The second phrase of this week's international
matches take place tonight, with West Ham United players set to
feature in key matches for two of the British sides involved in
European Championship 2008 qualifiers.
Hammers have already played a part in success on the international
stage, after captain Nigel Reo-Coker and Anton Ferdinand helped the
England under-21s progress through to next year's European
Championships with a 2-0 victory against Germany last night.
On the senior front, defender Danny Gabbidon is hoping to assist
Wales in putting their humiliating 5-1 home defeat against Slovakia
on Saturday firmly out of mind, as they take on Cyprus at the
Millennium Stadium tonight (kick-off 8pm).
The Welsh, who are in sixth place in Group D, will be looking to
claim their first points of the qualifying campaign. Gabbidon's
Hammers team-mate James Collins will still be unavailable as he
continues to recover from a groin strain.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Roy Carroll is with the Northern Ireland
squad as they prepare to take on Latvia at Windsor Park, Belfast
(kick-off 8pm). The Irish are currently third in Group F, with four
points from their first three games. Roy was an unused substitute
in the 0-0 draw with Denmark at the weekend.
But Christian Dailly, who played a big part in helping Scotland
chalk up a famous 1-0 victory over France at Hampden Park on
Saturday, is forced to sit out tonight's clash with Ukraine, at
the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, because of suspension.
Dailly picked up his second yellow card of the Euro qualifiers
against the World Cup finalists, which ruled him out of
tonight's clash. The Scots are top of Group B, with nine points
from their opening three matches.
by Laura Burkin