Euro 2008 - Qualifiers Weekend Preview Sept 15th

A look ahead to some of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers involving Barclays English Premier League players.

England's encounter with Israel at Wembley is make or break for Steve McClaren's side. They trail the visitors by three points going into the game, and are aware that maximum points here and in Wednesday's home match with Russia are a necessity. McClaren will look to the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Owen to provide the firepower and has also announced that Steven Gerrard is fit to take to the field, despite a broken toe. Chelsea's Tal Ben Haim and Yossi Benayoun of Liverpool will turn out for Israel. The latter has been generous in his praise of club-mate Gerrard this week, saying: "I think Steven Gerrard is the best midfielder in the world, so it is very important for England that he will play."

Croatia currently sit joint-top of the group on 17 points and have a straightforward looking task at home to Estonia. Croatia coach Slaven Bilic will be hoping that Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva can fire them to all three points. The former Dinamo Zagreb player has scored nine goals in 15 internationals.

Manchester United have a keen interest in Group A as Portugal host Poland. Portugal are currently playing catch-up as they sit down in third place, with Poland top on 19 points. Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani are set to take to the field for Portugal.

Arguably the most attractive looking fixture on paper this weekend is Italy's match with France. Les Bleus sit top of Group B, two points ahead of their opponents. William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Lassana Diarra, Florent Malouda, Claude Makelele, Patrice Evra and Nicolas Anelka are all in the squad. Elsewhere in the group, Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko is expected to play for Ukraine against Georgia, while there is a strong Barclays Premier League contingent in the Scotland squad to face Lithuania. Craig Gordon, Darren Fletcher and Shaun Maloney are among those set to be involved.

Wales host Germany in Cardiff knowing that they are all but out of the running to qualify for Euro 2008. They trail their opponents by 12 points but this match will have no shortage of Barclays Premier League players on show. Despite the points deficit, Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale, Wigan Athletic's Jason Koumas and West Ham United's Craig Bellamy all have the talent to trouble Germany. Jens Lehmann of Arsenal is expected to be fit for the match. The Republic of Ireland are a point behind second placed Czech Republic in this group. Spurs striker Robbie Keane is now his country's record scorer but has not netted an away goal in a competitive game for seven years. His side travel to Slovakia.

Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg, Manchester City's Andreas Isaksson and Bolton Wanderers' Christian Wilhelmsson are all in contention for what is a hugely significant match between Sweden and Denmark. Martin Laursen has started the season in impressive fashion for Aston Villa, and he is in the squad alongside Liverpool's Daniel Agger, and Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner. A defeat for the Danes could all but end their qualifying hopes as they trail Sweden by eight points, albeit with a match in hand. Upwardly mobile Spain travel to Iceland having recovered from a poor start. Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso should feature.

There is now a strong Bulgarian influence in the Barclays Premier League, and Dimitar Berbatov, Martin Petrov and Stilian Petrov are all likely to be involved against Holland in Group G. They lead the Dutch by one point, but Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie and Co will be hoping to overtake their guests after Saturday's match.