The 2008 European Championship qualifiers are entering the final phase and although Germany have already secured their place at next years tournament in Austria and Switzerland, there are still a number of Werder players who will be hoping to pick up points with their countries and book their place at EURO 2008.

For Germany’s home games on Saturday, 17.11.2007 in Hanover against Cyprus and on Wednesday, 21.11.2007 in Frankfurt against Wales, coach Joachim Loew has nominated Per Mertesacker, Clemens Fritz and Tim Borowski for the German selection. The midfielder man returns to the German national squad having been forced out of the last round of qualifiers through injury. Looking forward to his comeback, Borowski commented: “I really can’t wait for it and hope that nothing happens to ruin my chance in the meantime.”

In EURO 2008 qualifying Group A, three Werder players will clash next week. On Saturday, 17.11.2007 Hugo Almeida will look to play for Portugal against Armenia, Dusko Tosic and Serbia will take on Kasachstan in Belgrade whilst Finnish international Petri Pasanen will be facing Azerbaijan in Helsinki. The Serbs will be at home again on Wednesday when Poland come to visit whilst the Finns travel to Portugal for a head to head between Almeida and Pasanen. That particular tie could be a decisive one depending on the outcome of Saturday’s games. The Portuguese are three points clear of Serbia and Finland who sit in third and fourth place respectively.

Jurica Vranjes and his Croatian teammates could well book a spot in the finals this coming Saturday: “We need just one point and I’m pretty sure our side is strong enough to manage that in Macedonia.” Four days later the Croatian’s will have a tougher test: “We can’t necessarily expect to pick up all three points the following Wednesday in England”, said Vranjes who has a lot of respect for the English, who will have to produce a massive performance at Wembley Stadium in London if they are to maintain their chances of proceeding.

To prepare for the big game, the English will travel to Vienna on Friday, 16.11.2007 to take on Austria, with Martin Harnik at the Ernst-Happel-Stadium. The tournament co-hosts will play a further friendly at the same venue the following Wednesday against Tunisia.

If Daniel Jensen and Leon Andreasen wish to take part in next year’s tournament with Denmark, they will have to take all six points in their up-coming games whilst hoping that Markus Rosenberg and his Swedish colleagues do them a favour against Spain: “The Swede has been doing his homework and knows: “We need just one point and we’re through.” A point for Spain would be bad for the Danes though. Should the Spaniards get a point, then not even wins against Northern Ireland and Iceland will help Denmark.

Werder’s Brazilian international duo of Naldo and Diego find themselves in a very different situation. In South America, qualifying has already begun for the next World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. Carlos Dunga’s men will travel to Lima to take on Peru on 16.11.2007 before facing Uruguay in Sao Paulo three days later.

Young Green-White striker Kevin Schindler has been nominated for the German U21 team. The front man will make his debut for Dieter Eilts side in Trier against Iceland on 20.11.2007 and then travel to Luxemburg for his next chance. The 19 year old said proudly: “It’s a real honour for me. Should I get the chance I’ll be raring to prove myself.”

John Muldoon