovic, Grujic, Terzic; Samardzic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic

Switzerland will welcome Serbia to Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund on Friday night. The Swiss national team have no chance for one of the first two places in the group, though they need a positive result to escape the relegation. Switzerland have visited Serbia in October and lost 2:0 in Leskovac, mostly due to defensive mistakes. Three days later Switzerland have collected the first point playing a 2:2 draw with Denmark. Nevertheless, the situation looks very complicated at the moment. Switzerland are bottom in the group after losing three of their four matches and they are facing the possibility of being relegated to League B for the next Nations League. Coach Murat Yakin has some additional issues as many important players are not available. The biggest problem is defense. Fabian Schar has retired from international football, while Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji are out injured. The only centre-backs in a 24-man squad are uncapped pair Aurele Amenda and Albian Hajdari. Versatile veteran Denis Zakaria is also sidelined, as well as Bologna winger Dan Ndoye.

Serbia have four points after the opening four rounds in the group. The points were earn at home, while the away form is poor. Not only they suffered defeats to Denmark and Spain, but failed to score a single goal. Coach Dragan Stojkovic Piksi must change something quickly as another poor performance here could see Serbia relegated to League B for the next Nations League. The Eagles will be unable to go through if they lose and Denmark avoid defeat - or if they draw and the Danes beat Spain. But there is an optimistic option too. Spain are clear favorites against Denmark and three points from Zurich would take the race into next week's final round in which Serbia host Denmark in Leskovac. Coach Stojkovic is without brothers Milinkovic-Savic, but that is not a handicap - both Sergej and Vanja were not expect to start anyway. Ivan Ilic from Torino is ruled out by a knee injury sustained during the recent Derby della Mole against Juventus. On the positive note, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is available after missed both qualifiers in October. He should lead the line together with captain Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Switzerland vs Serbia Prediction:

Yakin is without three central defenders - Fabian Schar, Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji. For the first time in eight years, none of the trio will be in Switzerland's starting lineup, meaning the only centre-backs in a 24-man squad are Aurele Amenda and Albian Hajdari. They are inexperienced and this could be a huge problem. Serbia has very good strikers and I can't see the duo stopping Vlahovic or Mitrovic. According to me, Serbia will not lose in Zurich.

Switzerland vs Serbia Pick: Serbia +0.5 AH @ 2.07 with Pinnacle

 

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Germany vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Germany:
Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Gross; Gnabry, Musiala, Sane; Havertz

Bosnia-Herzegovina:
Vasilj; Mujakic, Bicakcic, Barisic; Gazibegovic, Tahirovic, Hajradinovic, Huseinbasic, Dedic; Dzeko, Demirovic

Germany will welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. Julian Nagelsmann's side have already assured themselves of a spot in the quarter-finals, but need just one point to secure the first place in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League. The only scenario where a draw would not be enough is if Hungary defeat the Netherlands at the same time and also thump Nagelsmann's men by more than five goals on the final matchday. You will agree this is very unrealistic. But Bosnia-Herzegovina still have some theoretical chance for the second place and they will not give up easily. Nevertheless, Germany are strong favorites in this match, particularly because they are hosts. The Mannschaft have an excellent home record, beating Hungary 5:0 and Netherlands 1:0. Coach Nagelsmann has some injury issues ahead of this match as striker Undav, who scored a brace in October's win over Bosnia in Zenica, is out injured. His teammate Angelo Stiller has also had to withdraw from the squad due to a muscular problem. Leverkusen striker Florian Wirtz is rated as doubtful due to illness. Finally Nico Schlotterbeck is out suspended.

Bosnia-Herzegovina have just one point and most probably they will relegate to League B. The Dragons suffered three defeats so far, losing 5:2 to Netherlands and 2:1 to Germany in the reverse fixture. The third defeat came from Hungary at home, but Bosnia managed to remain unbeaten against the same opponents in Budapest. The goalless draw represents the only positive result in the last 10 competitive games. Bosnia lost each of the remaining nine fixtures and nobody expect a miracle here. Coach Barbarez also have some injury and suspension issues ahead of the match, both connected with thee defensive line. Nikola Katic is suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards, while Sead Kolasinac from Atalanta pulled out with an injury. The veteran striker Edin Dzeko should lead the line, playing his 139th match for the national team. His experience could be crucial, but also his form. The 38-year-old striker is still dangerous, having scored 11 goals in 19 appearances for Fenerbahce this season.

Germany vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Prediction:

I expect an efficient match in Freiburg. Nagelsmann is doing an excellent job and Germany are football power again. Bosnia, meanwhile, can not "park a bus" and play "catenaccio". A draw is not good enough for Barbarez's men. They must try to win, something named as "mission impossible" for the Balkan country. But I think Bosnia could score, Dzeko is good and very experienced attacker. However, even if they don't, Germany are able to net four. The Mannschaft won 5:0 against solid Hungary in the first round and I expect another inspired performance.

Germany vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Pick: Over 3.5 goals @ 1.85 with Pinnacle